After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[h]31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God[i] gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. John 3 ( NIV )
John the Baptist continued his work of baptizing the people, but his overarching goal had been met. He had begun a work to prepare the way for the Lord, and the Lord had arrived and was beginning to make His huge splash.
A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord[a];
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.[b]
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord[a];
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.[b]
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Is 40 ( NIV )
and all people will see it together.For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Is 40 ( NIV )
John makes another statement about calling this Man the Messiah, by stating that he was sent before the Messiah, and that he must become lesser. He seems to be clarifying, by saying his disciples can testify themselves that he is not the Messiah, that he, John, has already claimed he is not the Messiah.
People tend, overall, to be loyal to their groups, which can be good and it can be bad. If people have joined up with cults, or gang style groups, it is nearly impossible to convince people to change their minds. However, being in a cohesive group is considered healthy behavior. We are socially minded people, even the most introverted of us. Therefore, naturally, John the Baptist's followers had a deep connection to him, and felt irritation at this interloper who was drawing people away from John.
John, however, knowing as he did that he must vanish from the scene, while Christ filled the spotlight--became the spotlight.
John the Baptist chastises his followers, and yet, in Matthew, Christ Himself calls John the greatest man ever on earth, all while stating those least in Heaven will be greater.[11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11 ( NIV )] John's job was incredibly important, calling the lost of Israel (and the Gentile world) to God. He is very reminiscent of Elijah, speaking to the lost of Israel.
There are 400 years between the last book of the OT and the NT. The same length of time the Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt. A new salvation from the slavery of sin was now being introduced. This silence from God was finished with the arrival of Elijah, as is suggested by Jay Mack...though this also sounds like the second coming of Christ. “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse" Mal 4.5-6.
It is interesting to note that at the start of the New Testament, Herod the Great, a descendant of Esau, was ruling. It explains some of the dislike of him, though any who had stepped onto the side of the Romans was disliked, since they were generally dishonest. Consider, for example, the hatred of tax collectors. The Sanhedrin was run more of a political mind than a religious, showing some of the darkness that had entered into human hearts once again. ( GotQuestions )
John, however, knowing as he did that he must vanish from the scene, while Christ filled the spotlight--became the spotlight.
John the Baptist chastises his followers, and yet, in Matthew, Christ Himself calls John the greatest man ever on earth, all while stating those least in Heaven will be greater.[11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11 ( NIV )] John's job was incredibly important, calling the lost of Israel (and the Gentile world) to God. He is very reminiscent of Elijah, speaking to the lost of Israel.
There are 400 years between the last book of the OT and the NT. The same length of time the Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt. A new salvation from the slavery of sin was now being introduced. This silence from God was finished with the arrival of Elijah, as is suggested by Jay Mack...though this also sounds like the second coming of Christ. “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse" Mal 4.5-6.
It is interesting to note that at the start of the New Testament, Herod the Great, a descendant of Esau, was ruling. It explains some of the dislike of him, though any who had stepped onto the side of the Romans was disliked, since they were generally dishonest. Consider, for example, the hatred of tax collectors. The Sanhedrin was run more of a political mind than a religious, showing some of the darkness that had entered into human hearts once again. ( GotQuestions )
John refers to himself as the friend of the groom (Messiah), while waiting for the time to go and see the Bride (Israel/Believers). The friend of the groom, as we might know as being groomsmen or bridesmaids, are delights for the Bride and Groom, and happy for them and what they are doing. Yet there is that faint sadness that we might find in the wedding as well. In Jewish cultures, this one man is the liaison between bridge and groom. He will only let the right man, the Groom, into the Bridal chamber, to ensure the Bride is not molested, and stands guard before the bridal chamber. He ensures all goes right with the wedding from the very start. He, too, gradually faded out of this picture, as he certainly had no other part to play in the marriage of his friend.
Now that Christ was beginning to work, John was more than willing to step back. He had started the marriage process between Christ and Israel--and would help as needed. In a marriage, though, it is all down to the Bride and Groom.
John then moves on to pointing out that Christ is more powerful and important that he is--or, really, he is pointing out that Christ is of God, from God and is God, if only those listening will listen. He reiterates in several ways the way of salvation, if only the people will listen. John also says that He gives the Spirit without limit, which is unique, as before this time, the Spirit did not remain with the People for the length of time that we are blessed to be able to carry with us.
I have to say verse 33 is a bit terrifying. It states that "Whoever has accepted it has certified God is truthful"--which means that those who will not believe that Christ is the Messiah are stating boldly that God is a liar. The thought sours in my mind, and my heart shudders at the idea of calling God Himself a liar.
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