Tag Archives: heaven

John 3:22-36

John 3:22-36

vs 22-24 – Baptizing

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).

Time Frame : All this occurred before John the Baptist was put in prison. Jesus’ public ministry in Galilee, which makes up a large part of the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, began after John was put in prison. The events of John 1-3 took place before this public Galilean ministry.

  • Matthew, Mark and Luke have a shorter time frame than John, but cover the events of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee in much greater detail than John, listing many events and teachings that John omits.
  • John has a longer time overall time frame (including three Passover visits to Jerusalem). He also includes some events and facts that are not found in the other gospels. For example, nothing is said in the other gospels about Jesus’ disciples baptizing before His resurrection. He also includes some discussions with the Pharisees (“the Jews”) that are not found in the other gospels. Interwoven with all this is a great deal of in-depth teaching on who Jesus is.
vs 25-30 -The Friend of the Bridegroom

Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

The discussion … over purification may have been about which baptism was more effective for removing sin – that of John the Baptist or that of Jesus.  Evidently the crowds were being drawn to Jesus.

  • When John the Baptist’s disciples told him that the crowds were leaving him and going to Jesus, what was John’s attitude?

In a Jewish wedding at this time, the friend of the bridegroom served the bridegroom in every way. He made all the arrangements for the wedding. After the wedding ceremony he also protected the bridal chamber, after the bride had entered to make herself ready for her husband, and kept intruders out. The exact time when the bridegroom would come for his bride was kept secret. When the bridegroom came for the bride, he heard the bridegroom’s voice and raised a shout. He rejoiced greatly because the bridegroom had come for his bride.

  • How would you characterize the attitude of a friend of the bridegroom?
  • Why did John the Baptist rejoice to hear the Bridegroom’s voice?
  • Why was he willing to fade into the background and play “second fiddle”?
  • What challenge does this pose to our hearts?

Jesus’ earthly ministry was the first stage of Jesus’ relationship with his Bride, but Jesus’ return for His Bride is still in the future.

The bride has one characteristic in common with the friend of the bridegroom. They are both eager to hear the bridegroom’s voice. 

  • Are we crying out with the Spirit, Come Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:17, 20)? Or are we too in love with the familiar things of our present life to be eager for His coming?
vs 31-36 – The Testimony of Jesus

He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 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. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

He who is of the earth may refer to John the Baptist. It’s not a criticism of John. John spoke of things that happen on earth (repentance) although his message came from heaven.  He who comes from above speaks of Jesus. What he has seen and heard refers to things of heaven, as in the discussion with Nicodemus (John 3:9-13).

he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure

  • Where do true words of God come from?
  • Who gives the Holy Spirit without measure?
  • What is eternal life? John 17:3, John 17:20-24
Prayer

Let’s ask God to stir up in us a greater desire for the Bridegroom’s voice and for His coming.

 

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John 1:43-51

Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Jesus calls Philip (vs 43-44)

Galilee. Most of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples were Galilean.

He found Philip.

  • In last week’s study (vs 35-42) we saw that Andrew sought out Jesus, and after spending time with him, he went to get his brother and introduced him to Jesus. But here Jesus takes the initiative and seeks out Philip.
  • Philip is a Greek name, which may indicate that he spoke Greek. Not everyone in Judea and Galilee would have spoken Greek.
  • Philip is much more prominent in the Gospel of John than in the other gospels (John 6:5-7, John 12:20-22, John 14:8-9). Notice that he introduced the Greek-speaking seekers to Jesus.
  • Although Matthew, Mark and Luke don’t include these references to Philip, all the gospel writers include him in the inner circle of followers from whom Jesus named twelve apostles (Mark 3:13-19, Matthew 10:1-4, Acts 1:12-14 – written by Luke) .

Philip seeks out Nathanael (vs 45-46)

Philip found Nathanael

  • His name means “God has given” or “Gift of God”
  • He isn’t named as one of the apostles in Matthew, Mark, Luke or Acts, but is listed again as a disciple in John 21:2
  • This could mean that although he was a close follower of Jesus (a “disciple”), he was not among the apostles. Not all disciples were apostles. See Acts 1:15-23.
  • Another possibility is that he is identified with Bartholomew (which is probably a last name – bar tolmai, i.e. “Son of Tolmai”). Quite likely John was identifying him by his given name, which – as part of Jesus’ inner circle – John would have known. Bartholomew is listed directly after Philip in the lists of apostles in Matthew and Mark.

We have found Him Everyone was eagerly looking for the Messiah.

The son of Joseph This was how Jesus was legally identified, and how he would have been known within the community (Luke 4:22, John 6:42).

Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Jesus came from a very ordinary place. It might even have had a bad reputation. But that’s where the Messiah spent his growing-up years. See Matthew 15:10-11,17-19 . What’s on the inside is what counts – not how things look on the outside (as Nathanael was soon to find out).

Come and see. This is almost identical to what Jesus had said to Andrew the day before (John 1:39). In today’s language, “come and check it out”. Jesus invites scrutiny. He has nothing to hide. Time spent with him changes people, so that they want to invite others into what they have found.

Nathanael meets Jesus (vs 47-51)

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him Evidently John is speaking on more than one level. Jesus not only saw Nathanael physically coming toward him. He also looked into his inner man and saw a snapshot of his character. See vs 48.

Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit! Jesus recognized Nathanael’s forthrightness and honesty, and praised him for it. He is looking for followers who are “straight as an arrow”. Proverbs 4:23-25. He could possibly have found fault with Nathanael’s critical assessment of Nazareth, but he didn’t focus on that. He focussed on identifying a godly quality that he wanted to call forth in Nathanael’s life.

Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”

Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel

  • These were signs of the inauguration of the Messianic Age. See Luke 4:16-21.
  • See also John the Baptist’s question in Luke 7:18-23
  • Why do you think John asked this?

You will see greater things than these

  • What things?
  • What do you think Jesus’ response about the angels means?
  • See Genesis 28:12

For Reflection

Do you want to see what Jesus promised Nathanael he would see? Let’s ask God for an open heaven. Let’s ask him for a greater revelation of His glorious presence in our lives.

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