Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

 John 3:25-36

Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. John 3:33-34

I continue my study of John, and today, I further unpacking John 3:25-36 by providing an outline and a main point.

 Main point:  Jesus is God, and we must believe in Him to be saved. 

 V25: Baptism by John was only a taste of things to come. There was a discussion among some of John’s disciples (unnamed here) and a Jew (unnamed here) about purification; purification here refers to ceremonial washing that was important in the Old Testament law as means to approach God – the implication of having this discussion is that for those who know the OT law they might question the validity of baptism as performed by John. 

Vv26-30: Jesus is now the focus, and all must see Him for who He is. While there might a question by some over the validity of baptism by John, those participating in the debate did see John as having authority as he is referred to as Rabbi; as they engage John on whether is concerned that Jesus is now baptizing, John responds with great humility. John emphasizes that (a) Jesus is the one on whom people should focus, (b) he is not jealous of the attention and glory that Jesus is now getting because He rightly deserves all glory, (c) his (current) ministry is complete now that Jesus’ ministry has started, and finally in v30 that (d) Jesus must increase and John must decrease.

Vv31-35: Jesus reigns over all as God’s equal. John then describes Jesus (a) as coming from Heaven and that He reigns over all things, (b) as bearing witness to things both from Heaven and earth – including eternal life, (c) as having His message rejected by some yet received by others, (d) as being Truth because He was sent by God, speaks the Word of God and God is Truth, (e) as giving the Spirit “without measure” as any attribute or power of God is limitless and beyond measure or human comprehension, and (f) as being equal to God because God gave “all things into his hand.”

V36: Whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life but for those who don’t believe in Him, face eternal condemnation.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves, saves and reigns over all.  You do not need me yet You saved me...while still an enemy and hostile to God.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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 Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).

John 3:22-24

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 Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison). John 3:22-24

I continue my study of John, and today, I unpack John 3:22-24 using the Sword Bible Study Method, providing both a main point and an outline of sub-points for the text.   

Main point: Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit, vs how John baptized with water.  

1. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit - a new and different way of baptizing vs that of Jesus. 
2. John baptizes with water.  

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: After Jesus' nighttime conversation with Nicodemus - likely taking place in Jerusalem - Jesus goes with the disciples and baptizes people in the Judean countryside - and we learn from John 1:33 that while John baptizes with water, Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit - something new and different vs that of John and also implying a better baptism - one with new benefits not bestowed by John via his baptism. 
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: John continues to baptize, even after Jesus does and we see that John is no longer baptizing people in the wilderness but now on the west side of Jordan in Aenon near Salim. The reason for this location is stated in the text as because of plentiful water - key for John's baptism vs that of Jesus who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.  It is also noted that John is not yet imprisoned; however, we know from Luke 3:18-20 that Herod does arrest John for reproving Herod's marriage to Herodias - Herod's brother's wife.         
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Believers should pursue baptism just as Jesus did as an expression of publicly expressing faith in Him, and as being known as a follower of Jesus, others can see Him in us.  

Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a topic worthy of additional study and this article helps.   

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My Prayer: Thank You Jesus for my faith and baptism and I am proud of my faith and I seek to share it as John did.  Yet I know I often fall down in this regard.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.