Summary of John 3:22-36
Both John and Jesus are baptizing in the river. John defers to Jesus, saying he is greater. Jesus is above all and speaks the words of God. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 5: John 3:22-36
13a) That everyone was going to Jesus to be baptized rather than to John.
b) John acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah and that he is less than Jesus.
c) I don’t want to be jealous of others or take away their glory. Instead, I want to support God’s mission like John did.
14) 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.”
Jesus is Lord and Savior of the World.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 5: John 3:22-36
Love John’s example of deference here. So very hard to do with human emotions. We must all defer to Jesus and His ways over ours in all circumstances. I also love how our roles can change throughout life and our calling can change, too.
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 5: John 3:22-36
Note Jesus in in Judea here. The other Gospels are mostly about Jesus in Galilee. 
John was unflustered or bothered by Jesus’ popularity in the same vicinity as he.
John’s gifts were from God. He knew his God-given purpose, and he knew who Jesus was. John is like a bridegroom, a friend of Jesus, at the wedding, but he is not the groom. The bridegroom is Jesus, a familiar reference in the Bible.
John’s mission was fulfilled, and he was full of joy. He knew he would shrink into the background, and he was okay with this.
John has fame and humility. He also continued in his role, albeit changed and diminished from before. He was still doing God’s work.
Jesus came from heaven and is therefore greater than everyone else. No one would receive him.
Note “The Father loved the Son” here (John 3:35) and in John 5:20.
Reject Jesus, and you reject eternal life and receive wrath. The wrath of God lingers until you accept Christ and He comes again.
There are 4 “Must’s” in John 3:
- You must be born again (John 3:7)
- So must the Son of Man be lifted up (John 3:14)
- He must increase (John 3:30)
- I must decrease (John 3:30)
We would do well to abide by all: be born again, lift Christ up, and defer to Christ. So good!