John 3 Verses 22-36 

John 3:22 “After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet cast into prison. 25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. 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. 27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 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. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 

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. 32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. 33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 

35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 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.” 

“After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.”  Several points we can make from this passage.  First the disciples of Jesus were baptizing.  These were the apostles and Jesus had ordained them, therefore, they had as much authority to baptize as John had, who was called of God.  Next, John was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there.  This points us to the fact that baptizing was immersion and not sprinkling.  You would not have needed much water for sprinkling.   

“For John was not yet cast into prison.”  The time was drawing near that John would be cast into prison and ultimately would be beheaded by Herod.  Even though his time was drawing short on earth, yet John continued to vigorously do what the God had called him to do. 

“Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.”  We are not told what the question was, but from the context, it would appear that some Jews were equating baptism with purification.  However, the Old Testament practice of purification was not the same as water baptism. 

“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.”  John had previously born witness of Jesus.  These Jews appear to have tried to make John jealous of Jesus by what they said about all men come to him.  Their statement was patently false, that all men come to him.  Not all men came to Jesus to be baptized.  The same practice of trying to promote jealousy among the brethren is still present in the world today.  I had an experience several years ago when a few men were talking and trying to make me jealous of my older brother who was a preacher.  A tactic of those who promote jealousy is to compare one preacher to another.   

“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.  Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.  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. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”  Their efforts to try to make John jealous were totally unsuccessful.  John’s humility and admiration of Jesus are clearly set forth in this passage.  John knew that whatever gift he had and work he had came from God and he had no right to be jealous of others.  Moreover, his love for the Lord is manifest when he said, “I am not the Christ, but I am sent before him.”  John knew that Jesus was the anointed King and that he was far greater than John.  John rejoiced greatly because of Jesus voice.  Moreover, John had an understanding that Christ was the bridegroom of his bride the church.  And his joy was fulfilled.  Moreover, John knew that Jesus must increase and that he must decrease.  Truly, if we are God called preachers, then in our preaching Jesus must increase and we must decrease. 

“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. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.”  As the Lord had said earlier in this chapter, “We speak that we do know and testify that which we have seen.”  An earth bound being cannot speak of heavenly things, but can only speak of earthly things, whereas, one who is from above can speak of heavenly things.  As the Lord said to Nicodemus, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Only if we have been born again, i.e., born from above, can we receive the testimony of one who is from above and who speaks of heavenly things.  “He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.”  A born again child of God who receives the testimony of the Lord hath set to his seal that God is true. 

“For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.”  God sent his Son into the world and gave him the fullness of the Spirit.  In contrast we who have been born again have been given a measure of the Spirit.  God loved us as he gave his Son to die for us and redeem us from our sins.  God loves the Son and gave all things into his hand.  He had the fullness of the Spirit and among the things that the Father gave unto the Son was to redeem us from our sins according to the eternal covenant between the Father and the Son. 

“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.”  Once again we have confirmed unto us that belief is evidence that we have everlasting life.  Those who believe do so as a result of the everlasting life that has been given unto them.  Those who do not believe the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on them.