The Gospel of John
Chapter 3:22-36 (continuation)

John 3:22

After this, Jesus and His disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.

After a time in Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside. There He spent time with them, which time He most likely spent teaching them Bible doctrine and spreading the Gospel. The verse says also that He baptized; although, we see in the next chapter that His disciples actually did the baptizing. We can understand this one of two ways. He always allowed His disciples to do the baptizing, or that He was doing the baptizing here but later turned this function over to His disciples. Either interpretation is fine. We know that He continuously had converts, because He needed to baptize (the outward demonstration of a person’s inward faith in Christ).

John 3:23, 24

Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. (This was before John was put in prison.)

The primary theme of the remainder of the chapter is that the ministry of Jesus Christ increases as the ministry of John the Baptist decreases. While Jesus is in Judea, we see John the Baptist at Aenon (meaning “springs”) near Salim (near Samaria). John was constantly spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ with results, because the “people were constantly coming to be baptized.” The verse tells us that He was doing this prior to the time that he was cast into prison. The words, “plenty of water” is indicative that baptism required “plenty of water;” hence, baptism was by immersion. If the act of baptism required sprinkling or pouring there would have been no need for “plenty of water.” This also coincides with phrases used of Christ at His baptism, i.e., that He “came up out of the water” (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10). One doesn’t “come up out” of a sprinkle or pouring.

John 3:25, 26

An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They 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."

A theological dispute arose between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew. The Greek word for “argument” can best be translated as a “meticulous dispute over some non-weighty matter.” In other words, someone was looking for a theological debate. Some Bible scholars believe that the “certain Jew” in this context should be translated in the plural and refers to members of the religious sect, i.e., the Sanhedrin. If so, this would not be surprising. You can always leave it up the “religious crowd” to stir things up. Keep in mind that Christianity is not a “religion;” it is a “relationship” or “union” with a living Person, our Lord Jesus Christ. Religious teachers always attempt to enslave people through religious ritual and false doctrine. The dispute is over “ceremonial washing” (“purifying” in the KJV), which was a system embedded in then Jewish ceremony but not supported by Scripture. In either case, the dispute led either these Jews or the disciples of John or both to approach John for clarification. They first call to John’s attention to the fact that everyone is going to “that Man who was with you on the other side of Jordan,” i.e., Jesus Christ, to be baptized. Meanwhile the ministry of John the Baptist is dwindling. The purpose of this may have been to create jealously in the mind of John.

John 3:27-30

To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, `I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of Him.' The 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. He must become greater; I must become less.

The Greek word for “replied” can better be translated “gave a discerning answer.” In other words his answer stemmed from knowledge of Bible doctrine. The other noteworthy facet with his reply was that it was centered on Christ. John was careful not to fall into the trap of allowing himself to have an improper mental attitude toward his Lord’s ministry. John informs them that he is not important or ever pretended to be great, i.e., that his ministry was not of himself but that it came from Heaven. This is just a way of saying that man (any person) does not have the ability to receive anything spiritual except he receive it from God. This should be evident in all God’s ministers. They should understand that it is only God working through them, and that they have no cause for self-esteem or self-pride. In other words, it is only God who may promote you in the Christian life. If God doesn’t promote you, then don’t try being promoted in any other manner, e.g., false doctrine, cults, weird tactics, emotionalism, etc. John reminds them that he is not the Christ, but was only sent ahead to announce Him. He uses the analogy of a bride and a bridegroom to say that those who believe belong to Christ, no matter how they come to believe. They do not belong to John. As for John, he is only a “friend” who attends (serves) the Bridegroom (Christ) and stays attentive to Him and takes great joy when he hears His voice - indicating that the Bridegroom has arrived. This has made his joy complete, and now he says that his ministry rightfully should decrease while the ministry of the Bridegroom (Christ) should increase.

Notice that John says, “I must become less.” This is one of three “must’s” in this chapter. They are located in verses 7, 14 and 30. The first is that a person “must be born again,” the second is that “the Son of Man must be lifted up,” and the third is that John “must become less.”

John 3:31

"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.

This message from John the Baptist refers strictly to Jesus Christ. It should be noted that the message and primary focus of the entire Bible is Jesus Christ. The Greek word translated here as “comes from above” actually means that Christ has always been from above and even while on this earth, He is from above. It introduces the concept of the divine union between Christ and God the Father. Jesus was and is the “God-man.” His deity is always in Heaven; His humanity was on earth at that time. John here recognizes the uniqueness of Christ and His divine-union with God the Father. John declares that Christ is above all, i.e., He is greater than anyone. In His humanity, Christ is greater than any man (He doesn’t have the sin nature and He did not sin once). His deity of course makes Him infinitely superior to any member of the human race. He is the creator of mankind - of all creation. John then says that he is from the earth and can only speak as one who is from the earth, i.e., about earthly things. Whereas Christ has a limitless frame of reference and experience, John is quite limited. Again John declares that Christ is above all, i.e., is and always will be superior to all.

John 3:32

He testifies to what He has seen and heard, but no one accepts His testimony.

In the Greek the word translated “has seen” means, “something observed by being present.” The Greek word for “heard,” means “something communicated in the past.” In other words, Christ was present before “time,” when the Plan of God for mankind was formulated. No one could know God’s will and plan for mankind better than Jesus Christ. He was the ultimate “expert” on the subject. He knew that man would fail. He knew that man could in no way do anything to merit God’s favor. He knew that He would have to take on humanity in order to bear man’s sins on the cross, pay for those sins and by doing so provide man the means for satisfying the holy and just nature of God. He knew that the only possible thing created man could do to obtain eternal life and the favor of God was to “believe” God’s Word regarding Christ. He knew before time that in order for man to be saved (receive eternal life), he would have to turn (repent) from any self-created, self-generated or self-performed manner, system or procedure for obtaining the approval of God and would need to turn by faith alone to Christ alone (trusting in Christ’s complete work on the cross - death, burial and resurrection) for his personal salvation. Then, after being saved, Christ knew that it was by faith alone that man would then need to live the Christian life in order to accomplish works of “divine good.”

