John’s Last Testimony

27 – John’s Last Testimony; John 3:22-36

John 3:22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized— 24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves [a]are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the [b]Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

31 “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; [c]for He gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not [d]obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Footnotes

a. John 3:28 Lit testify for me

b. John 3:28 I.e. Messiah

c. John 3:34 Lit because He does not give the Spirit by measure

d. John 3:36 Or believe

Commentary

This passage opens with the phrase “after these things,” so just as a refresher, Jesus most recently spoke to Nicodemus (presumably in Jerusalem after Passover), and now He is on to Judea, where He begins a ministry of baptism on His way to Samaria (which is where he goes in the following passage).

John the Baptist is still baptizing, also, and he still has disciples who have stayed with him, rather than following Jesus. In fact, we will be introduced to other loyal disciples of John the Baptist later on, which is interesting to me, given the dialogue that follows here. Despite the fact these men acknowledge in verse 26 that John had testified to the deity of Jesus, they still seem to express a little jealousy over the fact that nameless-person-who-was-with-you-at-the-Jordan’s ministry is detracting from John’s (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1302).

The cities of Salim and Aenon are only mentioned once in the Bible, but based on the location of modern day Salim (which has a nearby city named Ainon), Jesus had set up pretty near to John’s camp, in Judea (The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol 1 pg. 67). It is not surprising that people who would have been baptized by John were instead detouring to where Jesus was. John wisely responds that the purpose of his ministry is fulfilled if Jesus’ ministry increases because God’s design for him was always to divert attention from himself and onto Jesus. There is a deep satisfaction in knowing he has done his job well, and he is therefore able to “rejoice with those who rejoice”.

The metaphor of bridegroom and best man goes even deeper than we see on the surface. In the culture at that time, the best man was usually the one responsible for planning the wedding, or being the emcee, and many times he even brought the bride to the bridegroom. There’s a really great 2-sermon series on John 3:22-36, which expands on this and other topics I’ve been studying over the past couple of weeks https://lovepensacola.org/church-sermons/gospel-of-john-message-series/last-testimony-series-john-322-36/. You may notice the pastor talks about the disciples baptizing, instead of Jesus, even though verse 22 says, “He was spending time with [His disciples] and baptizing.” The next passage in John holds the answer to this. John 4:1-2 “Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were)…”

In verse 32, John makes reference to the exact same thing Jesus cited to Nicodemus in the last passage; despite Jesus’ authority to testify to Heavenly occurrences and principles, people have not believed Him. However, those few who have believed Jesus have “set their seal” (in other words certified or attested) that God is true, based on the fact the words Jesus speaks are God’s own, as well as the evidence that Jesus is full of the Spirit and that God has given all things into His hand (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1303). In the sermons I linked above, Pastor Wallnofer mentions that a seal was often used by the largely illiterate people of Jesus’ day, as a signature or contract binder. The contract, in this case, makes Jesus the Lord of their lives, thereby acknowledging He was really sent from God, and, by extension, that God is real and all-powerful. The terms of the contract include eternal life for the human party, while a breach of contract (i.e. disobedience or ignorance) results in the wrath of God. Because of the eternal consequences of this concept, it was the thing John the Baptist longed to convey above all, which is certainly a compelling reason why it is his last recorded teaching. May we also have such urgency to see those around us believe and be saved.

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2019/06/28/john-imprisoned-and-jesus-leaves-judea/

Scripture References

Verse 22

John 2:2 and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

John 4:1 When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware that He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John

John 4:2 (although it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples),

John 4:3 He left Judea and returned to Galilee.

Verse 23

Matthew 3:6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Verse 24

Matthew 4:12 When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee.

Matthew 14:3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.

Luke 3:20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

Verse 25

John 2:6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons.

Hebrews 6:2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Verse 26

Matthew 23:7 the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.

Matthew 23:8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.

John 1:7 He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.

John 1:28 All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John 3:2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”

John 4:1 When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware that He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John

John 4:2 (although it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples),

John 4:31 Meanwhile, the disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

John 5:33 You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.

Verse 27

John 6:65 Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”

John 10:41 Many came to Him and said, “Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true.”

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Hebrews 5:4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

Verse 28

John 1:20 He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”

John 1:23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.'”

Verse 29

Song of Solomon 5:1 I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. The Friends Eat, O friends, and drink; drink freely, O beloved.

Matthew 9:15 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

Matthew 25:1 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

John 15:11 I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

John 17:13 But now I am coming to You, and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them.

Philippians 2:2 then make my joy complete by being of one mind, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.

1 John 1:4 We write these things so that our joy may be complete.

2 John 1:12 I have many things to write you, but I would prefer not to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.

Verse 31

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

John 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven–the Son of Man.

John 8:23 Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.

1 John 4:5 They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.

Verse 32

Matthew 7:8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

John 3:11 Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony.

John 18:37 “Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”

Verse 33

John 6:27 Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”

John 8:26 “I have much to say about you and much to judge. But the One who sent Me is truthful, and what I have heard from Him, I tell the world.”

Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

Romans 15:28 So after I have completed this service and safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you.

1 Corinthians 9:2 Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:22 placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.

Ephesians 1:13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth–the gospel of your salvation–you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”

1 John 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.

1 John 5:10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son.

Revelation 7:3 “Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

Verse 34

Matthew 12:18 “Here is My servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,

John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Acts 1:2 until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.

Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

Verse 35

Daniel 7:14 And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, so that every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Matthew 11:27 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

Luke 10:22 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”

John 5:20 The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. And to your amazement, He will show Him even greater works than these.

John 13:3 Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.

John 15:9 As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.

John 17:2 For You granted Him authority over all humanity, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.

Verse 36

Matthew 25:46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 4:36 Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together.

John 6:47 Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life.

John 6:50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die.

John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

John 6:58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your forefathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

Acts 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

Hebrews 3:18 And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed?

Hebrews 3:19 So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.

1 John 5:11 And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

1 John 5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Commentary

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.