John the Baptist Testifies About Jesus

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Sunday June 09, 2024}

John 3:25-36

Father, I want to have the humility of John the Baptist. Please help me to point others away from me and to the one and only person who deserves praise – Jesus Christ. Amen.

Father, the scene shifts back to John the Baptist. He was baptizing people in Aenon near Salim, a spring where there was plenty of water. An argument developed between John’s disciples and a Jew who happened upon the scene. It appears the impetus of the argument was that Jesus was now baptizing people Himself on the other side of the Jordan River.  John’s disciples heard that people were beginning to go to Jesus for baptism instead of to John the Baptist. This led to a discussion about the value of the “ceremonial washing” that John was doing versus the baptism that Jesus was doing.

The text doesn’t say it but I can hear it screaming off the page:

“Aren’t you jealous, John? He’s taking away all of your fame.”

“Guys, you know that I told you I am not the Messiah. I told you I was sent ahead of Him to prepare His way. I did what God asked me to do and I am content. These people (the bride) who are flocking to Him belong to Jesus (the bridegroom). I count it a joy to call Jesus my friend and to do anything He may ask me to do. If I have completed my task for Him, I am all set. I am content. It is the time for Him to be greater than I, the way it is supposed to be. There is no jealousy here.”

“My disciples, I want you all to know who Jesus is. He is no mere man like me. He is not a competitor of mine in the baptism business. He is the Son of God who has come from above. He is greater than everyone and everything.

He shares with us what His Father has taught Him. However, many don’t believe that He is the Son of God. They are calling God a liar since God told us that Jesus is His Son (Matthew 3:17). I, on the other hand, am mere dust and I will return to the earth from where I came. I too was sent from God and I was given the Holy Spirit without boundaries. However, the Father loves His Son and has placed everything in His hands. If you place your faith in Jesus Christ, and not in me, you will have eternal life. If you choose to reject Jesus as your Savior, God’s wrath is still upon you. Place your faith in Jesus today!” Amen.