Today’s text tells us about Jesus’ most early ministry. Read today’s text. Jesus had just finished teaching Nicodemus about the new birth. Our text tells us that right after that, Jesus and His disciples went out into the Judean countryside where He spent some time with them in ministry and people were being baptized. Who was doing the actual baptizing (John 4:2)?
Verses 23-24 tell us that John the Baptist was also still baptizing up the river in a place called Aenon as this was still before the time that John the Baptist was put into prison by Herod. We can see from our text that some of John the Baptist’s disciples had gotten into an argument with a certain Jew over an issue concerning purification (KJV)/ceremonial washing (NIV). The Bible doesn’t tell us here exactly what the issue was. We know that the Old Testament contained many rules about purification and cleansing but that both John and Jesus were teaching a Gospel of repentance from sin.
Whatever happened that day, the men were riled up and they came to John. They addressed him as a teacher, or Rabbi, and began to remind him of Jesus, the one who had been with him on the other side of the Jordan, and of whom he had testified. They called to John’s attention that Jesus also had a ministry where baptism was occurring and people were starting to go to Him instead of John. John’s disciples were concerned that Jesus was becoming more popular than John.
In verses 27-28 John tells them that one can only receive whatever is given to them from Heaven. He reminds them that they themselves were witnesses to Him saying that He was not the Messiah but that He came to make way for the Messiah. John wanted to be sure that they understood he was not in competition with Jesus. He prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry, but the ministry belonged to Jesus, it had been given to Him from Heaven. Jesus was the Messiah, not John. John then went on to speak of himself as being like the friend who attends the bridegroom. That friend is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s arrival and so John’s joy was now complete since the Messiah had come.
John told the disciples that Jesus must become greater and that he, John, must become less. John understood something very important. Many times, people try to do great things in service to God, but they want the spotlight and the recognition. However, the thing that really matters in ministry is that the focus be on God… that He get the glory for whatever is done in His name. Whatever things we do, they should always be done with the goal of glorifying God’s name. We should not in be competition with God for honor and glory (I Cor 10:31, Col 3:17, 23).
John then begins to teach something similar to what Jesus taught Nicodemus about Jesus having already been in Heaven and seen Heaven. Jesus comes from above and can teach and testify to the things He has seen and heard, but John is from below and can only speak as one from below (John 8:23). Jesus is above all and yet, man below does not always receive His teaching. Still, some receive His seal of truth. What do you think differentiates the men who receive the truth of Jesus and those who do not? Jesus speaks the words of His Father who sent Him and the Father gives to Him the Holy Spirit, a Spirit which has no limit (Acts 10:38). The Father gives all things into the Son’s hands.
In verse 36, John concludes with the same teaching Jesus gave Nicodemus. Whoever believes on the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son, will receive God’s wrath (I John 5:12). We can compare Jesus’s teaching to Nicodemus with John’s teaching here among his disciples and see that their ministries are not in competition. Both men are preaching the repentance of sins and belief in the Messiah who has come. Both ministries bring glory to the Father in Heaven.
Responding to God: Worship Jesus as the Messiah, thanking Him for His saving grace and His willingness to go to the cross. Confess your sins to Him and make it your goal to follow closely in His footsteps. Tell others of His saving grace and ask the Holy Spirit to empower you in leading others to Him. Pray that He will help you to make yourself less so that you may glorify His Name in the Highest.
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