The Book of John - 21

Introduction: We finished the first half of John chapter 3, which brings us to the testimony from John the Baptist found in verses 22-36.

John’s fuller testimony concerning the Lord Jesus Christ is found here.

Let’s read verses 22-36.

Let’s Pray.

Amen, as we begin to think about John the Baptist and the work God called Him to it should come to mind John’s important role in introducing the Lord Jesus Christ to the nation of Israel.

He was the forerunner for the Lord and really the last of a long line of Old Testament prophets.

As a matter of fact the Lord Jesus Christ calls Him more than a prophet in Matthew 11:9.

John is said to be the hinge of the door moving from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

In Acts 19, we have an account of the continuing influence that John had on the people.

Lets read together Acts 19 verses 1-5.

After reading that passage it makes sense that the Holy Spirit would give us further testimony concerning John’s ministry as it related to the Lord Jesus Christ.

You will notice first of all that we are given the background of this testimony.

There are two different locations indicated here.

The first states that “After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.” vs. 22

We notice in verse 22 here an important truth concerning fellowship and discipleship.

As one expositor stated, “The word tarried (dietriben) means to spend time with. It has the idea of spending much time in sharing and ministering.” Leadership Ministries Worldwide, The Gospel according to John, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2004), 70.

In the Gospel of Mark the Bible tells us in verse 14 of chapter 3, Mark 3:14 “14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,”

In verse 22, we find this same idea. You will notice that the Bible tells us “…he tarried with them...”

This speaks to fellowship and discipleship.

Are people ill-equipped to serve the Savior? If they are it is because they are not spending time with Him.

Are people ill-equipped to minister to others? If they are it is because they do not submit themselves to Christ in true discipleship.

This is key to Christian growth is being with the Lord.

And second to this is the outgrow of labour from our time with the Lord.

You will notice in the text that the labour of the ministry is indicated here in the final words “…and baptized...”

In other words, what makes us properly equipped to serve the Lord is being with Him.

We will see later on in John 4:2 that the Bible makes clear for us that Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples. “2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)”

I want you to understand that nothing the Lord did in His earthly ministry was arbitrary.

The places He went, the people He met, the time spent with the disciples and the words spoken to them was all purposeful.

And so, this is no accident.

The next location is identified as well and we are also told who is involved.

The Bible says in

John 3:23 “23 And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.”

Although this a place of abundant water (from Heb. ʿênayim, “double spring”) it has not yet been identified. (Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Aenon)

There are some good guesses as to where this might be. But we do know a few things.

We understand by the context that this was not too far from where the Lord and the disciples were.

There is a point made by the Holy Spirit to show us that there was a much water here.

The word ‘baptize’ that we have both in verses 22 and 23 , is a transliterated word which means to immerse, plunge or dip.

Because of the premium on water during this time of year, it was needful for John to be in this particular location where the Bible says there was much water.

By way of a side note, the idea of sprinkling and pouring referred to as effusion is foreign to the word baptize itself and certainly foreign to the NT Scriptures. The verses that we do have the speak to folks actually being baptized contextually indicate immersion.

There would come a time in the future when the baptism found in verse 22 would take on more significance identifying us with the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Romans 6:4 the Bible says, “4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

We can see in this passage the transitory time between the baptism of John the Baptist and what would be called Christian baptism.

Not only do we see the background of the testimony, but:

Secondly, the timing of the testimony.

John 3:24 “24 For John was not yet cast into prison.”

The design of this statement is to tell us that this incident took place between the time of the Lord entering into His public ministry, but before John’s imprisonment and execution.

Think about the important testimony this was concerning John who faithfully continued to serve the Lord.

Many get disillusioned with serving others when the limelight of men is not on them… this was not the case with John.

When you think about the John the Baptist, He could have decided to retire after the Lord came on the scene.

Instead we read that he demonstrated faithfulness until the end.

He would continue to stand vocally for truth and point others to the Lord until the day He was executed.

Secondly, we understand that those who stand for the Lord shall suffer persecution.

Why did persecution come to John the Baptist?

