John 3:22–36

²² After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. ²³ Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. ²⁴ For John had not yet been thrown into prison. ²⁵ Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. ²⁶ And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” ²⁷ John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ ²⁹ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. ³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease. ³¹ He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. ³² And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. ³³ He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. ³⁴ For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. ³⁶ He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Commentary

Vs. 22 “After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.”

Having proclaimed the Gospel to the city of Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples now move into the country region of Judea, it is here then that Jesus and His disciples begin baptizing, that is Jesus’ disciples were baptizing all the people who were coming to Him (see John 4:2). Now this ministry continues to this day as the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded us to make disciples of all nations and baptize them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:18-20).

Vs. 23 “Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.”

John the Baptist was also baptizing people at this time; continuing to do what God commanded him to do, and that is to prepare His people for their receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. And so, John continued baptizing in Aenon near Salim because there was much water there, clearly indicating that baptism was done by immersion.

Vs. 24 “For John had not yet been thrown into prison.”

With the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ and Johns declaration of His Person and his baptizing Him, Johns purposes had essentially been fulfilled. Nonetheless John was still baptizing because he had not yet been thrown into prison. For John would soon be arrested, and then put to death by Herod for preaching repentance to him and his household. Until then John continued baptizing people, and as we will see pointing them all to Christ.

Vs. 25 “Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.”

Now while John was baptizing a dispute arose between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification, which likely indicates that the Jews were disputing with some of John’s disciples about his baptism and maybe its worth or efficacy, given that the Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples are now baptizing.

Vs. 26 “And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

Therefore, Johns disciples likely being unsettled by them, now come to him and tell him of Jesus’ growing ministry, saying, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

Vs. 27 “John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.”

Now Johns response to his disciple’s concern that all are now coming to Jesus rather than to him, is not be unsettled by this news, for he says to his disciples, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” For just as his own ministry was given to him by heaven, so the Lord Jesus Christ who came down from heaven is now being moved to the forefront of all things. For it is heavens will that He be exalted before all.

Vs. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’

Thus, John reminds his disciples that he has already testified to them that he is not the Christ, i.e. the one they are to be looking too for salvation, rather he was sent before Him to prepare the way for Him. 

Vs. 29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.”

John now uses the analogy of the best man at his friends wedding to describe his role and his joy at hearing the Lord Jesus Christ, and seeing Him come into God’s Will, Plan, and Purposes for Him. 

Vs. 30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

In one simple statement then John then describes what must take place and not just in his own ministry and life, but also in all of ours as well. For Jesus Christ must increase, but we must decrease, meaning Jesus must be the only One whom we are proclaiming and exalting, not ourselves, nor anyone else.

Vs. 31 “He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.”

John now makes it abundantly clear that He who is from above, that is the Lord Jesus Christ, is above all, above John himself, above the prophets, above the saints, above anyone or anything, the Lord Jesus Christ is above all! For He alone is Almighty God from heaven, who has come down from heaven to live and dwell amongst mortal mankind. In contrast then is he who is only of the earth, that is a mere mortal man whose origins begin down here. And so though he maybe charismatic, or charming, or whatever else he is, has, or does that appeals to people, he is only of the earth, therefore he only speaks of the earth, that is earthly things, for he is of the earth, he has no Divine Experience’s, Nor Divine Knowledge, Nor Divine Understanding of heaven as Him who alone came down from it. Therefore, John reiterates once again that, “He who comes from heaven is above all.” Therefore, all must follow Christ Jesus the Lord as John the Baptist makes clear here.

Vs. 32 “And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.”

Jesus Christ then who is from heaven, thus testifies to what He has seen and heard (from His Father in heaven); and no one receives His testimony. That is the world, for had world believed His Testimony and received His Person all of its problems would’ve been solved and resolved once and for all!

Vs. 33 “He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.”

The world may have rejected Christ’s Testimony, but John didn’t, instead he received Christ’s Testimony and he (like all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ) has certified that God is true. For everyone who believes and receives the Lord Jesus Christ’s Testimony will also certify that God is true! For the amazing transformation that He works in us, and blesses us with, with all the fruits of His Holy Spirit is undeniably true! For the new creation and everlasting and abundant life is only found in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17)! The beginning of which we have down here, but the fullness we will receive up there in heaven! Having then experienced the fullness of Christ we also certify that God is true (antithesis 1 John 5:10).

Vs. 34 “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.”

The Lord Jesus Christ then being sent from God speaks the words of God, there is then no excuse for anyone not believing and obeying Him. Now that God does not give His Spirit by measure means that the Lord Jesus had all the Power of the Holy Spirit which He manifested time again so that we might all believe both His Words and His Works.

Now on a side note believers likewise do not receive the Holy Spirit by measure, that is some of Him at their salvation and then more of Him later on as the follow Christ, rather we receive all the fullness of Him at salvation, all the gifts, all the fruits, everything of Him we receive at salvation. “For God does not give His Spirit by measure.”

Vs. 35-36 ³⁵ The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. ³⁶ He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

God the Father loves Jesus Christ His Son and He has committed all things into His hand. Everything in creation then has been committed to the Son of God, including and most importantly for us all both the Judgment and Eternal salvation! Therefore, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” There is first then the Promise of eternal life for everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, for that is how one receives eternal salvation by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, Crucified and Risen from the dead. Not by works, not by good deeds, but by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone (Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:8-9). That said there can then be no doubt as to the seriousness and eternal consequences of not believing in the Son of God! For God’s wrath rests on everyone who does not believe in His Son! Not that it is now being fully exercised on them, but it rests there awaiting the Day when His Son the Lord Jesus Christ will Judge the world in Righteousness, for then it shall be exercised, and then there will be no recourse, only eternal regret. The time of repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ then is now! For God’s grace always precedes His Judgment, but it will not keep it from falling on the unrepentant and unbelieving! Therefore, while we are all under the umbrella of God’s grace, be reconciled to God today, for tomorrow maybe to late!

Scripture Quotations 
New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.