What does John 3:35 mean?
ESV: The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
NIV: The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
NASB: The Father loves the Son and has entrusted all things to His hand.
CSB: The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands.
NLT: The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands.
KJV: The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
NKJV: The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
Verse Commentary:
Jesus frequently claims to have the Father's knowledge (John 12:49), power (John 5:36), and authority (Matthew 28:18). In this way, He claims to be equal to God. The gospel of John clearly says that Jesus is not merely "like" God—He is God (John 1:1, 14). This is another useful demonstration of the Trinity. God is three persons in one being: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus' message is that of God, which is why a person cannot reject Christ without rejecting God (1 John 5:10). If a person will not accept Jesus, then they cannot be saved (John 3:18). Jesus is the one and only way to the Father (John 14:6).
The fact that God the Father loves God the Son makes His willingness to send Him to us that much more amazing (1 John 4:9–10). Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was not just a gift, it was a very costly one (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 9:15).
Verse Context:
John 3:31–36 describes how Jesus' ministry is from God, but almost everyone will reject it. Verse 36 is an important footnote to the core gospel message seen in John 3:16–21. Those who put their faith in Christ will be saved, but those who reject Him will face the wrath of God. This passage emphasizes the exclusivity of the gospel: there is, emphatically, no other way to obtain heaven but through faith in Jesus Christ. "Testimony," and the need to believe it, are also crucial in this text.
Chapter Summary:
John chapter 3 is one of the most important passages in the entire gospel. Many crucial ideas are explained here, including the role of Jesus as Savior. After the loud, public commotion at the temple, John transitions to a quiet, nighttime discussion. The speakers are Jesus and a Pharisee, Nicodemus, who is sincerely interested in understanding Jesus' ministry. These verses make it clear that Christ—and Christ alone—is the means of salvation for the entire world. This text also states that those who reject Jesus are rejecting God.
Chapter Context:
The gospel of John intends to prove that Jesus is God. Chapter 3 contains some of the most direct, most important concepts in Christianity. The ideas of spiritual rebirth and the necessity of belief in Christ are reinforced by the rest of the information in this gospel. John continues to use contrast, moving from the loud and public temple cleansing to the quiet of this conversation. After Jesus injects humility into a powerful leader, chapter 4 will transition again, as Jesus gives dignity to an outcast stranger.
Book Summary:
The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.
Accessed 11/21/2024 1:02:42 PM
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Text from ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, NLT, KJV, NKJV © Copyright respective owners, used by permission.