There was coming a time when John would be imprisoned and executed for standing for righteousness and the Lord Jesus Christ.

So now that the scene is set, we see that the Word of God gives us the question that prompted the testimony.

The question was concerning purifying and should men go to John or the Lord Jesus Christ.

Were they go to John to make their hearts clean or Jesus?

I want you to understand that there is no jealousy or rivalry recorded in Scripture between the Lord and John the Baptist.

But it seems in the heart of men this jealousy, pride and contention was springing up.

Notice what the Bible says,

John 3:25-26 “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.”

Verse 26 tells us that they did not even mention the Lord’s name, but rather simply “whom thou barest witness…”

Here we see the sin of pride and jealousy and contention in ministering to men.

I am reminded of Mark 9:38-40.

“38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part.”

The religious Jews were not immune to this, the disciples were not immune to this, no doubt John’s disciples were offended. And you and I are not immune to this either.

I’ll tell you, I have a difficulty at times when I see others that are “coming in the name of the Lord...” perhaps because of the way in which they conduct themselves in the Lord’s work.

How often this is seen today as people get their eyes off of the Lord and begin looking at other ministries thinking somehow that what they are doing is insignificant.

Or in equal measure perhaps grow fond of one who has been used mightily by the Lord and become jealous for man of God rather than the God of the man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the answer to these things? The Bible tells us in the following verses. It is found in the old hymn… Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

And so, the Spirit of truth according to John 15:26 has recorded for us a testimony of John Himself to clear up any confusion.

The Holy Spirit testifies of the Lord and here an explanation is given concerning the ministry of John the Baptist and the Lord.

There are seven points made in this passage concerning the Lord and John the Baptist, that folks needed to know.

We are going to cover perhaps just a few today.

The first is mentioned in verse 27.

Notice what the Word of God states, John 3:27

“27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”

This refers to the sovereignty of God.

Jesus alone is God’s appointed Messiah and John alone was the God’s appointed forerunner.

This statements apply to all men.

You see John the Baptist was appointed by God for His task as forerunner.

Our service to the Lord is at the will of the Master.

You and I must never forget this.

As we serve and minister to people, it is not of our own design, but at the good pleasure of our Lord.

John was not self-proclaimed. He was called by the Lord for the work God had for Him to do. And as long as John remained in submission to God, he was unmoveable.

Notice what John states in verse 28.

John 3:28 tells us, “28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.”

They had received testimony from John concerning the Lord.

As you look back at verse 26 this becomes evident.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Christ.

Imagine the temptation once again put before John to place Himself in the forefront… But yet John remained in submission to the Lord.

Secondly, the Lord Jesus Christ alone is the bridegroom.

Notice with me verse 29.

John 3:29 “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.”

Later on in the New Testament this picture of the church is developed further. We are the bride of Christ.

In Revelation 22:17 the Bible says, “17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

Who is the bride? The bride of Christ is the church.

In New Testament economy there are only three divisions of people.

I Corinthians 10:32 gives us those divisions, “32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:”

There is the Jew, the Gentile, and the church.

When a Jew or Gentile becomes as child of God in this dispensation, they are separated unto Christ as part of the church— the church is His bride.

In Ephesians chapter 5, Paul deals with a great mystery and and that is the church.

Ephesians 5:32 “32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

What is the relation of Christ to the church? He is the bridegroom and we are the bride.

John was the bridegroom’s friend. He was His “best man”.

John expresses here dogmatically, that He is the friend of the bridegroom, rejoicing for Him.

Notice what He states there at the end of verse 29, “…this my joy therefore is fulfilled.”

Knowing these things was pivotal for John. In other words, He knew His position and role concerning God’s plan. He states, “He must increase and I must decrease.”

This is the supreme mission of every Christian. For Him to have the preeminence in everything.

John was saying, I must get out of the way, for the King has come…

Thirdly, the Lord Jesus Christ was from above.

John 3:31 “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.”

In the previous section we saw the testimony of the Lord Himself as he stated John 3:13 “13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”

The apostle John had mad this abundantly clear in John chapter 1, but here we have yet another witnesses testifying to this fact.