JOHN THE BAPTIST'S TESTIMONY ABOUT JESUS

Ecce Agnus Dei by Dieric Bouts the Elder, 1464

John 3: 22-36

After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison.

Here are two more location that no one any longer knows where they were, Aenon and Salim. Since it says Aenon near to Salim, Salim was probably the better-known town. Despite the similarity in spelling, this most likely isn’t the Salem over which Melchizedak ruled (See Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7). That Salem is almost universally agreed to be Jerusalem. A small minority, following the opinion of St. Jerome, a priest and early Christian apologist (circa 347 to 420 AD), disagree and places Salem eight miles from Scythopolis, part of the Decapolis, and the only one located in Israel. Still, this is only speculative and there has been so much speculation about where Salim actually was that it isn’t worth reviewing the theories. What we can know is this, John moved there because there was a lot of water.

We aren’t told why he chose to move. It is quite possible, even logical, that John moved around to different places over the course of his ministry to reach more people, so maybe this was just one more time.

At this time Jesus has left Jerusalem for elsewhere in Judea, so both men have moved from their previous location. We aren’t certain who made the move first. It says John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, so perhaps they were not far apart. Why else would it say “also”? John has been baptizing all along, but Jesus wasn’t. The way it is put sounds as if John had moved to Aenon and Jesus came later and was baptizing in the same general region. This seems even more plausible because the next part is a discussion about who’s baptizing is to be accepted.

Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying and they came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he that was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you bore witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all men come to him.”

John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness that I said; I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice, this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

It would seem John and Jesus are baptizing not to distant from each other. A question arose about this from the Jews, who I take to mean the usual Jewish religious leaders. Notice how it John’s disciples who come to John, not these Jews. This sounds like a kind of rivalry or jealously developing with these disciples, especially when they say “all men come to him”.  

This does not perturb John. He explained he had all ready told them this was going to happen. He was to prepare the way for Messiah and then was to get out of the way. We have an allusion to the Best man at a wedding, part of a recurring theme of Christ as the bridegroom we will see throughout the Gospels.

“He that comes from above is above all; he that is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He that comes from heaven is above all. And what he has seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man receives his testimony. He that has received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure to him.”

This statement by John is a bit difficult to follow. Essentially, John starts off by comparing the Messiah [he that comes from above) to ordinary men (he that is of the earth). The man from heaven is far superior (is above all) to anyone on earth and he tells the truth about God’s kingdom because he is from it (what he has seen and heard). He has come to tell mankind about the Kingdom (that he testifies), but people don’t want to hear it or believe it (no man receives his testimony. Yet, some people do listen and believe (he that has received his testimony…sets his seal that God is true). The man from Heaven speaks for God (whom God sent speaks the words of God) and God hasn’t limited him (God gives not the Spirit by measure), Jesus is filled with the Spirit.

“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. He that believes on the Son has everlasting life and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Finally, John the Baptist reaffirms that Jesus is the only way to God and Salvation. There is no way to everlasting life with God except through belief in the Son, Jesus Christ.