John 3:22-36 - He Must Increase - The Mysteries of God's Word

Crowds shifting, disciples anxious, and a prophet who refuses to compete. John 3:22–36 gives us one of the most human ministry moments in the New Testament: people start leaving John the Baptist and heading to Jesus for baptism, and it looks like a leadership crisis waiting to happen. Instead, John answers with calm conviction and a line that still confronts our pride: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” 

We walk through the setting in the Judean countryside and Aenon near Salim, then follow the spark that lights the conflict, a debate over purification. What sounds like a technical argument about rituals quickly reveals a deeper question about humility, repentance, and who is the true leader of God’s people. From there we unpack John’s response: God’s sovereignty over every opportunity, John’s role as the forerunner, and the bride and bridegroom picture where John plays the friend who rejoices to hear the groom’s voice. 

The conversation then opens into a sweeping testimony about Jesus Christ: the One from above, above all, speaking the words of God. We connect the passage to key themes in the Gospel of John, including how Jesus is sent from God, how the Holy Spirit was given without measure, the Father’s great love for the Son, and Christ’s preeminence. 

Finally, we sit with the weight of John 3:36 and its two outcomes: belief in the Son that brings eternal life, or disobedience that leaves the wrath of God remaining. 

If you want a clearer view of John's baptism, humility in leadership, and the core message of salvation by faith in Jesus, listen now, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Transcript

Wrapping Up John Chapter Three

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Grace and peace to you. And thank you again for joining me for the mysteries of God's Word. Today we're going to be wrapping up John chapter three. We'll begin at verse twenty two. After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them, and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Anon, near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized, for John had not yet been put in prison. In our first three verses, we see how Jesus, after he had been in Jerusalem for the Passover and visited with Nicodemus, he went into the local countryside. It says

Jesus Baptizes In Judea

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Jesus went into the Judean countryside. Now Judea is a region. In America, we might associate it with a county. Judea is where the city of Jerusalem resides. So Jesus left the city of Jerusalem and went out into the rural areas of Judea. And we find the first record of Jesus baptizing new believers. We also see that some of the crowd that had been going to John the Baptist to be baptized start going to Jesus to be baptized. Just a little bit of a side note here: Jesus wasn't actually doing the baptizing, but his disciples were. We find that out in verse 26. Nevertheless, what's important in this context is that people were leaving John the Baptist's ministry and going over to Jesus' ministry to be baptized. And the Gospel of John is the only gospel that records this short overlap between John the Baptist's ministry and Jesus' ministry. What an amazing time this must have been, as both are preaching repentance and the coming kingdom of heaven while baptizing new converts. Now, the specific area where John the Baptist was baptizing, known as Anknown, is in the region of Samaria. Anknown means springs, and there are locations yet today in that area that have plenty of water. And we see in verse 24 that John the Baptist had not yet been put in prison. This is such a perfect example of how the Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John harmonize together to fit in the big picture. In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, they record John the Baptist being put into prison right after Jesus' temptation. But here in the Gospel of John, he describes this very short overlap in their ministries. I believe the reason the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle John to write this is because the Apostle John was a disciple of John the Baptist, and so he was compelled to document this important overlap in ministries. Picking up in verse 25. Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him,

Purification Debate Sparks Tension

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Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him. Let's pause right there. In these two verses we see that a discussion arose between some of John the Baptist's disciples and a Jew. Now, many of John the Baptist's disciples were Jewish. But the fact that it mentions this Jew in particular implies that this is a religious Jew, not a follower of John the Baptist. And in a similar way to how in chapter 1 the Levites came to question John the Baptist, these Jews are coming to discuss the rites of purification with John's disciples. Now, the Jewish religion had created many ceremonies which grew out of the Old Testament cleansing laws with water. What God had originally intended to be a method of showing humility had become an overwhelming list of human effort and obligation. In fact, the very ritual of baptism by immersion in water itself was a ceremony that grew out of cleansing laws. It had long been a tradition administered by the Jews to Gentiles when they converted to Judaism. And John the Baptist was not only baptizing and cleansing Gentiles, but he was also baptizing Jews and calling them to repentance. From what we read about John's baptism in Scripture, it's very likely that this debate between John's disciples and this Jew over purification had something to do with how John's purification baptism was connected with Jesus. Because in the very next verse, verse 26, the disciples of John the Baptist come to him, and they point out how Jesus is baptizing the way he is baptizing, and people are going to him. Now here's the real heart of this issue. After this Jew had come to question John's disciples about the purification methods of John's baptism, the conversation quickly turned to the ministry of Jesus. And how Jesus is baptizing in a similar way to John. Certainly to the Jewish leaders, this new baptism was getting out of control. So the disciples of John the Baptist go and tell him how people are starting to follow the new rabbi Jesus. It seemed like a conflict of ministries, if you will, to the disciples of John the Baptist. And John the Baptist answered A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness

