John 3:22-36 – Bible Study & Exploration
He Must Become Greater
(Verses 22-28) After a very significant teaching moment with Nicodemus and stirring things up in the temple courts of Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples venture out into the Judean countryside. There they would come upon John the baptizer once again as they slowly make their way up through Samaria.
A few of John the baptizer’s followers can see that Jesus is nearby baptizing new followers also. His disciples engage in an discussion which reveals their discontent with those going to Jesus for baptism rather than John the baptizer.
John the baptizer has to explain to his followers his position as the one who is to make the way for the One who is greater than he, which would be Jesus. He begins this way.
“To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.”
(John 3:27)
Every Born Again Christian Journey is Unique
Everyone’s call to believe is based upon what is given to him by the Father. Our experience in coming to faith in Christ and becoming a follower is a very unique experience between us and God. This a is not a community event or a religious one. It’s a calling upon your heart, based on the belief in your heart and God’s justification of that belief.
Many Christians recognize the day in which they gave their life to Christ (born again) and the remarkable change that accompanied their transformation. It’s not acceptable to expect that all those who come to Christ can identify a specific day. Every call by God is unique and personal based on John 3:27.
My own journey came in phases and spanned across many years. It even involved relocating my family so I could get away from the Catholic influence that was so entrenched in my family and community.
Just as we saw with only Andrew and John who immediately left John the Baptizer as he announced to his disciples the arrival of, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” They both walk away from John to go and follow Jesus.
John goes on to explain that in completing his task of preparing the way for the One who is greater than he, John must now become less so that the One he introduced will become greater than he.
The Bride Belongs to the Bridegroom
(Verses 29-30) In John the baptizer’s explanation to his disciples, he uses the bride and bridegroom analogy to further explain his position in relation to Christ.
If we look back to the wedding in Cana, we can discern a great deal from Galilean customs. We can learn what John means and how Jesus uses this same analogy to teach of heavenly things. John explains that the church (believers in Christ) belong to the bridegroom (Jesus Christ). This is why it is said in Revelation…
“Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:9)
John the baptizer explains that he is just the bridegroom’s (Christ) friend and attendant. John waits for his calling from the bridegroom and the time to announce the coming of the bridegroom.
Galilean Customs
In perfect fashion with Galilean customs. The bridegroom leaves his prospective bride. He will go to prepare a place for them in his father’s house to live after they marry. Once this place is prepared and the father thinks that all is ready for the wedding, he tells his son to go and get his bride.
The bridegroom will announce to his attendant that it is time for the wedding to take place. The attendant will gather the wedding party. Then with the sound of a trumpet they will make their way down the streets of the city to the home of the bride. The bridegroom will gather his bride to himself. Then they will all joyously in song make their way back to where the wedding feast will begin.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
John explains to his disciples that he is the attendant who shouts with joy the coming of the bridegroom (Christ) to build and gather his bride (church) to himself. Thus John the baptizer will fade in the background while Christ will rise in glory to tell His message of the kingdom of God. And the way He’s about to make for us to return to our heavenly Father.
Why Did Jesus Have to be God?
(Verses 31-36) To deliver the message of the kingdom of God, the One had to be from God who has seen heaven. While God cannot abide in sin, He cannot be in the presence of mankind.
Christ who is God and was made fully human so He could come into our presence came to deliver the good news. The good news that He is the way back to the Father. Being fully God, one hand embracing the Father and fully human, the other embracing mankind, we can make our way back to Him. Jesus is the way (bridge) where there once was not way back to God.
No one else can speak about the Father except the one who is with the Father. The only way back to the Father (eternal life) is through the son. The greatest lie and the deception that Jesus warned us of was the false gospel that’s preached through many religions and cults that call themselves a Christian church.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Jesus doesn’t say I’m a way. He doesn’t say He’s one of the ways. He’s very clear throughout scripture that He is the ONLY way. Do not let your religion deceive you. Jesus warned of this in His seven letters to the churches in the book of Revelation. He also began His Olivet Discourse on the last days by stating this.
“Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:4-5,10-13)