We most recently witnessed Jesus raising up a young man from the dead! Following this, word about Jesus spread throughout all Judea and even further.
Tag: John the Baptist
Have you ever had a family member in trouble and you wanted to help? Jesus’ cousin John (the baptizer) was put in prison by King Herod. When he heard of this, Jesus did not try to “spring John out of jail,” but returned to his home town and boldly proclaimed his ministry as the Messiah. In a place where others thought little of him as a local boy, Jesus declared a great prophecy from Isaiah about who he was, and what he would do!
Was that not a most splendid conversation that we just witnessed between Nicodemus, a poor wretch like we were (although dressed up in fancy rabbi clothes,) and Jesus, the Son of God sent down from heaven? (See Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #12 Nicodemus.) Traveling on from Jerusalem after the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we find John the Baptist again and an argument brewing.
John 3:22-24 [NKJV]:
After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.
Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.
For John had not yet been thrown into prison.
Jesus and his disciples had moved on into other parts of Judea where they had begun baptizing in water. John the Baptist and his disciples had found a choice spot with plenty of water in Aenon, just south of the Sea of Galilee in Decapolis. They too were water baptizing those who came to them. Can you see the beginnings of a conflict?
John 3:25,26 [NKJV]:
Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews [a Judean] about purification.
And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”
John’s disciples were relating to him that Jesus was baptizing with water all who were coming to him. Now we know, (because we can read a little later on in this gospel), that Jesus himself was not baptizing in water, only his disciples were.
John 4:1,2 [NKJV]:
Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John
(though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples).
We also know that Jesus was not called to baptize with water, but with holy spirit and with fire. But that baptism was not available yet. (See Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #7 Jesus Christ Baptized.) In any case, we can understand that the disciples of John were concerned that Jesus and his disciples might have been leading the people astray, or perhaps usurping John’s authority to water baptize, or even organizing a rival ministry.
John’s response is a beautiful testimony to his humble heart, his confidence in God, and his full support for Jesus, the one he had testified to as the Lamb of God.
John 3:27-30 [NKJV]:
John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
John’s disciples probably did not expect an answer like this, but he would not be drawn into a power struggle. Instead, John simply underscored what he had been preaching all along: he never claimed to be the Christ; he prepared the way for the Christ; he was the friend of Christ, the bridegroom; and he rejoiced greatly because he had heard the voice of the bridegroom, the Christ. Rather than becoming disheartened at the news his disciples brought him, John declared that his joy was fulfilled!
And then he uttered these words, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” What an almost sorrowful statement this would have been for most men, yet John gave the perfect answer to his disciples at this time. And he went on to explain more about Jesus, the Son of God, and his testimony.
John 3:31-34 [NKJV]:
He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.
He who has received His [Jesus’] testimony has certified [set his seal upon] that God is true.
For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
Jesus, as noted also in verses 27 and 31, came from above and is above all others. This is true first because the Holy Spirit (God) had “come upon” Mary and she had conceived and borne a son, the only begotten of the Father (Luke 1:35). And secondly, at his baptism, Jesus was the one upon whom the spirit from God had descended and then dwelled within (John 1:32).
“And what He has seen and heard” in verse 32 refers to the Word of God that Jesus had read for himself, that had been taught to him, and that his Father showed him as he observed and experienced daily life. To this he gave testimony as a firsthand witness. He spoke the “words of God.” Yet, not everyone who hears the words of God from Jesus takes his testimony to heart.
God set His seal on His Son (John 6:27), certifying that Jesus’ witness was truly the words of God. He who does receive Jesus’ testimony (verse 33) certifies or “seals” in his own heart that God is true.
The words of God came directly from God to Jesus in abundance, all that he needed. Verse 34 reads, “for God does not give the Spirit by measure” to him. But most critical Greek texts support an even clearer translation in this context: “for the Spirit [God] does not give the words of God by measure unto him.” Jesus gave testimony to God—speaking the words that God gave him by the spirit of God within him.
The final two verses of this chapter give the gospel writer John’s perspective, when he recorded this by revelation years later, after Jesus had ascended to the Father.
John 3:35,36 [NKJV]:
The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
This simple, powerful statement summarizes the life-saving reality that, by the love of God, every one of us now has a choice. Will I believe in the Son who has the power in his hand to give everlasting life? Or will I turn away from the Son, refusing that life and allowing the wrath of God to remain upon me?
For those of us who have chosen life—let’s continue on this glory road together, encouraging one another along the way. One day our Lord Jesus Christ will return for us and “what a day that will be when our Savior we shall see!”
NEXT: Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #14 A Fountain of Living Water
PREVIOUS: Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #12 Nicodemus
Time for a wilderness walk! Yes, a walk into the wilderness of Judea to find John the Baptist. And we find him there preaching to all who had come out to hear him. But first, we’ll track back to find out more about John, the son of Zacharias.