And knowing all of this, John says that Christ testifies or communicates God’s plan. Today we have the most complete communication from God in written form. It is freely available to all. Yet, and it is believed by various scholars that John is referring to those who represented the religion of the day, “no one accepts the communication from Christ.” This was true then as it is today. The most difficult people with which to share God’s Word are those who are religious. Those who are religious simply insist that it’s just got to be more involved then simply believing in Christ. They demand that they take part in their own salvation, either to obtain it or keep it. They can’t understand that “good works” have absolutely nothing to do with the salvation experience. They really do not wish to accept Jesus and His sacrificial work at Calvary. They are so self-righteous and so full of themselves, it is virtually impossible to get them to understand the Gospel. If it weren’t for the power of the Holy Spirit, no religious person would ever be saved.

John 3:33-35

The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands.

The first part of this passage shifts from the one (many religious types - and others) who will not accept the testimony of Jesus to the one who will. This refers back to Chapter 1, verse 12, wherein it is said, Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. To “receive,” or “accept” the testimony of Christ is to “believe” (place one’s faith in) Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross of Calvary. Once a person does this, he at that moment certifies (Gk - sets his seal or signs on the dotted line) that God the Father (Gk - the God) is true. This is another way of revealing the doctrine of the Trinity (the deity of Christ), i.e., the testimony of Christ is the same as the testimony of God. Also when one “certifies” God, he does the only thing that can honor God, i.e., he takes God at His word.

The next sentence explains that Christ who was sent (Gk - to take charge) communicates God’s Word, i.e., Bible doctrine. It also conveys that Christ was totally (to the brim) filled with the Holy Spirit. This is another reference to the Trinity, since God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one. The last sentence reveals that God the Father loves the Son to the extent that He placed “everything” in His hands. This is one of seven times within the book of John where God declares His love for His Son. Even when we say that God created all things, we need to understand that He accomplished this through Christ. See John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:1, 2. When we say God is in control, we need to understand that He controls all things through Christ. Nothing can be done and life cannot continue without connection to Jesus Christ. This will be the case throughout eternity. The only possible way anyone will be able to continue into eternity - and here we speak of eternal life with God - is through the work and person of Jesus Christ. When it comes to our life physically here upon the earth and our life spiritually in Heaven to come, everything depends upon Jesus Christ.

John 3:36

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.

This is one of the most dynamic and revealing verses in the entire New Testament. It is a verse that clearly and completely delineates the message of John the Baptist. Here is what John the Baptist preached. The word “believes” is a present active participle of the Greek verb, pisteuo. Pisteuo is a “mental attitude” or “mental system of perception.” It is the trusting in or faith in something, and faith is the only non-meritorious system of perception that is possessed by all members of the human race. John the Baptist preached that a person must place his faith in Jesus Christ. The subject is “whoever” and the object is “the Son” (Jesus Christ). Although we use our own faith, there is no merit in our faith. The merit comes from the object of the faith. All merit rests solely with Jesus Christ who did the work, took our place and paid with His suffering for our sins. All we are allowed to do is to accept Him (Acts 4:12 - Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.), i.e., His work, His suffering, His payment, His everything, by faith alone for our personal salvation. So the message is that whosoever believes in Jesus Christ has (Gk - a present active indicative meaning “keeps on having”) everlasting life. When you believe in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that a multitude of things happen to us. One of these is that we are given permanent eternal life. You can never lose it - no matter what!! There is nothing you can do from that point on to make you lose your salvation. Even better, there is nothing God will do to take it from you. There’s another way of looking at this. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we enter into union with Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:11, 12 states, And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. Since our “eternal life” is in effect the “life of Christ,” we know that there can be no end to the life of Christ, which equates to permanent eternal life (otherwise there would be an end to the life of Christ). It is Christ that did everything for our salvation. We couldn’t do a thing for it. And we can’t do anything to keep it. Those who believe that they can actually do anything to contradict the work of Christ and thereby void their salvation are guilty of the most flagrant pride in the world. They place themselves above God. To think of a person having the colossal nerve as well as the stupidity and the pride to think that he can actually do something to cancel out what God has done is enough to give a child of Grace a royal headache. This is the worst thing any believer can do. When God does something, it is permanent. It all depends on His character. It is who and what God is - not who and what you or we are.

But the verse goes on to show the other side of the coin. The word “but” in the Greek is to show “contrast.” Here he explains why a person may never receive eternal life. It is simply this. If you fail to place your faith alone in Christ alone for your salvation, and thereby “reject” Christ (the only way one may reject Christ, i.e., failing to believe in Him), you will never possess eternal life. Not to believe in Christ and thereby reject Him means that “God’s wrath remains” on that person. The Greek word “remains” means “keeps on abiding.” All persons from the day they are born live under the wrath of God, which wrath eventually ends in the “second death” (the lake of fire). To reject Jesus Christ is to remain under this wrath and to eventually take your place in the “lake of fire.” The sum of the verse is that all persons are lost and under God’s wrath from the day they are physically born, and the only way they can and may escape this condition is by placing faith alone in Christ alone for their personal salvation.