*John 3:22-36
John the Baptist affirms Jesus’ superiority as the Son of God who offers eternal life to believers.
- Ministry in Judea:
- After this conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus and His disciples travel to the Judean countryside, where He spends time baptizing.
- John’s Continuing Ministry:
- John the Baptist also remains in the region, baptizing at Aenon near Salim because there is plenty of water there.
- Discussion with John’s Disciples:
- A dispute arises between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over purification.
- They come to John and inform him that Jesus, whom he testified about, is also baptizing and that everyone is going to Him.
- John’s Response:
- John reaffirms his role as the forerunner to the Messiah, stating that he rejoices greatly because of Jesus’ increasing ministry and influence.
- Decrease of John, Increase of Jesus:
- John explains that he must decrease while Jesus must increase, highlighting the supremacy of Jesus’ ministry over his own.
- Jesus’ Authority from God:
- John affirms that Jesus is from above and is above all, bearing witness to what He has seen and heard.
- Rejection and Acceptance:
- John declares that whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life, while those who reject Him will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on them.
3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
3:24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
3:25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
3:26 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.
3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
3:29 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.
3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
3:31 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.
3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
3:36 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.