Understanding John the Baptist’s Role in Baptism – John 3:22-26

It’s difficult to know where John the Baptist’s witness ends because there are three parts to this section of Scripture:

• Simultaneous efforts to baptise.
• John the Baptist’s View.
• John the Evangelist’s Spirit-led observation.

Simultaneous Efforts to Baptise.

After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. (This was before John was put in prison. John 3:22-24 NIV.

Jesus and John the Baptist focused on baptizing. Jesus Himself did not baptize, but his disciples must have also baptized to prepare hearts to receive Christ. Only the Gospel of John records the disciples baptizing.

If you are reading this, you are likely baptized or considering it. Christian baptism differs from baptisms before Christ died, rose again, and promised to return. This baptism was for repentance, to set the people’s hearts to receive Him.

John the Baptist was merely preparing the way.

Those baptized repented of their sins and looked forward to the redeeming power of the Risen Savior. Christian baptism is different and yet the same in a few ways. Being immersed in water is a sign of repentance.

The first baptism of John prepared the believer, but the second, the Christian baptism, is an outward witness that God has already redeemed the soul to be born again. Now this is what Christ has done: reconciliation, redemption, sanctification, and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Baptism is sacred – a sacrament.

When we are baptized, we obey the Lord and trust Him to help us live a new life. Note the beauty of the Great Commission:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I command you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt 20:19-20 ESV.

It is a visible sign God offers us of His promise to be with us—an outward sign that seals and confirms our covenant relationship with God—the New Covenant in action.

John the Baptist’s View

An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 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- look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” To this, John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of Him. 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. He must become greater, I must become less.” John 25-30 NIV.

An argument breaks out.

The focus now changes to zoom in on what’s happening at Aenon near Salim: An argument broke out among John the Baptist’s disciples and a “certain Jew.” This unnamed Jew caused a stir among them. They came to John to complain that the people who should have come to them were going to Jesus instead. In ministry, there’s no room for a competitive attitude.

At what point did they realize John was only the forerunner?

John the Baptist’s response

John wasn’t worried. The people are meant to go to Jesus, the Messiah, now.

God is in control. He gives us our destiny in life. We are born in the times He’s decreed. We live in the places He’s established. As born-again believers, children of the Most High God, Christ Jesus’s indwelling Holy Spirit leads, counsels, instructs, corrects, and helps us, and does so much more.

We need to be content in this fact: He must become more, and we less. We are walking witnesses wherever we go. People around us should see Christ in us.

John, the Forerunner

John may not have known that his life was short, and a selfish enemy would execute him. But he did not realize that his mission was complete. People were ready to see Jesus after they had repented and were baptized.

John was crying out in the desert, but now he’s yielded that voice to the Master. He always knew what we should know today – he must become more, and we must become less.

John the Evangelist’s Spirit-led Observation

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. He testifies to what He has seen and heard, but no one accepts His testimony. Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life. For God’s wrath remains on them. John 31-36 NIV.

John the Evangelist speaks directly to the reader now.

Jesus is the One

Jesus is the One from above. He is the Word made flesh, dwelling among us. He is Immanuel, God with us and in the earth, but not of the earth.

Listen to Him.

We belong to Earth and speak as Earthlings. He bears witness to what He has seen—what He has heard. Jesus Christ has been in the presence of God, so what He says is true. Other teachers’ words are earthly, imperfect, and limited.

Who will accept the testimony of Christ Jesus?

For I have not spoken on My authority, but the Father who sent Me has Himself given Me a commandment – what to say and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told Me. John 12:49-50 ESV.

To believe in Christ is to believe in the Father. To see Christ is to see the Father. Rejection of Christ and His words is the same as rejecting Christ. Rejection is disobedience, disobedience leads to judgment, and judgment results in eternal death.

Christ came to save the lost. But if they prefer to be lost, then God’s wrath remains on them. Not all paths lead to paradise.

Christ, the truth bearer

If we want to know the truth, then we must go to the Truth Bearer. If we want to know about God, then ask His Son. If we want to know about things from above, we should go to the One who was sent from above.

God gave Christ the full measure, but the prophets received only a portion. Truth bears witness to the truth. The Spirit of God functions well. One is to reveal God’s truth to us earthlings, and the other is to enable us to recognize and understand that truth given.

Jesus Himself perfectly knew and precisely understood the truth of God. We who listen to Jesus, listen to God – so, capture the echoes of the Holy in our souls.

The Choice is ours

John reminds us again at the end of this chapter that the choice is ours. God has always offered the choice between life and death.

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach…No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity; death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to Him, and to keep His commands, decrees, and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your Go will bless you… This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. No, choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to HIs voice and hold fast to Him. For the LORD is your life… Deut 30:11 & 14-16a & 19-20a NIV.

Call to Action

Choose today: the choice is yours — blessing and life or wrath and death. Renew your commitment to the Lord, obey His voice, and draw close to Him. Choose death, and God’s wrath will remain on you.

Choose life, and God will be with you to live a faithful life that honors Him and gives you the treasured place of intimacy as the child of God, true.

May God bless and keep you safe,