The Gospel of John Lesson 9 – John 3:22-36

The Gospel of John

Lesson 9 – John 3:22-36

Read Jn. 3: 22-30. Jesus continues His Journey. After the events of the Passover in Jerusalem and His discussion with Nicodemus we find Jesus leaving Jerusalem and going into the countryside of Judea, spending some time with His disciples in ministry. We see in these verses that John the Baptist also continued to preach and baptize, preaching the Kingdom of Heaven and proclaiming the coming of the Christ. We see here two large, prominent and growing ministries. From God’s perspective, He saw one ministry going in the same direction from two different places working for the same cause and purpose, i.e. establishing the Kingdom of God. However, from man’s perspective two competing ministries, evaluating which is the best, counting the numbers, thinking status, prestige, flash, curb appeal, in the end picking one as the best…the winner of their poll.

A similar situation happened in the early Church recorded in I Corinthians 1:11-7 where some were claiming status based on the one who baptized them and who’s ministry they were saved under. They were claiming some special status making them more prominent or somehow more special than others who had the same experience except God used some other person or ministry of lesser earthly prominence to bring them to Himself. Isn’t that just like man, always wanting to be better than or above someone else using whatever method or reason he can find to validate his prominence. It is only natural for us to use things like ancestry, being at the right place at the right time or a special event, being related to or knowing someone famous, or even financial status to make us feel above or more special than the next guy.

In this case they were using being associated with a particular ministry to elevate some to a higher spiritual plain than others. Both John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul set the record straight pointing out that it is Christ that does the saving and not man and it is God that should be the focus and foundation of our salvation and not necessarily the method that He used to bring us to Him. Both John and Paul pointed out that it is Christ that is the central focus in our spiritual experience and although the method that He used is important to us it does not afford us any special spiritual status in Christ’s Kingdom.

Apparently, there was some discussion between a Jew or a group of Jews who were probably of the religious leadership and John’s disciples as to which ministry was not only more prominent, but also more spiritual in their practices and observances. Before Jesus began His public ministry we find that the Jews, signifying Israel’s religious leadership, were almost always critical and antagonistic to John’s ministry. However, in these verses we find them appearing to side with John’s ministry as being more accurate. It is believed that the discussion centered around baptism and or ceremonial washing in essence focusing on which baptism John’s or Jesus’ was exactly right. John had not trouble setting the record straight as to what part he played in the greater scheme of things. He had only one purpose in his ministry that was to prepare the way for the Lord and point to the Christ himself fading into the background yielding to Christ and His ministry when He showed up. John had no greater joy than to offer his work and what God had accomplished through him over to God when Christ appeared on the scene. John the Baptist summed up his perspective in v. 30 in saying, ‘He must increase, but I must decrease’. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all were to adopt John the Baptist’s point of view?

In v. 31 the Apostle John continues making further declarations concerning Christ. Here John makes a distinction between God, His Kingdom, His Realm and real Truth and man’s position or viewpoint and opinion. In these verses John makes it very clear again at the end of v. 32 that man does not have the answers to life. We need to hear this message clearly in our day. Many would say that we are not listening very well in our day to what God is saying. Everyone has their own opinion, their opinion of their perception of truth. And, we want to voice our opinion and be heard. In a world that is so loud and clamorous it is only natural for us to want to speak up.  These verses are not about never having anything to say that is worth hearing. Jesus had ordained for us to carry the Truth of God and life to the world being or becoming His spokesman. Rom. 10:14-21 So, what we say is important. But, the question here is ‘What are we saying’, what do we believe and who are we speaking for? What is the foundation or source of what we say we believe? Is it our view or do we share the Truth from God’s perspective?

In these passages John is making a clear foundational statement for those who are seeking the Truth and wish to speak or share the same.  This is hard for us to swallow, but there is only one source for real Truth, and it did not come from us. In order to come to God one must realize and at least begin to admit that God has the Answers. And, if we are always telling everyone including God what we think, then we are not listening and especially not listening to what God is saying. This is an important message for a loud and busy world that likes to talk, but does not like to listen.

This passage relates to and goes in tandem with an earlier part of this chapter found in John 3:10-12 and 17- 21. This principle is essential to set as a foundation as we study this or any Gospel passage. We are the recipients of truth and from man’s earthly viewpoint or perspective we bring nothing of real value. That is not to say that God has not put in and witnessed to our heart at least some real truths having some substance or value. We were originally made or created for God and His Truth. Rom. 1:19-20 But, here John reminds us that with our fallen nature it is not natural for us to seek out or go after the truth.

In v. 32-5 John reminds us that God had to send Jesus to bear the truth to us because on our own it is only natural for man to reject the truth. The One that God sent from heaven however witnessed from a different source, that not of this earth, witnessing of and from a heavenly perspective.

It says in v. 34 that God did not give the truth sparingly to Jesus, Jesus not only had full access to the truth, but spoke the truth only. In v. 36 John declares that there is no middle ground. Either we believe and act on the truth that the Son declares being the recipient of the life that goes along with it or we reject the truth that the Son offers trusting man’s opinions and receive the judgment of not only physical death, but spiritual death as well.

The end of v. 36 is quite frightening. John makes it clear as to the end of one who chooses another path casually rejecting the truth of the Son and His offer of forgiveness and eternal life. One cannot deny the claim of the Gospel stated very clear here telling us that rejecting God’s offer of eternal life in Jesus Christ results in God’s wrath and judgment placed upon them. From man’s view man would say that this verse is narrow. From God’s view He would say it is essential, dealing with the problem of sin and is a message and truth that man would do well not to ignore.