The Gospel of John 3:22-36 (Messiah or Prophet?) – Angelic Wars

The Gospel of John 3:22-36 (Messiah or Prophet?)



 

Here is the next section: John 3:22-36 where John the Baptist distinguishes himself from Jesus.

After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized.  (This was before John was put in prison.) An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 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.”

 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 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.  He must become greater; I must become less.”

 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. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.  For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.




Questions and discussion:

  1. What did John mean by “a person can receive only what is given them from Heaven?”
  2. What was John trying to say by his analogy of his story of the bridegroom and bridegroom’s friend?
  3. Who is speaking in verses 31-36, John the Baptist or John the Evangelist (Gospel writer?)



Leave a Comment:

3 comments
Anna says June 29, 2023

1. What did John mean by a person can receive only what is given to them from Heaven?
Every single thing that a person receives comes from God. It might be a spiritual insight or financial prosperity or something important like the grace of the Holy Spirit, everything is given by God because of his outpouring love for us. He gives us gifts everyday regardless whether it is small or big, it is what we need. The more we realize that everything is a miracle and that everything is a gift from God, then a certain “knowing” hits us how loved we are by God. That he will always take care of us especially during our dark times. Learn to trust him, he is always there with us. And if we fill our hearts with gratitude and surrender our will to his will, he will shower us with more blessings and abundance. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

2. What was John trying to say by his analogy of his story of the bridegroom and the bridegroom’s friend?
The “friend of the bridegroom” here is John the Baptist. The Baptizer compares himself to the friend of the bridegroom or what we call today the best man. It is the role of the best man to stand before the groom, to listen to him and assist him in any manner he can. It is his role to help him, to be his advocate and his friend. When the groom has his bride, the best man is joyful. He is not jealous or angry, because that outcome is exactly what he wanted in the first place. John the Baptist has acted like a best man for Jesus.

3. Who is speaking in verses 31-36, John the Baptist or John the Evangelist (Gospel Writer).
John the Baptist.

Reply
    Rick says June 29, 2023

    Hi Anna,

    Thank you for your insights. I agree with you that miracles happen every day. Just the biological function of life, for example. There are multiple things that have to work perfectly for us to see. Any variation results in blindness.

    Even though we can explain a lot of things with science, we cannot explain science’s assumptions, For example, why the speed of light is constant, or why sound and light waves cycle the way they do. I will post my comments next week.

    Reply
Rick says July 6, 2023

1. What did John mean by “a person can receive only what is given them from Heaven?”

John’s ability and ministry were limited to what God has granted to him. He was saying that Jesus could not have been doing the miracles that he was doing if it did not come from God. All good things come from God. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17). Even a ruler’s power is given to them by God. “Jesus answered, ‘You [Jewish Head Priest] would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”’ (John 19:11). In other words, John was saying to let Jesus do his work and not be indignant about it because it was from God.

2. What was John trying to say by his analogy of his story of the bridegroom and bridegroom’s friend?

As commented by Anna, John is the messenger (friend of the bridegroom) preparing the way for Jesus. All attention is shifted to Jesus from John.

3. Who is speaking in verses 31-36, John the Baptist or John the Evangelist (Gospel writer?)

Nobody is sure, but both John the Baptist and John the Evangelist are inspired by the Holy Spirit. I tend to think John (writer of the Gospel) since I don’t recall John the Baptist referring to Jesus as the Son of God but as the Messiah.

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