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John 3.22-36

John 3.22-36

(22-24) Jesus was in the Judean countryside, spending time with His disciples and baptizing. Meanwhile, John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, where there was plenty of water. The specific locations suggest they were in the same general region but not in the exact same place. Judea is a larger region, while Aenon near Salim is more specific within that region.
*Herod Antipas imprisoned John between late 28 AD and early 29 AD (Mt14:1-12, Mk 6:14-29, Lk 3:19-20) because he publicly criticized him for marrying Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother Philip. Despite Herod's initial reluctance to harm John (because he was popular with the people, as a prophet), he eventually had him imprisoned to appease Herodias.
John the Baptist's disciples expressed concern that Jesus was baptizing and that people were going to Him (25-26). John responded by explaining that a person can only receive what is given from heaven. He reminded his followers that he had already told them he was not the Christ but was sent ahead of Him. John used an analogy of the bridegroom and his friend to illustrate his role, stating that the friend (himself) rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s (Jesus's) voice. John emphasized that his joy is complete (v29) and that Jesus must increase while he (John) must decrease (v30). John the Baptist accepted his role and acknowledged Jesus's superior mission and authority. If you were to take the rest of John’s testimony as an appeal to pay attention to the One he’s been pointing to all along, it would sound very much like this today: (vv31-36) "Jesus, coming from above, is supreme and transcends all. Those who are of the earth speak of earthly things, but Jesus speaks of heavenly truths, testifying to what He has seen and heard. Sadly, not everyone accepts His testimony, but those who do, affirm that God is truthful. God has given Jesus the Spirit without measure, and He speaks the words of God. The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything into His hands. Therefore, whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, and God's wrath remains on them."

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.
23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized—
24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Therefore there arose a debate between John’s disciples and a Jew about purification.
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have borne witness, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.”
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
28 “You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’
29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.
30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
32 “What He has seen and heard, of that He bears witness; and no one receives His witness.
33 “He who has received His witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.
34 “For He whom God has sent speaks 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 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

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