Page 39 - The Gospel of John - Student textbook

Study Section 6: From John to Jesus

6.1 Connect

One of the problems with our sin nature is that we want to be liked and recognized as important.
We enjoy being in the lime light of others. We like personal attention. Some people will do
anything to be recognized by others as being important!

People were flocking to John to hear his messages and to be baptized by him. So many people
were coming that the Pharisees were getting concerned back in Jerusalem, so they sent representatives to find
out what was going on in the Jordan Valley. Jesus had come to John to be baptized as an initiation of His
ministry to Israel. Now, the focus of the crowd was moving away from John toward Jesus. John was asked,
“Aren’t you having a difficult time as people are leaving you to flock to Jesus?” John’s response demonstrated
his trust in God’s future plan for his life: “He must increase and I must decrease!” Oh, if only we could all declare
this truth in our lives! Let’s study more about the shift of Israel’s attention from John to Jesus….

6.2 Objectives

1. The student will be able to explain why John the Baptist was such a great prophet of God.

2. The student should be able to state the three reasons why Jesus was so great.

3. The student should be able to explain why and how Christ Received All Authority from the Father.

6.3 Emphasis from John to Jesus

(John 3:22 – 36)

22 After this, Jesus and His disciples went to the Judean countryside, where He spent time with
23
them and baptized. John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of
24
water there. People were coming and being baptized, since John had not yet been thrown into
26
25
prison. Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a Jew about purification. So they came to John
and told him, “Rabbi, the One you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing—and
everyone is flocking to Him.” John responded, “No one can receive a single thing unless it’s given to him
27
from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of Him.’
28
29 He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices
greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.” The
31
30
One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms.
32
The One who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one
accepts His testimony. The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true. For God
34
33
sent Him, and He speaks God’s words, since He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son
35
and has given all things into His hands. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who
36
refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:7 – 11 that the glory of the old covenant was not permanent but
nd
fading; it was intended to give way to the new. Scriptures makes it clear that the new covenant is not merely a
38