John 3:22-36

Relax, Read and Reflect
Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

John the Baptist's Testimony About Jesus

²²After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. ²³Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. ²⁴(This was before John was put in prison.) ²⁵An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew^i]'>[i] over the matter of ceremonial washing. ²⁶They 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—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."

²⁷To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. ²⁸You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ^j]'>[j] but am sent ahead of him.' ²⁹The 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. ³⁰He 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. ³²He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. ³³The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. ³⁴For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God^k]'>[k] gives the Spirit without limit. ³⁵The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. ³⁶Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

John, (the baptist,) is still working the crowds and baptizing people. Jesus is in the same area, because there is plenty of water there, (we really don't see that as a factor in revival placement- but in a dry place one needs plenty of water to wash souls.) Some of John's followers became upset that folks were going over to have Jesus baptize them, and they complained to John. The complaint was technically over ceremonial washing, but it was really about control.

John was not upset, in fact he told his followers that his (John's) job was to prepare people for the Christ. John was by the earth, but Jesus was by heaven. The Son, (Jesus) controls the eternal life, and you ever believes gets this life. John adds that whoever rejects Jesus, God's wrath remains on him. It doesn't matter who the messenger is, it's the message that is important. That message is that Jesus is the Son of God, and we are saved for eternity because of Him.

Questions:

1. Why would anyone be mad that Jesus was working in the same area as them?

2. Is the ceremony important?

3. Are we called to prepare people for Christ?

Prayer- Lord, Help us remember that You are the reason we worship, study, and evangelize. Give us wisdom and strength so we can do the best job for You! Go-Fight-Win. Amen