April 14th
John’s
Testimony
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.
During this period Christ and John the Baptist were working
separately but in harmony. Then there arose a question between John’s disciples
and the Jews regarding Jewish purification. However when the question was
further described it was not so much about purification but about popularity.
The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were leaving them and going over to
Christ. When they asked John about this he said, that the success of Christ was
a God given thing. John understood that Christ was far superior to him in
person and in his work. He describes the difference between Christ and himself
as the difference between the bridegroom and the best man. It’s the groom that
gets the bride. Just as the best man is glad to hear the grooms voice when he
arrives, so John rejoices at coming of Christ. He says my ministry must
decrease while his will increase. And he says that Christ is from above and is
above all. John declares that the Spirit is not given by measure unto Christ.
In other words he is filled with the Holy Spirit permanently. He says that The
Father loveth the Son and has given everything into his hands. Lastly he says
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.
Steve
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