John 3:22-30
22After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was staying with them and was baptizing. 23But John was also baptizing in Aenon, near to Salem, because was many waters in that place. And they were coming and were being baptized- 24for John had not yet been cast into the prison.
25Therefore, occurred a dispute from the disciples of John with a Jew concerning purification. 26And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, Look!, this One is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” 27John answered and said, “A person is not able to be receiving anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28Yourselves testify that I said, ‘I myself am not the Christ’, but ‘I have been sent before that One.’ 29The one having the bride is bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, the one standing and hearing him, rejoices with joy because of the voice of the bridegroom. Therefore, this my joy has been fulfilled. 30It is necessary that One to be increasing, but me to be becoming less.”
Good Day Child of God! "Father? Your Will Be Done!" This group of verses is interesting because of what it assumes you know as a reader, and what it teaches that you should know as a reader.
The story of John the Baptist and his eventual arrest is passed by as though you know the story. The lesson itself is so important that perhaps that is why John the Apostle is skipping details.
Today's easy lesson: John the Baptist, teaching a variation of the Law and Judaism, hence the reason to baptize, was working within the Jewish Community. That is why a man came to John to challenge what Jesus was doing (probably a Pharisee or Sadducee-Lawyers of the Jewish Law), to see if there was a way to start a fight between Jesus and John the Baptist. John was a thorn in the side of both the Jews and the Ruling Romans, because of what he considered an illegal marriage. No better way to get two thorns in your side off their stride, killing two birds with one stone, than getting Jesus and John the Baptist fighting. It didn't work. John simply stepped aside, as was necessary, and Jesus continued to grow in popularity and stature.
What is the message? There is a saying that "You always have you on your mind." This is a problem in trying to build any kind of relationship, but even more so with someone that can do something for you. Look at how we are raised. Do this or do that and you get this or that. Do well in school, or on your job and you are rewarded. It is simply the way of the human race. So what happens when we approach God? He can do anything! We must have to do something very special to prove our worth, to get His attention, to make it so He will get us that new Mercedes Benz, as Linda Ronstadt sang. There in lies the reason for religion, rites, rituals, and works. Not because we want to please God. If we are honest, it is because we want something from Him. The Apostle John is pointing out that if that is what you are thinking, change your thinking. God has done it all, Jesus made sure of that, and all you have to do is grab hold of the gift of new cars, nice homes, great clothes, lots of money...no-Life. That is your gift, Life. There is more, but primarily it is Life, and if you don't have Life, what do you have? Death. Take the gift. You will Live forever, and out of a grateful heart you can do things that will both please the Father, and benefit you too! Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
This blog link: http://askgodsword.blogspot.com/
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
22After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was staying with them and was baptizing. 23But John was also baptizing in Aenon, near to Salem, because was many waters in that place. And they were coming and were being baptized- 24for John had not yet been cast into the prison.
25Therefore, occurred a dispute from the disciples of John with a Jew concerning purification. 26And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, Look!, this One is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” 27John answered and said, “A person is not able to be receiving anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28Yourselves testify that I said, ‘I myself am not the Christ’, but ‘I have been sent before that One.’ 29The one having the bride is bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, the one standing and hearing him, rejoices with joy because of the voice of the bridegroom. Therefore, this my joy has been fulfilled. 30It is necessary that One to be increasing, but me to be becoming less.”
Good Day Child of God! "Father? Your Will Be Done!" This group of verses is interesting because of what it assumes you know as a reader, and what it teaches that you should know as a reader.
The story of John the Baptist and his eventual arrest is passed by as though you know the story. The lesson itself is so important that perhaps that is why John the Apostle is skipping details.
Today's easy lesson: John the Baptist, teaching a variation of the Law and Judaism, hence the reason to baptize, was working within the Jewish Community. That is why a man came to John to challenge what Jesus was doing (probably a Pharisee or Sadducee-Lawyers of the Jewish Law), to see if there was a way to start a fight between Jesus and John the Baptist. John was a thorn in the side of both the Jews and the Ruling Romans, because of what he considered an illegal marriage. No better way to get two thorns in your side off their stride, killing two birds with one stone, than getting Jesus and John the Baptist fighting. It didn't work. John simply stepped aside, as was necessary, and Jesus continued to grow in popularity and stature.
What is the message? There is a saying that "You always have you on your mind." This is a problem in trying to build any kind of relationship, but even more so with someone that can do something for you. Look at how we are raised. Do this or do that and you get this or that. Do well in school, or on your job and you are rewarded. It is simply the way of the human race. So what happens when we approach God? He can do anything! We must have to do something very special to prove our worth, to get His attention, to make it so He will get us that new Mercedes Benz, as Linda Ronstadt sang. There in lies the reason for religion, rites, rituals, and works. Not because we want to please God. If we are honest, it is because we want something from Him. The Apostle John is pointing out that if that is what you are thinking, change your thinking. God has done it all, Jesus made sure of that, and all you have to do is grab hold of the gift of new cars, nice homes, great clothes, lots of money...no-Life. That is your gift, Life. There is more, but primarily it is Life, and if you don't have Life, what do you have? Death. Take the gift. You will Live forever, and out of a grateful heart you can do things that will both please the Father, and benefit you too! Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
This blog link: http://askgodsword.blogspot.com/
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
