AM April 14th John 3

April 14^th 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.

• What was the problem between John’s disciples and Christ’s disciples?
• What did John say about himself?
• What did He say about Christ?