John 3:1-15

January 25, 2008

Back in July I posted that the deepest, most foundational reason that I love Jesus Christ is the mingling together of transcendence and imminence that are found in Him. I was reminded of that again this morning as I read these verses in John 3, especially verse 13,

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

There is an immeasurably great chasm between finite, fallen human beings and heavenly glory. No human has or ever coul ascend to heaven on their own. I thought it was significant that these words were spoken to Nicodemus, a Pharisee who was surely a model in religious disciplines and knowledge. Yet it was to this man who Jesus said, ‘You must be born again.’ We’d assume that Jesus would save these words for the woman at the well in the next chapter, or a wretched tax collector. But no, He says it to the one of the most pious, upright individuals in the whole nation of Israel, God’s chosen people. The point is, you cannot get to heaven. The distance is too great, the glory of the Heavenly King is too magnificent, and we are too unclean because of our sin. This is the transcendence of Jesus; He alone has ascended to heaven.

Yet in the very same verse we see the imminence of Jesus; He who ascended to heaven is the One who came down from heaven. The eternal Word became flesh and blood and dwelt among us, revealing the glory of His Father and becoming a slave (Phil. 2:6), so that through His substitutionary death His righteousness could become ours and we could ascend with Him to heavenly glory.

Jesus is incalculably higher than us, yet by grace He has come astonishingly near. This is the glory of Christ.

Posted by Larry | Filed Under Gospel of John, Seeking Him