Nothing Except Given from Heaven - John 3:27

John the apostle wrote, “there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you bore witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all men come to him”, and in chapter three and verse twenty-seven of his book, John shared how John the Baptist told his disciples, “a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven” where we read:

John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

The verse reads, “John answered and said, ...” John began with the words, “John answered” which means “John the Baptist whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver responded and began to speak” “and said” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” the following words. John shared how John the Baptist began to respond to his disciples' statement with the following words.

The verse continues, “... A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”. John added the words, “a man” which means “a person whether male or female” “can receive nothing” or “in no manner or way is able to lay hold of, obtain, claim, procure or apprehend not one thing” “except it be given him” which means “unless that thing be granted, bestowed, furnished or supplied to the person” “from heaven” or “separate and apart from the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”. John shared how no one is able to “obtain or possess” anything unless it is “granted and bestowed” from “heaven” above.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how John the Baptist understood no one has “anything” except that they are granted that “thing” from God above. God has given gifts and blessings to people, and without Him, no one would have anything they possess. God gives liberally to people, and when they think about it, they will realize they owe all things to Him. God's desire is to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they yield their lives to Him, they have obtained the greatest “gifts” of all – forgiveness of sins and everlasting life with Him in Heaven.

Next time John shares how John the Baptist tells his disciples, “I am not the Christ”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".