John 3:22-36 (Jesus' ministry in Judea, John's testimony to Christ)

Rachel Workman: 23 At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. 24 (This was before John was thrown into prison.) 25 A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing. 26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.”

27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ 29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. 30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. What a beautiful heart John had.

31 “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! 33 Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. 34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” I love these verses. God gave Jesus a spirit without limits. And as humans that's hard for us to grasp what that really means. We are limited in everything we do. The father loves his son and has put everything into his hands. So why do I try to limit Jesus and what he is capable of? The father has put everything into his hands.

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Mike Grimm:  ²² Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people.

²³ At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. ²⁴ (This was before John was thrown into prison.) ²⁵ A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing. ²⁶ So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” John the Baptist’s disciples were disturbed because people were following Jesus instead of John. It is easy to grow jealous of the popularity of another person’s ministry. But we must remember that our true mission is to influence people to follow Christ, not us.

²⁷ John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. Why did John the Baptist continue to baptize after Jesus came onto the scene? Why didn’t he become a disciple too? John explained that because God had given him his work, he had to continue it until God called him to do something else. John’s main purpose was to point people to Christ. Even with Jesus beginning his own ministry, John could still turn people to Jesus. ²⁸ You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ ²⁹ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. ³⁰ He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. John’s willingness to decrease in importance shows the humility that God wants us to exhibit in our lives. Beware of those who put more emphasis on their own achievements than on God’s kingdom.

³¹ “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. ³² He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! ³³ Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. ³⁴ For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. God’s Spirit was upon Jesus without limit or measure. Thus Jesus was the highest revelation of God to humanity (Hebrews 1:2). ³⁵ The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. Jesus’ testimony was trustworthy because He had come from heaven and was speaking of what He had seen there. His words were the very words of God. Your whole spiritual life depends on your answer to one question, “Who is Jesus Christ?” The heartbeat of John’s Gospel is the dynamic truth that Jesus the Christ is God’s Son, the Messiah, the Savior, who was from the beginning and will continue to live forever. This same Jesus has invited us to accept Him and live with Him eternally. When we understand who Jesus is, we are compelled to believe what He said. ³⁶ And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” Jesus says that those who believe in Him have (not will have) everlasting life. To receive eternal life is to join in God’s life, which by nature is eternal. Thus, eternal life begins at the moment of spiritual rebirth.

John, the author of this gospel, has been demonstrating that Jesus is the true Son of God. Jesus sets before us the greatest choice in life. We are responsible to decide today whom we will obey (Joshua 24:15), and God wants us to choose Him and life (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). The wrath of God is God’s final judgment and rejection of the sinner. To put off the choice is to choose not to follow Christ. Indecision is a fatal decision.