GREATER & LESSER

TEXT: JOHN 3:22-36 http://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/?q=John3&niv=yes

PARAPHRASE – John 3:22-36

After talking with Nicodemus, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside where his disciples began baptizing, as John the Baptist was doing. This led to an argument between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew about ceremonial washing. They went to John asking him why the one whom he had testified about was now baptizing and why everyone was going to him.

John answered by telling them a man can only receive what he is given from heaven, reminding them that he had testified he was not the Christ but had been sent ahead of him. He also told them while the bride belongs to the bridegroom, his role has been like that of the best man to the bridegroom, waiting and listening for him and being filled with joy when he hears his voice. He told them now that the Christ has come his joy is compete and that the Christ must become greater and he must become less important.

John goes on to tell them the one from above, from heaven, is the Christ who is above all, while he is from the earth, belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. He tells them that even though the one from above testifies to what he has seen and heard, no one accepts his testimony, although those who do accept it certify God as truthful – having sent the one from above who speaks His words, He gives him the Spirit without limit. John ends by telling them the Father loves the Son and has placed all authority in his hands so that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see eternal life because God’s wrath remains on him for his sin.

PRINCIPLES

CIT = Central Idea of the Text, INT = Interrogatory, ANS = Answer)

JOHN 3:22-36

A. First Century Readers

CIT: John told his first century readers that Jesus must become greater and John the Baptist less. vv 22-26

INT: Why did John tell his first century readers that Jesus must become greater and John the Baptist less?

ANS: John told his first century readers that Jesus must become greater and John the Baptist less because of:

I. Who John the Baptist was

A. A man who received only what he was given from heaven. v 27

B. A man who testified he was not the Christ v 28

C. A man who said he was like the friend of the bridegroom v 29

II. Who Jesus was

A. The One who was from above, from heaven v 31

B. The One who was above all v 31

C. The One who testified what he had seen and heard v 32

D. The One who spoke the words of God v 33

E. The One whom the Father loved and gave all authority to v 35

F. The One who brought eternal life v 36

B. Readers Today

CIT: John tells us today that Jesus had to become greater and John the Baptist less. vv 22-26

INT: Why does John tell us today that Jesus had to become greater and John the Baptist less?

ANS: John tells us today that Jesus had to become greater and John the Baptist less because of:

III. Who John the Baptist was

A. A man who received only what he was given from heaven. v 27

B. A man who testified he was not the Christ v 28

C. A man who said he was like the friend of the bridegroom v 29

IV. Who Jesus is

A. The One who is from above, from heaven v 31

B. The One who is above all v 31

C. The One who testifies what he has seen and heard v 32

D. The One who speaks the words of God v 33

E. The One whom the Father loves and has given all authority to v 35

F. The One who brings eternal life v 36

PRAYER

Our Father, we thank You for the friend of the bridegroom who waited for him and prepared his way.

Our Father, we praise You for the man from earth who testified he was not the Christ but was sent ahead of him.

Our Father, we thank You for the One from Heaven who testified about what he had seen and heard.

Our Father, we praise You for the One above all, who speaks Your words with the Spirit unlimited.

Our Father, we thank You for loving the Son and for giving him all authority.

Our Father, we give You praise for the eternal life He brings to all who believe in His Name.

Our Father, forgive us when we falter in our belief and for our failures in telling others the Good News of Your Son and what He has done on the Cross for the sake of all.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

freefoto.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/