Humility of John the Baptist (John 3:22-30)

Topic: The Humility of John the Baptist

Reading: John 3:22-30

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing at Ae’non near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been put in prison. 25 Now a discussion arose between John’s disciples and a Jew over purifying. 26 And they came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, here he is, baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice; therefore this joy of mine is now full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Introduction and Overview

Jesus made the comment that, “I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Luke 7:28) God does not measure greatness in terms of charisma and power. He measures it in terms of obedience, humility, and faith.

John the Baptist was a humble man. His manner of life could not have been more humble given the way he lived, dressed and ate. He lived in the wilderness, dressed in rough clothes made from camel’s hair with a simple leather belt, and he ate only locusts and wild honey, and drank only water. But the message John had was so incredibly powerful, that people from all over would come to listen to him preach. Even some of the Pharisees and soldiers came to John to be baptised for the repentance of their sins.

The humility of John the Baptist was such that he understood his role in God’s plan. He knew that he was chosen to fulfil a specific and important function. He appeared to prepare the way for Jesus and to turn the hearts of men back to the One True God. This was his ministry and work. And he knew that when the Christ appeared, his role would essentially be over, and we see the humility of John the Baptist as he expressed these things in this passage of scriptures.

Key points from reading:

• John the Baptist understood his role in the work of the kingdom of heaven
• John was not seeking power or concerned about people turning to Christ
• The humility of John the Baptist allowed him to realise his work was completed.

Discussion:

Scripture: John 3:22 – Baptising New Disciples

• Jesus came into the regions of Judea where His disciples began to baptise people. This was at the very beginning of the ministry of Jesus. This is an important point because it shows us the order of things as people come to Christ.
• When Jesus first went to John the Baptist to be baptised, the humility of John the Baptist was such that he almost did not baptise Jesus. John knew who Jesus was. He knew that Jesus was the Messiah and Christ. Ha also knew that Jesus did not need to be baptised for repentance because He had nothing to repent. But Jesus insisted and explained why it was necessary for Him to be baptised as an example for all who would follow Him. No-one could ever argue that they did not need to be baptised on the basis that Jesus had not been baptised.
• We see here that baptism was the beginning of the Christian walk. Jesus was baptised and then began His ministry, and likewise every one who came to Him was baptised in order to begin their walk with Christ. Jesus Himself did not baptise, as we see over in John 4:2, but His disciples all baptised as people came to hear the words of Jesus and to follow Him.

Scripture: John 3:23-24 – Transitioning the Ministry

• At this time, John the Baptist was still working and teaching the people to repent and to follow Jesus, who would come after him. The ministry of John the Baptist was in the process of winding down, as he expected it would, which we see in the next verses. However, at this point in time both Jesus and John the Baptist were ministering and baptising in the regions of Judea.
• The scripture makes the point that they both performed baptisms in that area because, “…there was much water there.” There are some churches today who perform baptisms by simply pouring a cup of water over the head of the one being baptised. A cup does not require “much water.” And we see a similar situation over in Acts chapter 10, verses 44-48 where the Gentiles first received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. Peter stood up and said, “Can any one forbid water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” In that case they were apparently not near a river and the water may have had to be drawn from a well or carried some distance to the house.
• The point of this is that if only a cup full of water was necessary to baptise a person, then a whole crowd could be baptised with just a gallon or two. But these scriptures both tell us that “much water” is needed to baptise. And the reason why is that the correct form of baptism is by full immersion where the person being baptised goes down into and under the water, and is then raised up from the water. This is also evident when we understand what baptism represents. It is our death and resurrection with Christ. As we go down into the water we enter the grave with Christ, and as we are lifted out of the water we are raised from the dead with Him. A simple cup of water over the forehead does not have the same symbolism, and this is why “much water” was needed.
• The final point to note is that John and Jesus were both operating together. John’s ministry was winding down, and we note the writer tells us that John the Baptist had not yet been imprisoned. This was soon to occur and he would be executed in due course. But at this time we see the transitioning of the ministry of the kingdom of God from John the Baptist to Jesus.

Scripture: John 3:25-27 – John the Baptist’s Understanding

• There are some interesting points raised in these few verses. First, we see the disciples of John the Baptist having a discussion about purifying. Purification was a big deal in the religion of Judaism, and they had many different purification rites and practices, bit in the law and in their customs. For example, they were required to purify themselves if they had been in the markets. They had a seven-day purification rite and process if they had been amongst the Gentiles. There were purification rites associated with the washing of garments and vessels. And it was even more strict and detailed for those who served in the priesthood in the Temple. What the discussion was actually about is not known. However, given they were talking about purification we can only presume they were looking at he Jewish rites versus the purification of people for repentance under baptism.
• In the next verse (vs 26) we see that the disciples of John have noted that all those who are coming to be baptised are going to Jesus. John the Baptist’s disciples might be indignant on behalf of their teacher. But John certainly is not. He does not feel as if anything is wrong and in fact he knew that this was supposed to happen. This becomes even clearer as we continue on in the next few verses. But the way John answers his disciples is interesting in the next verse (vs 27).
• John the Baptist makes this point when he says, “No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven” The ministry of John the Baptist was given to him by God. It was God who opened the door of ministry for John to preach the word and to prepare the way. It was God who opened the hearts and the minds of the people to be able to receive the ministry of John so that they could be prepared for the salvation that was to come through Jesus Christ. And John understood these things. The humility of John the Baptist was such that he recognised that what he was doing and the effect and success of his ministry was not his own doing. It was God working through him to teach and preach the word that would prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. And this comes from heaven, not the mind or efforts of men.

Scripture: John 3:28-30 – The Friend of the Bridegroom

• These last few verses show us the fullness of the humility of John the Baptist. We see the clarity of his understanding, and the joy he had knowing that he had done the work given to him to prepare for Jesus. Many at that time thought that he may have been the Christ. But John makes it very clear he was not. He explains that he is the messenger sent before the Christ to prepare the way. And he also understood that with the appearance of Jesus as the Christ, his own work was done.
• His joy and satisfaction at seeing the completion of his work is evident in verse 29. Here he describes himself as the “friend of the bridegroom.” And he makes the point that it is the bridegroom who has the bride, while the friend stands by joyfully watching as the bride and groom are finally joined together. Scripture tells us in many places that the church is the bride and the Son of God is the bridegroom. It is the will of God for the bride and groom to come together for eternity and to never be separated again. This is what John the Baptist understood and he rejoiced greatly to see it begin.
• Finally, in his rejoicing, he recognises in this last verse that he had run his course. His role was now at the point of completion as he makes the statement that, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The ministry of Jesus was about to take off and increase as Christianity commenced the growth cycle that led to the church as we know it today. Jesus had still at that time not preached the sermon on the mount, or the beatitudes, and so many other things. All of that was yet to come. But the first steps had begun and John the Baptist joyfully recognised it was happening. His role was diminishing but he was pleased to see Jesus and the ministry He brought to the earth on the rise. The humility of John the Baptist allowed him to recognise these things and to rejoice that he had played his part in the work given to him by God.

Prayer Points:

• Pray and ask the Lord to help you find the place of humility that John the Baptist had found. His example is a shining light we can all learn from.