(43-10a)
No, this is not an ad for a clothing and accessories manufacturer based in Hawaii. It is the theme of the statements made by John the Baptist reflecting his view of Jesus.
What’s your view of Jesus?
For this week’s study:
- Any time you read or study the Bible, always start with prayer, asking God to guide you, so you understand God’s message and learn His methods for living.
- Read John 3:22-36 several times using your Bible, and the two translations provided below, to understand the boundaries, content and flow of the passage.
- Read and respond to the “Study Guide” and use the “Study Resources” provided below to learn more from this study passage.
Read the Passage
Berean Standard Bible
(BSB)
John’s Testimony about Jesus
<22>After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.
<23>Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized. <24>(For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
<25>Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew1 over the issue of ceremonial washing. <26>So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”
<27>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 of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. <30>He must increase; I must decrease.
<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.2 <32>He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. <33>Whoever accepts His testimony 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 all things in His hands. <36>Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”3
Word Come Alive
(WCA)
(An extended translation)*
Jesus and John the Baptist
<22>After this, Jesus and his apprentices went out into the countryside of Judea. Jesus spent some time with them and he baptized people. <23>John also was baptizing people further north, at Aenon near Salim, where there were many springs. People came to him and were baptised. <24>All this took place before John was put in prison.
<25>Soon an argument broke out between some of John’s followers and a certain Jewish man. Although it began as a disagreement about religious washing—how to be considered clean in God’s presence—it quickly became personal. <26>John’s followers came up to him, asking, ‘Teacher, you know the man who was with you on the other side of the River Jordan—the man you were endorsing in your preaching? Well, he is baptizing people and everyone is going over to him.’ It seems that John’s followers saw Jesus and John as rivals, competing to see who could gain the stronger following.
<27>John responded, ‘You cannot receive anything unless it’s been given to you from heaven. I can only receive what God gives me. <28>You yourselves can confirm that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of him to prepare the way for him.” <29>It’s like getting ready for a wedding. It’s the bride and groom’s big day, not mine. I am simply the groom’s best man and close friend. I don’t want to draw attention to myself; I only want to honor the groom. I stand ready for him, listen out for him and am filled with joy when I hear his voice. <30>Even though my role is less prominent, I am secure in the role I have been given. I must now stand back and become less important; he must now step forward, take center stage and become more important.’
Trust in Jesus
<31>My heart is on fire to tell you even more about Jesus. The One who has come from heaven above is far higher than everyone and everything. In contrast, the one whose home is the earth belongs to the earth and speaks merely human words. I repeat: the One who comes from heaven is far higher than everyone and everything. <32>He tells the truth about what he has seen and heard in eternity with the Father, but sadly most people do not accept his words. There are exceptions, however. <33>Everyone who has accepted Jesus’ words has confirmed that what God was saying about him is true. <34>The One whom God has sent declares the words of God, because God gives him his Spirit in infinite fullness. <35>The Father loves the Son perfectly and has entrusted everything to him.
<36>Let me conclude by giving words of encouragement but also a serious warning. The crucial matter is whether someone trusts in Jesus or not. Everyone who trusts in the Son has eternal life right now, but everyone who disobeys the Son—who refuses to trust in him—will not see life but will experience God’s judgment for ever. God’s anger—his righteous hatred of all evil—remains on them for ever.
* Words in italics are not translated from the original Greek text. They have been added to explain and at times apply the text, much as a preacher does on a Sunday or notes do at the foot of the page in a study Bible. These additions are integrated with the text itself, and are in italics, so readers can see what has been explained, changed or added.
Study the Passage
Study Guide
Verses 22 and 23 tell us that Jesus’ disciples (see John 4:2) and John the Baptist were baptizing. Read the article at https://www.gotquestions.org/mikvah.html to learn about the baptism they practiced, which is different from the believers baptism that Jesus instituted at the end of His ministry (Matthew 28:19–20).
Read verse 35 and 36. What do they tell us about Jesus?
What do you think God does or doesn’t want you to know, feel, think, say or do based on this passage?
How can you accomplish this?
Study Resources
To learn more about this study passage, go to
https://www.bibleref.com/John/3/John-3-22.html. Read the commentary of each verse in the study passage. (Also read the Context Summary and the Chapter Summary.)
If you have any questions about this passage, type the verse reference or your question in the search box at the top of
https://www.gotquestions.org/ and explore the results.
If you have a study Bible, read the footnotes and study notes and see how they help you understand this passage.
Thessalonian Faith 