John the Baptist Exalts Christ

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Psalm Reading

Psalm 48:12–14 ESV

Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.

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Prayer Meeting - 7:30pm

Friday 7pm - Online

Sunday Morning 11am & 6pm

Tithes & Offerings - £

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Reading

John 3:22–36 ESV

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison). Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.” He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Sermon

John 3:22 ESV

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.

Jesus & 6 Disciples

Andrew & Simon

Phillip & Nathanael

John & James

John 4:2 states that Jesus did not baptise but was done by his disciples

Transition from jewish to Christian baptisms

Both - the need of spiritual cleansing, brought about by the blood and spirit of Christ, the Lamb of God

Jesus not baptising puts himself above John the Baptist

Later Christian Baptism will be into the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19)

Baptism also extends to Gentiles

John 3:23–24 ESV

John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).

Aenon had 7 springs

Gradually people were gravitating to Jesus’ disciples rather than John

John 3:25–28 ESV

Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’

Discussion arose between John’s Disciples & a Jew over purification

They speak to john - with bitter complaint

“Rabbi he wo was with you across the Jordon, to whom you bore witness - look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him”

“A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him’”

John 3:29 ESV

The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

The bridge belongs to the bridegroom

John equates himself to the friend who rejoices

John 3:30 ESV

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John affirms that his ministry is coming to an end

John affirms that this is the expressed Will of God

John 3:31 ESV

He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.

Jesus comes from above, The Christ, & God himself

John affirms himself as being just human

John 3:32–33 ESV

He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.

Our natural state is to reject the testimony

Those who accept that Jesus is the Son of God

sets their seal, that God is True

John 3:34–35 ESV

For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

John affirms that he has been sent by God, and proclaims God’s Word

Jesus is the Christ, and he is the Son of God, whom he loves and has given all things

John 3:36 ESV

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life

Whoever does not will see the wrath of God

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Closing Prayer

Doxology