Introduction
Take a moment and find Aenon on the map. Note that Aenon is near the border of Samaria. This is a very important place, and we need to ask the question — why was John the Baptist near Samaria? What was he doing there? Up until this time, he had spent his time preparing the way for the Messiah among the Jewish people, like a voice crying in the desert, making straight the path (Isa. 40:3). John had been focused on the Jews, so why is he here near Samaria? And by the way — why did John not leave his ministry of preparing the way and just follow after Jesus like he tells his disciples too? Well, let’s see what we can uncover.
Reading [You can read as much as you can, depending on your availability]
John 3:22-36
Meditating [Use these questions to start your thinking]
- Up to this point, what do you know about John the Baptist?
- How would you describe John’s character?
- What is John modelling for us?
- What other questions do you still have?
Sharing: Text ONE of your answers to the questions above to your team. Each team should post a sharing from a team member in the comments below.
Today we have two men of God, Jesus and John, who both have been sent by God the Father and are having effective ministries. Their ministries are at a turning point, because Jesus’ ministry is beginning to eclipse John’s. Here at Aenon, much of what we learn about Jesus is seen through the eyes of Jesus’ friend, John. Did you miss that part? Okay, let me paint the picture — at least how I envision this meeting took place. I imagine that after John identified Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), Jesus told John that he needed to continue to prepare the way and that John’s work was not yet done. So, Jesus sent John ahead of Him to keep doing what he was doing. This will become clearer tomorrow as we look at Jesus when He comes to the Samaritan people.
John’s disciples have an argument with another Jew about how his baptism fits in with Jewish ceremonial washing. This other Jew puts down John’s ministry, pointing out that Jesus is now baptising more people than John. As a result, John’s disciples come to him (v. 26) and want to know why Jesus’ ministry is growing and John’s is shrinking. Wow! Go back and read verses 27-30 and discover the heart of a real man of God, a real disciple of Jesus. Go ahead.
Here are key points of a man of God from John the Baptist:
One: John knew who he was and who Jesus was. John knew Jesus was the Messiah and that Jesus was the Bridegroom. John knows who he is, the friend of the Bridegroom. In fact, the best man. I can imagine John the Baptist one day fulfilling the role as Jesus’ best man in the great marriage feast of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9).
Two: John had discovered the source of real joy and it did not lie in how the ministry was doing or the circumstances of life, but in being next to the Bridegroom and listening to His voice. Don’t miss this. John says, “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” (John 3:29). John’s joy was complete because he stood next to the Bridegroom and heard Him speak. Real joy is only found next to the Bridegroom, listening to His voice.
Third: John knew that after he heard Jesus speak, he could do nothing but obey. John knew that it was all about Jesus and not about him. It is all about being Jesus-centred and not me-centred. John says that he must become less so that Jesus can become more (John 3:30). It is all about dying to ourselves and becoming obedient to His will. John is one of the clearest pictures of a man who has learned to die to self and live to Christ. He found the source of real joy in Jesus.
A foundational key is the priority of being with Jesus and listening to His voice. I cannot tell you how important this is if you are to grow as a true disciple of Jesus Christ, one who is able to make disciples. You must practice the presence of God. You must get before God, listen and obey no matter what. You must die to self and allow Jesus to live through you. Find a friend who knows Jesus and discuss what it means to decrease so that He might increase in you.
What is John modelling for us?
I think John demonstrates his humility as a servant. He knows his place and he knows where he stands. He knows that he comes to prepare the way of the Lord, not to become the Lord. He served God with a humble heart and always put Jesus in the center, not himself. Plus, even when Jesus starts baptizing people, John didn’t just stop his ministry. He continues to baptize people. Verse 30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” That’s just a powerful verse to me because it shows the heart of a true servant, serving God because of God, not for our own glory.
What is John modelling for us?
I love that verse too Amber! “He must increase & I must decrease.” What a daily reminder that Christ is sovereign in our lives and we are to submit our desires of anything else to Him. John is also humble as he says in vs. 28, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” It is only through Christ that we are saved & John used the opportunity to make it very clear He is not the Promised one but only God’s worker.
We know from the past that John is a follower of Jesus. He saw himself not worthy to baptize Jesus and in today’s reading, I was able to see more of that humility. He speaks about God with pure admiration and sees himself as a friend of Jesus and recognizes his role as a friend “the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice” (v.29). Unlike Nicodemus, he is faithful and bold. He is not hiding in the shadows when he meets with Jesus. He publicly baptizes Jesus and goes out to preach the truths and finds joy in rejoicing God.
Similar to Cody today I can see how John is very humble and he is telling the people that everything is doing isn’t from him he has been given authority from God to do it to prepare the way for Christ. Just same as Cody as well He must increase as I must decrease. A lot of my family especially my cousins and the kids I coach ask me why I live the way I live with certain things I don’t do or say and just realizing how much God has transformed my life is showing that he’s changed me by fochsing less on what I want and more of what he wants for me.