John
3:22-36
Lesson 169
3:22-36
Lesson 169
John 3:22-36
John the Baptist on Jesus 22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet cast into prison. 25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. 33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. |
Margin notes:
"There he tarried with them, and baptized." (3:22) - "He stayed there with them, baptizing." Jesus did not do the actual baptizing; His disciples did (4:1-2). "John also was baptizing." (3:23) - As described in Matthew 3:4-6. "In Aenon." (3:23) - Aenon, meaning springs or natural fountain, is on the Jordan River about forty miles north of Bethabara where John baptized Jesus. Aenon is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. "John was not yet cast into prison." (3:24) - John the Baptist was eventually arrested and beheaded by King Herod Antipas for denouncing the Kings marriage to Herodias, his niece and brother's ex-wife. "He that was with thee beyond Jordan." (3:26) - The "He" refers to Jesus. "To whom thou bares witness." (3:26) - John the Baptist spread the news that Jesus was the Son of God (John 1:7; 15; 27; 34). "The same baptizeth, and all men come to him." (3:26) - Jesus' fame is growing, and people are going to Him to be baptized. "I am sent before him." (3:28) - God sent John to prepare the way for Jesus (1:7-9), as prophesized in Isaiah 40:4, Malachi 3:1 and 4:5-6 450 years before the birth of Christ. "He must increase, but I must decrease." (3:30) - It was time for Jesus’ ministry to unfold and prophecy be fulfilled. Jesus will now grow in reputation while John the Baptist fades into the background. Indeed, this segment is the last time we see John. It's the same for believers. Once we accept Christ it's time for Jesus to increase in our lives and our old, sinful ways to decrease. "He that cometh from above is above all." (3:31) - Means, Jesus stands above the universe and everything in it. A point reinforced in Romans 9:5. "Set to his seal that God is true." (3:33) - "Certified that God is true." "Giveth not the Spirit by measure." (3:34) - This means that the Spirit of God was in Jesus without measure, bounds, or limitation. "Given all things into his hand." (3:35) - God has "given all things" to Jesus (Luke 10:22; John 16:15). "The wrath of God abideth on him." (3:36) - "The wrath of God stays with him." Verse 3:36 summarizes chapter three. |