John 3:22 thru 36

How do we know if we can TRUST someone?

(Open discussion)

Note: At this point Jesus had not been crucified thus had not yet risen from the dead.

• John has now been on the scene for a good period of time.

• We just went through the account of Nicodemus.

• Jesus verifies the teaching of John.

• John is the precursor to Jesus, and he verifies John's message.

• John is NOT the Messiah and he makes it clear that the Messiah is Jesus.

• But, John had several followers and he makes a very special emphasis on the fact that everyone needs to follow Jesus. Not him.

• Jesus basically continued to do the work that John had been doing and obviously was still doing.

Read John 3:22 thru 30.

• John's disciples were obviously concerned, if not upset, that Jesus was baptizing a lot of people.

• Remember that those being baptized had professed faith / commitment to God.

• This was not a baptism of faith in Christ.

• Christ had not yet been crucified or obviously risen from the dead.

• (The thief on the cross next to Jesus) and (Prior believers).

• John's explanation was easy to understand. It talks about a Jewish wedding.

• Verse 27 refers to a gift given from heaven / God.

• Basically he told them to be "GREATFUL".

• John refers to himself as a "best man" at a wedding.

• His job is to show and bring honor to the Bridegroom.

• The focus of attention is on the Bridegroom, not the best man.

Reference: Turning the water to wine at the "wedding".

John 2:1-4

At that wedding Jesus was a guest. Not the bridegroom. Not the focus of attention.

• The wedding being referred to here puts Jesus at the focus of attention as the bridegroom.

John 3:30 NIV

• An absolute genius example.

• John is stating that he is actually glad to give over his followers to the bridegroom. JESUS!!!

• They should be glad too.

Verses 31 thru 36

• John again emphasizes that Jesus came from Heaven.

• Jesus is God.

• There was no other human being that could make that claim.

• John was exceptionally spiritual and spiritually wise. But he did not come from heaven. He is not God.

• Jesus speaks God's words.

• God gives the spirit.

OUR MESSAGE

[36] Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

ODB November 6 devotional