"Come and See": A Web Commentary on the Gospel of John: Section 3 New Beginnings

Section 3.4: New Witness by John the Baptist (prompted by Jesus' baptismal ministry) (Jn 3.22-36)

²²Afterwards Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside and he spent time there with them and baptised. ²³John was also baptising in Aenon, near Salim, because there was abundant water there. And people were coming there and being baptised ²⁴(for John had not yet been thrown into prison). ²⁵Then a dispute took place between John's disciples and a Judean about purification. ²⁶And they went to John and said to him, 'Rabbi, the one that was with you on the other side of the Jordan, to whom you yourself have borne witness -- look, he is baptising and everyone is going to him!' ²⁷John answered and said, 'A person cannot take anything except what is given to them by heaven.²⁸You yourselves bear witness to me, that I said, "I myself am not the Messiah" but that I said, "I am one sent before him." ²⁹It's the bridegroom that gets the bride; the bridegroom's friend, the one that stands and hears him, joyfully rejoices at the bridegroom's voice. So my own joy has been fulfilled. ³⁰He must grow and I must become smaller.

³¹'The one who comes from above is above all; the earthly person is of the earth and speaks in accordance with earthly matters. The one who comes from heaven is above all things; ³²he bears witness to what he has seen and what he heard, and no-one receives his witness. ³³The person who does receive his witness has authenticated with a seal that¹ God is true. ³⁴For the one that God sent speaks God's words; indeed he gives the Spirit without measure. ³⁵The Father loves the Son and has put everything in his hands as a gift. ³⁶The one who puts their trust in the Son has everlasting life, the one who disobeys the Son will not see life but the wrath of God rests upon them.'

Return to the Outline

Return to the opening menu.