The Supremacy of Jesus

John 3:22–36

3:22 The first portion of this chapter described the Lord Jesus’ witness in the city of Jerusalem. From this verse to the end of the chapter, John describes Christ’s ministry in Judea, where doubtless He continued to proclaim the good news of salvation. As men came to the light, they were baptized. It would appear from this verse that Jesus Himself did the baptizing, but we learn in John 4:2 that it was done by His disciples.

3:23 The John referred to in this verse is John the Baptist. He was still preaching his message of repentance in the region of Judea and baptizing those Jews who were willing to repent in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. John also was baptizing in Aenon ... because there was much water there. This does not prove conclusively that he baptized by immersion, but it certainly implies as much. If he baptized by sprinkling or pouring, there would have been no necessity of having much water. Immersion best pictures death, burial, resurrection.

3:24 This verse is given in explanation of John’s continued ministry and of the continued response of devout Jews to it. In the near future, John would be thrown into prison and beheaded for his faithful testimony.

3:25 It is clear from this verse that some of John’s disciples became engaged in a dispute with the Jews about purification. What does this mean? Purification here probably refers to baptism. The argument was whether the baptism of John was better than that of Jesus. Which baptism had the greater power? Which was of greater value? Perhaps some of John’s disciples unwisely contended that no baptism could be better than that of their master. Perhaps the Pharisees tried to make John’s disciples jealous of Jesus and His current popularity.

Mark 9:40 (NKJV) ⁴⁰ "For he who is not against us is on our side.

3:26 They came to John for a decision. They seemed to be saying to him, “If your baptism is the better, why is it that so many men are leaving you and going to Jesus?”

3:27 John’s reply was referring to the Lord Jesus, and means that any success the Savior received was an indication of God’s approval on Him. John was saying that he had never pretended to be anyone great or important. He had never claimed that his baptism was superior to that of Jesus. He simply said here that he did not have anything but what he had received from heaven. That is true of all of us, and there is no reason in the world why we should be proud or seek to build up ourselves in man’s esteem.

3:28 John reminded his disciples that he had pointed out time and again that he was not the Christ, but was simply sent to prepare the way for the Messiah. { John 1:23} Why should they argue over him? Why should they seek to form a party around him? He was not the important one, but was simply trying to point men to the Lord Jesus.

3:29 The Lord Jesus Christ was the bridegroom. John the Baptist was merely the friend of the bridegroom, the “best man.” The bride does not belong to the “best man” of the bridegroom, but rather to the bridegroom himself. Therefore, it was fitting that the people follow Jesus rather than John. The bride was used here to refer to those who believed in Jesus as their Savior. It was John's great joy to listen to the bridegroom’s voice as He spoke His vows to His bride. His joy was fulfilled when Christ was praised and honored by men.

3:30 This is a must for all believers. The entire object of John’s ministry is summarized in this verse. He labored ceaselessly to point men and women to the Lord, and to make them realize His true worth. In doing this, John realized that he must keep himself in the background. For a servant of Christ to seek to attract attention to himself is really a form of arrogance and disloyalty.

{Note the three “musts” in this chapter: for the Sinner (3:7); must be born again !for the Savior (3:14); Must see Jesus died on the cross for your sins1 for the Saint (3:30) Must decrease and Jesus increase.}

3:31 Jesus is the One who comes from above and is above all. This statement was designed to show His heavenly origin and supreme position. To prove his own inferiority, John the Baptist said that he himself was of the earth and was earthly and speaks of the earth. This simply meant that, as to his birth, he was born a man of human parents. He had not heavenly rank and could not speak with the same authority as the Son of God. He was inferior to the Lord Jesus because He who comes from above is above all. Christ is the supreme Sovereign of the universe. It is only proper, therefore, that men should follow Him and obey Him rather than His messenger.

3:32 But when the Lord Jesus spoke, He spoke with authority. He told men what He had seen and heard. There was no possibility of error or deceit. Yet strange to say, no one receives His testimony. The expression no one is not to be taken in an absolute sense. There are individuals who accept the words of the Lord Jesus. However, John was saying that the majority of mankind in general reject Savior’s teachings. Jesus was the One who came down from heaven, but comparatively few were willing to listen to Him.

3:33 Verse 33 describes the few who did accept the words of the Lord as being the very words of God. By their acceptance, they certified that God is true. So it is today. When people accept the message of the gospel, they take sides with God against themselves and against the rest of mankind. They realize that if God has said something, it must be true. Notice how clearly verse 33 teaches the deity of Christ. It says that whoever believes the testimony of Christ acknowledges that God is true. This is just another way of saying that the testimony of Christ is the testimony of God, and to receive the one is to receive the other also.

3:34 Jesus was the One God has sent. He spoke the words of God. To support this statement, John stated that God does not give the Spirit by measure. Christ was anointed by the Holy Spirit of God in a way that was not true of any other person. Others have been conscious of the help of the Holy Spirit in their ministry, but no one else ever had such a Spirit-filled ministry as the Son of God. The prophets received a partial revelation from God but “the Spirit revealed in and by Christ the very wisdom, the very heart of God to man with all its infinitude of love.”

3:35 This is one of the seven times in John’s Gospel where we are told that the Father loves the Son. Here that love is manifested in giving Him control over all things. Among these things over which the Savior has complete charge are the destinies of men, as explained in verse 36.

3:36 God has given Christ the power to grant everlasting life to all who believe on Him. This is one of the clearest verses in all the Bible on how a person can be saved. It is simply by believing in the Son. As we read this verse, we should realize that God is speaking. He is making a promise that can never be broken. He says, clearly and distinctly, that anyone who believes in His Son has everlasting life. Those who do not obey the Son of God shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on them already. From this verse we learn that our eternal destiny depends on what we do with the Son of God. If we receive Him, God gives us eternal life as a free gift. If we reject Him, we will never enjoy everlasting life, and not only so, but God’s wrath already hangs over us, ready to fall at any moment.

INVITATION: In closing do you believe what John has said about the Supremacy of Jesus Christ and do you believe in Him as your personal Savior and Lord? You can not come to God unless the Spirit of God draws you. The Spirit of God is speaking to every heart right now. What is He saying to you? Do you need to be born again? Do you need to surrender to God? Do you need to start believing God's word instead of your feelings? Do you need deliverance from something?