Week 41 John 3
John the Baptist is an important supporting-character in the gospel story. An important secondary person.
John’s secondary status started to show up soon after Jesus arrived because people began leaving John. John’s disciples were pretty concerned: everyone is going over there instead of coming here to us.
So John gave a detailed explanation. First he told his people something that was true about everyone:
• God in heaven appoints each person’s work
Second he reminded them of a couple of key details about himself:
• I am not the Messiah
• I’m only here to prepare the way for the Messiah
• He (the Messiah / Jesus) must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
Third John gave a couple of key details about Jesus’ background and capacities:
• He has come from heaven
• He’s greater than anyone else
• He’ll tell us about the things he has seen and heard (in heaven)
• He is sent by God
• He speaks God’s words
• He has God’s Spirit in an unlimited way
Finally – as a kind of afterthought – John said several things about Jesus’ audience:
• Only a few people will believe the Lord
• The few people who do believe him will discover that God is true
• People who believe will get eternal life
• But people who don’t believe will never experience eternal life
Of the four items I think I like the third the most because it so decisively separates Jesus from the pack.
Note: quotes & paraphrases from John 3:26-28 30-36 (NLT)