22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given 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 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
John 3:22-26
After Nicodemus’ visit Jesus returned to the countryside and preached and held services of baptism. John was also baptizing, although in a different area from where Jesus was baptizing. John’s disciples then got into a discussion with a Jew about which baptism – John’s or Jesus’ – was the one he should receive. John’s disciples then came to him and complained that all were going to Jesus. John then tells them calmly yet firmly that he is just a servant of God and is only performing the ministry God has given him: “My job was to prepare the way for the Christ and I have done that. I have told you that I am not the Christ.”
In Jesus’ growing influence, John found his own joy fulfilled. He illustrated this for his disciples by referring to a custom at Near Eastern weddings. The friend of the bridegroom was only an assistant, not the main participant in the marriage. The assistant acted on behalf of the bridegroom and made the preliminary arrangements for the ceremony. His joy came when he heard the bridegroom coming for his bride. John the Baptist’s work was to prepare for the arrival of Christ, the “Groom.” John baptized only with water, not with the Spirit. Therefore Jesus must become greater and John must become less. This was not merely advisable, it was the divine order. John willingly and with joy accepted Jesus’ growing popularity as God’s plan. From verse 31 through the remainder of the chapter we return to the testimony of John the Apostle who builds on the preeminence of Christ as his theme. Those from heaven can speak of heaven. Those from earth speak of earth.
*How do you know if something you have heard is from God or not from Him?
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