WHO COMES FROM HEAVEN?
John chapter 3, verse 22, to chapter 4, verse 3
After the interview with Nicodemus, Jesus and his disciples went into the country districts outside of Jerusalem, known as the land of Judea. There He spent some time baptising, through the six disciples who were with Him (4:2).
John the Baptist continued his mission, announcing the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus, and baptising those who repented. He had moved from Bethabara to Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there (not for drinking, but for baptising), so even in summer, baptism by immersion could be performed without interruption.
It is not clearly known today where this place was, but there was probably a large number of people on the river bank watching, hearing and queuing up for baptism. 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 Him. He was true to his mission until he was forcefully prevented from continuing (Luke 3:19).
Some of John's disciples had a dispute with the Jews, i.e. the religious leaders, on the subject of purification: the Jews probably continued to deny John's right to baptise (1:25) and they may also have objected to baptism by immersion when they already practised ceremonial washing with water for purification (2:6).
They had various kinds of baptisms or dipping (Hebrews 6:2), for unless they are washed, they do not eat; and there are many other things which they have received to hold, the washing of cups and vessels, and brazen utensils, and couches (Mark 7:4).
The disciples of John now came to him with the dispute (the first known baptismal controversy, on the meaning of the ceremony) and with a complaint. They respectfully called John Rabbi, and referred to Jesus as He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, avoiding calling Him by name.
They appeared to be jealous of Jesus as a rival of John and they distinctly blamed John for his endorsement of one who was already eclipsing him in popularity. They were worried at the sight of the growing crowds with Jesus and the dwindling crowds with John, a picture of ministerial jealousy in all ages: it is easy to grow jealous of the popularity of another person's ministry.
Like John, however, our true mission is to point people to Christ, not ourselves. John the Baptist ended this theological argument by focusing on his devotion to Christ.
A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven: God is the sole provider of all mankind's needs, even his salvation (John 6:65). John reasserted his role: he was not the Messiah, the Anointed One, but his predecessor.
He introduced here the metaphor of the Bridegroom (Jesus) and the Bride (the company of His followers, also called the church), which Jesus would use himself later (Mark 2:19), and was developed in Paul's epistles (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32) and again appears in Revelation (19:7; 21:2). John was only the friend of the Bridegroom. His office was to bring the groom and bride together. So he stood expectantly and listened to the bridegroom's voice and was filled (like a cup to the brim) with joy.
John the Baptist, as the last of the prophets who walks out of the Old Testament onto pages of the New Testament to announce the coming of the Messiah, is not himself in the church. He will be present at the marriage supper of the Lamb as the friend of the Bridegroom.
John declared that Jesus was to go on growing while he diminished. John's willingness to decrease in importance shows unusual humility. Pastors and other Christian leaders can be tempted to focus more on the success of their ministries than on Christ. Beware of those who put more emphasis on their own achievements than on God's kingdom.
John went on to imprisonment, suspense, martyrdom, while Jesus grew in popular favour, then was rejected and crucified, but rose again and his followers have grown in number over the centuries, now reaching huge multitudes of living and dead.
Jesus is the one that came out of heaven, hence he is "above all". There were crowds coming to Jesus, but they did not really accept him as Saviour and Lord (John 11:11; John 2:24). Their action was superficial as time showed.
The one who accepts the witness of Jesus attests that Jesus spoke the message of God. God sent his Son (John 3:17) and He spoke God's words. His 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.
Our whole spiritual life depends on our answer to one question, "Who is Jesus Christ?" If we accept Him as only a prophet or teacher, we have to reject His teaching, for He claimed to be God's Son, even God himself The essence of John's Gospel is the dynamic truth that Jesus Christ is God's Son, the Messiah, the Saviour, who was from the beginning and will continue to live forever. When we understand who Jesus is, we are compelled to believe what He said.
God put no limit to the Spirit's relation to the Son: He gave the Holy Spirit in his fullness to Christ (and to no one else in that sense). Thus Jesus was the highest revelation of the God to humanity (Hebrews 1:2).
Who believes in Him has (not will have) eternal life here and now and for eternity: to receive eternal life is to be reconciled with God and to be in communion with Him forever. Thus, eternal life begins at the moment of spiritual rebirth.
We are responsible to decide today, whom we will serve (Joshua 24:15), and God wants us to choose Him and life (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). The wrath of God is God's final judgement and rejection of the sinner. To put off the choice is to choose not to follow Christ. Indecision is a fatal decision.
These are the last words that we have from John until, from prison, he sent messengers with a question as to whether Jesus was after all the Messiah (Matthew 11:2; Luke 7:19).
To perhaps avoid further embarrassment to John, after He knew that the Pharisees had heard that He made and baptised more disciples than John, the Lord continued on His way back to Galilee. He had already transferred the attention of the religious leaders to Himself.
R David Jones
Chapter 3
22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.
23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.
24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification.
26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!"
27 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
28 "You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.'
29 "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.
30 "He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 "He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
32 "And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.
33 "He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.
34 "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
35 "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Chapter 4
1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John
2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),
3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.