John Replies With Humble Clarity

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that I said I am not the Christ, but I've been sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease. In these four verses, John the Baptist begins to talk with his disciples, and he begins by talking about God's sovereignty, how God is sovereign over all good things, in particular the ministry opportunities that John has been part of. With the concerns of his own disciples, who are certainly loyal to John the Baptist, John makes sure to emphasize how God is in control of all things concerning his kingdom. And then John points out how they themselves are a witness to his witness. He tells them they know full well about his testimony that he is not the Christ. And they can and they should bear witness of this. Then John the Baptist uses the analogy of the bride and the bridegroom. In scriptures, one of the common analogies about the kingdom of God is it's compared to a wedding. A wedding that takes place between God and his people. The bride is the people of God, his church, believers. The bridegroom is the Messiah, Jesus. Then John the Baptist talks about being the friend of the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom in this context, who stands and hears him, is the best man. John is saying that he stood beside Jesus like his best man would, that he's helped to prepare this great wedding. And now he, like a best man at a wedding, who puts all his effort into helping the groom to get things prepared, to get things ready. Now that the groom is ready for this big event and he begins to speak his vows to the bride, the best man rejoices when he sees his friend speak the vows. And he's very blessed because he put in all this effort. And John says, My joy is now complete. John the Baptist is overjoyed to know that everything is going according to the plan of God, and that his cousin, Jesus, is beginning his ministry. That Jesus, the promised Messiah, just as John had prepared for, just as God had promised, is beginning his ministry. Finally, John says, He must increase, but I must decrease. John the Baptist understands that his purpose has always been to point to Jesus. Now that the ministry of Jesus is starting to get some momentum, John's work will be slowing down, if not ending. Picking up in verse thirty-one. He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from

Christ From Above And Preeminent

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heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and what he has heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this that God is true. In verses thirty-one through thirty-three, John the Baptist begins to give testimony about Christ. He begins to give glory to God. These verses have a similar tone to what Jesus said back in verses eleven through thirteen of this very chapter. While man is of the earth and knows things of the earth, Jesus is above all things. He has been seated with the Father. And because of that, he is the only one who can truly reveal the Father and the Father's will. Jesus, the Son of God being God, is above all human teachers. His words are the very words of God given by the Father. Jesus is preeminent in all things. Colossians one hundred eighteen reads He is the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. John the Baptist is giving very specific reasons to his disciples why his ministry must decrease and the ministry of Jesus must increase. Jesus once said that John the Baptist was considered the greatest man ever to be born among men. However, he was still just a man of the earth. Only Jesus, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, has seen God the Father face to face and been at his side. And John says, yet no one receives his testimony. Generally speaking, the world at that time rejected the testimony of Jesus Christ. And this is still true today. There are billions of people and thousands of man-made religions that reject the grace and salvation and the truth of the deity found in Jesus Christ. This is the great condemnation that rests on mankind, those who reject the truth. However, even more responsible are those who lived at the very time of Jesus Christ's appearance, those who saw his works, who heard his testimony firsthand. Then John the Baptist says, Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. A person that believes and receives Jesus Christ and his testimony will be committed to believing in the truth of God's word and testifying to the Son Jesus Christ. They will testify how Jesus came to the world as God to save us from our sin. The gospel of Jesus Christ is an invitation to add ourselves to all who have staked their lives on Jesus Christ, the truth sent from God. Verse thirty four continues. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things

The Spirit Without Measure

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into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. In the last three verses of this chapter, John the Baptist finishes his testimony about Christ and the gospel of Christ. There are thirty-nine times in the Gospel of John that the apostle refers to Jesus as being sent from God, because Jesus speaks the very words of God, and he reveals the very nature of God the Father to us. Verse 34 talks about how God gave the Holy Spirit to Jesus without limits while he was ministering here on earth. Because the Father loves the Son. The relationship between God the Father and God the Son is intimate and perfect. There is complete trust and confidence. While the Son was here on earth, the Father and the Holy Spirit empowered him as he submitted to their predestined plan. After his resurrection, the Son of God was exalted to rule and reign over all creation by Father God. The Son of God rules over all things throughout this church age. The Son of God will bring the judgment of the nations at his second coming. The Son of God will reign during the thousand year physical kingdom until all things have been put under his feet. And finally, at the conclusion of his reign on earth, the Son of God will judge all of history, and every man that has ever lived at the great white throne judgment, where all of the books will be opened. And then the new heavens and the new earth will be ushered in, and God will be all in all. In verse thirty six we have the conclusion of this chapter, where the apostle John lays out only two options for mankind genuine faith or willful disobedience.

Two Paths Eternal Life Or Wrath

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Genuine faith are those who believe in the Son and have eternal life. All who believe in God's Son have eternal life. And eternal life begins the moment they believe that Jesus Christ was risen from the dead and they confess him as their Lord. John five twenty four reads Truly, truly I say to you, Whoever hears my word and believes him who has sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but is passed from death to life. And Ephesians one thirteen reads In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. The other option, other than genuine belief, is willful disobedience. Those who do not obey the Son will not see life. This is where all of mankind begins in unbelief. While unbelief is tragic ignorance, it is also willful disobedience to the clear light of God's revelation. Romans one twenty reads for his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power, his divine nature have clearly been perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made, so men are without excuse. In Acts seventeen, thirty through thirty one read The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed, and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead. Those who do not believe on Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord have the wrath of God remaining on them. The wrath of God is God's righteous reaction against evil, and all of mankind sits in this fallen condition, in rebellion. But God has revealed light to mankind. God has shown mercy to his creation, and the light of his grace came through his Son Jesus Christ. Those who refuse to acknowledge the goodness of God and trust in his Son remain under His wrath. Romans two eight reads But for those who are self seeking, who do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. Thank you for joining me for the conclusion of John chapter three. God bless you this week.