I’ve been camped out in John 3.22 – 36 the past few days… As a friend would say, “dense text.” Let’s start with John the Baptist’s well-known reaction to the fact that more people were now following Jesus than John. Here’s how it sets up:

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). 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 3.22 – 26, ESV)

We’ve already observed from John 4.2 that Jesus himself wasn’t baptizing – I don’t know why that’s important. And it’s amusing that “a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.” Apparently there have been “discussions” about baptism/purification for centuries!

But John’s response is classic:

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.” (John 3.27 – 30, ESV)

• “My ministry” isn’t mine.
• “I’m not the Christ.” (Just a Voice – Mark 1.1 – 8)
• “He must increase, but I must decrease.” – Not a bad attitude for any of us! End of story on the alleged importance of John the Baptist.

There’s more, and I don’t want to rush through… Stay tuned.