²² After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. ²³ Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. ²⁴ (This was before John was put in prison.) ²⁵ An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. ²⁶ They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
²⁷ To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ ²⁹ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. ³⁰ He must become greater; I must become less.”
³¹ The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. ³² He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. ³³ Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. ³⁴ For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. ³⁶ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them.
The greatest enemy in the Christian life is self.
– Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Thoughts
- Finding Joy in Our God-Given Role (22-30): John’s disciples are worried because everyone is going to him. They have forgotten what John had said: Joh 1:29 “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Each has an assigned role in God’s plan, with no place for self-promotion. (Joh 40:3) When we realize all spiritual insight and progress comes from God, we are freed from jealousy/comparison. Rom 12:3 Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. John’s clear: it’s not his wedding.
- The Heavenly Authority of Jesus (31-33): John the Baptist already said “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” Joh 1:15. And of John, Jesus says: Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he Mat 11:11. Jesus testifies (martyreō \= eyewitness)* to what he has seen and heard.
- Jesus: the ~~Messenger~~ Message from Heaven (32-35): Jesus fulfills God’s’ promise to Israel through Moses: I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. Deut 18:18. (The one whom God has sent \= apostellō). Christianity says not that Jesus is a path to truth, nor even that Jesus is the unique path to truth, but that Jesus is The Truth, the fullness of God, who speaks as God. Joh 14:8,9 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”9 Jesus answered: “Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?*
- A Stark Choice (36): The path to life is not effort—the path is belief/faith There is no third way, and no “salad bar” theology: Deut 30:19,20 I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Despite what our culture pretends, no one knows the hour or day of our exit from this life—No one’s getting out alive!* We are called to live in light of that undeniable truth.
Reflections
John takes joy in his decrease, and Jesus’ increase. Where in your life must He increase, and you decrease? Do you struggle with your God-given situation vs. another’s? xated on your own comfort while souls starve? Choosing avoidance over engagement?
GoJ 4-6
