3:22 – Jesus went out into the rural area of Judea. He stayed there with them and baptized them. It can be easily assumed that Jesus was the One who baptized them.ButJohn 4:2 says, (although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples). There is no mention of Jesus baptizing in the Synoptic Gospels which are Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
3:24 – For John was not yet thrown into prison. The Apostle John “fills in the gap between Jesus’s baptism and temptation and the Baptist’s imprisonment” (John MacArthur). A unique characteristic in the Gospel of John is that there is additional information than there is in the Synoptic Gospels (“synoptic” meaning “to explain something from the same point of view”). The Gospel of John gives information that helps us have a better understanding of the events that are recorded in the Synoptic Gospels. The Gospel of John is more theological (for instance, the study of God and the relations between God, mankind, and the universe).
3:25-26 – Purification… ceremonial washing, and ritual washing was considered important. “The New Testament also emphasized the need for purity but gives a greater emphasis upon inner purity, purity of thought and motive” (Young’s Bible Dictionary) For example, read 1 Corinthians 6:17-20). …Rabbi(John the Baptist), he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you testified… the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him. His disciples resented Jesus because thought Jesus was baptizing more people than the Baptist.
3:27 – …A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. The Lord has a purpose and plan for your life. His plan for your life may not be the same as yours. For example, when I was a young teenager, I had already decided what I was going to do with my life. I was determined that I would become a concert pianist. However, on a given day, the Lord made it known He had other plans for my life. Suddenly, I felt like my world had fallen apart. I told the Lord, “I am a musician, not a preacher.” It wasn’t until I submitted to God’s will that I had the peace which passes all human understanding. When God calls you to do something you may feel like you can’t do it, but with His help, you can.
3:29 …the friend of the bridegroom … John the Baptist was the friend. Without any bitterness, he reminded his friends He (Jesus) must increase, but I (John the Baptist) must decrease. It was time for Jesus to be in the limelight and time for John the Baptist to fade into the background.
-All the Scripture passages are taken from the World English Bible (WEB)-
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