Here is a teaching of part 2 of chapter 3 of the book of John. If you want to check out previous Bible studies and chapters going forward, join our group here. Once you get added into that Facebook group, you can go to the "units" tab and you'll see all of the chapters and their study guides as they are being taught.
Part 2 of John Chapter 3:
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan-- the one you testified about-- well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."
So I'm just going to stop right here and talk about a few things real quick. So the first thing here is, John the Baptist is a different person than the John that wrote the book of this Bible. I just wanted to state that here and make that clear that these are two completely different John's (the one that wrote the book of John and John the Baptist.) Now we know from chapter one of the Bible study, that John the Baptist came to testify about Jesus Christ.
So Jesus and his disciples were baptizing near Salim and then there was an argument with some of John's disciples and a Jew (or certain Jews) over ceremonial washing. So they came to John because they said that "the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan." We saw in chapter one where John saw Jesus coming towards them and said, 'look, the lamb of God," and he testifies about him. So they said that is the one that he testified about and that he's baptizing and everyone's going to him. So now I'm going to read further starting at verse 27.
27 To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' 29 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. 30 He must become greater; I must become less."
Alright, so I'm going to stop here and discuss a few things with you guys. First, let's discuss John's reply when he said "A man can only receive what is given to him from heaven." In the beginning in John chapter one, we see that God sent John the Baptist to testify concerning the Light of the world (which is Jesus Christ.) John the Baptist made it clear that he was not Christ when some Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was in chapter one of John.
In verse 29, when he talks about the bride and the bridegroom, he explains that he's like the best friend of the groom. He isn't the focus of attention, he's just there to let others know about Jesus. Now that everyone is seeing these miraculous signs of Jesus Christ and they're starting to believe in him, John is overflowed with joy and his joy is now complete because that's what he came to do. He came to be a witness to Jesus Christ and to testify about him. In verse 31 of chapter one of John, John the Baptist says, "I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." Now that more and more people are going to Jesus and his disciples for baptism, John says "He must become greater; I must become less." His calling to be a witness to Jesus Christ and to testify about him is being fulfilled. More and more people are believing in Jesus, seeing these miraculous signs, and getting baptized by him and his disciples. John the Baptist is happy about that because that was the whole reason why he started baptizing with water in the first place; so that Jesus Christ might be revealed to Israel.
31 "The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The man who accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
So let's discuss these verses, here in verse 31 where it says "The one who comes from above is above all," he lets them know that Jesus is from heaven and he's greater than everyone else because he came from above. In verse 32, he anticipates that no one accepts the testimony of Jesus Christ, which we'll discuss and learn more about that in further chapters of this book. In verse 34, where it says "For the one who God has sent speaks the words of God," he's making it clear that Jesus Christ speaks the words of God because he was sent from heaven and he gives the Spirit without limit. So Jesus Christ was sent from heaven, walked on the earth, lived a sinless life, and his words are true; anything that he says is true and it's words from God.
It goes on to say in verse 35, that "The Father loves the Son (which is Jesus Christ) and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life." We know from the previous chapters of the book of John and we'll know further that Jesus Christ came onto this earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, rose three days later, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Then it goes to say here that "whoever rejects the Son will not see life for God's wrath remains on him." So the only way to have eternal life and to enter the kingdom of God is through Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life and no one can come to the Father except through him. If people reject him, God's wrath remains on them and they will never enter the kingdom of God.
John Chapter 3 Study Guide Part 2:
What did John the Baptist come to do?
Why does John the Baptist explain that he is like the friend of the bridegroom?
In verse 30, why does he say that “he must become greater; I must become less?”
Who is John referring to when he says “the one who comes from above and is above all?
What happens when we believe in the Son (Jesus Christ)?
What happens to those who reject the Son?
What is your biggest takeaway from this Bible Study?
I'm going to say a quick prayer for you guys before I let you go... Lord, I pray that you just wrap your arms around every single person reading this right now. Lord, I pray that you open up their eyes, their ears, their heart, their mind, and their spirit to you Lord and that they know that Jesus Christ came into this earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins so that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. I pray that they are compelled to spread the truth of the gospel and let everyone that they know and love know about Jesus Christ and how amazing he is so that whoever they know may know about Jesus and have that relationship with him and they may be saved by him so they can go to heaven. I pray that you just guide them through every aspect of their life and that they seek guidance, knowledge, and wisdom from you in every single thing that they do. I love you so much, Lord. in Jesus' name, Amen.
I love you guys so much.
Never forget to choose faith over fear.
-Lorena Camille (Faith Fuels My Fire)
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