John 3:22-36
There is quite a lot in this passage. Jesus and his disciples leave and go into the Judean countryside where Jesus spends time with them, presumably teaching them. Verse 22 says he baptised, but John 4:2 says it was actually the disciples who baptised people. Meanwhile, John was elsewhere baptising people. John’s disciples got into an argument with another Jew over ceremonial washing. Some Jewish leaders had strict regulations regarding ceremonial washing. Maybe baptising was not considered acceptable for ‘ceremonial washing’. That old legalism creeping in. John’s disciples came to him, not to tell him about this argument, but to tell him that the man he baptised, the one he testified about, was baptising and everyone was going to him. Perhaps they were envious and wanted John to be number one. Whatever they thought, I doubt they expected John’s reaction. John did not react with jealousy at his authority being usurped. He was here on serve God. He delighted in the role God gave him and accepted that when the one he came to announce arrived, his role would become less. His trust was in God. He did not need accolades from people to feel good about himself. He knew he was doing what God wanted and that was the most important accolade to receive. This is why John replied with the statement that a man can receive only what they are given from heaven. He reminded his disciples that he had testified that he was not the Christ but was sent ahead of him. As the friend of the bridegroom, his responsibility was to listen for the groom and step back for the groom to take centre stage. In case they didn’t understand, he stated that he must become less and Jesus must become greater. In relationships there is a steady progression forward. Relationships can never just stand still. A relationship that does not move forward, moves backwards and often ends. So our relationship with God must also move forward. Another fact to consider is that God always moves forward. He never moves back. His moving forward is also through and in His Son, Jesus Christ. The result here in Judea was that Jesus Christ had to increase. He had to become more important than the one sent to announce his arrival. To emphasise this to the disciples, John reminded them that Jesus came from heaven. This meant he was above all and could testify to what he had seen and heard in heaven. He bemoaned the fact that people did not want to accept Jesus’ eyewitness testimony.
John made the statement that Jesus spoke God’s word, but unlike the prophets of the past who had the Spirit given to them for particular purposes, Jesus had the Holy Spirit in unlimited abundance.
John ended with a reminder of John 16-21 that whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life but whoever rejects Him will not see life. Instead God’s wrath will remain on that person, it will never fade or be forgotten. Matthew Henry in his commentary goes as far as to suggest that such people cannot be happy because of the weight of God’s wrath.
So what is the message of this passage? I believe it is that God gives us tasks to perform. Sometimes those tasks will draw a lot of attention to us and many will speak glowingly of how wonderful we are. Other times, those tasks will go unnoticed. The attention is not important, what is important is serving God and accepting what He gives us to do. It is hard, we all want approval, but whose approval has the greater value? Other peoples’ or God’s.

John 3:19-21
There is a lot in these verses. First the verdict. Light has come into the world. Sadly there are people who have loved the darkness instead of the light. This is because these people were basically evil. It is a sad fact of life that not all people will accept Jesus as their Saviour. The thing is, we don’t know who those people will be. The Bible tells us that those who do evil hate the light. They are frightened of their deeds being exposed. To live in the darkness must be so terrifying, not that people are prepared to admit it, even to themselves. People try to add artificial light, telling themselves and others that all you have to do to be saved is to be good. Then they do something wrong. Oh that is alright, I am good most of the time. God loves even the times the lost do good, but that does not get them into heaven because they are trying to do it under their own power and we do not have the strength to be completely good. We need Jesus becaise without Jesus there is no salvation.
For others, the artificial light is the belief that all roads lead to God. In John 14:6 Jesus said “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life: no-one comes to the Father except through me” (Amplified Bible). No matter how devoted and pious the faith of those who do not believe Jesus is the Son of God and their Saviour, the path they follow does not lead to God. Satan can be very convincing, so beware, always test everything you are told against the Bible. As I have said before, the person who supplies you with scriptural references for what they say is usually more in line with God’s instruction than the one who doesn’t. But beware, always check those scripture readings and be careful to consider the context of each passage. There will always be those who will take scripture and twist it to suit their ends. In Luke 4, we read of the temptation of Jesus by satan. In this passage satan quoted scripture at Jesus to try to lead Him astray. Jesus, however, knew His Father’s word better than that. He quoted the correct passages back to satan and resisted the temptation offered to Him. Be careful to do the same.
The good news is that whoever lives by the truth, and seeks to do what is right because of their obedience to God’s promptings, does come into the light.
Are you walking in the light today?

John 3:18
In my last entry I talked about us not having the right to condemn others. Many would read these verses in John 3 and immediately consider that they should condemn others because of John 3:18. It certainly talks about condemning, but what does it actually say?
It says that whoever believes in God and His one and only Son is not condemned. It then goes on to say that whoever does not believe in God and His one and only Son condemns themselves through their unbelief.
This does not give us the right to condemn others that we judge are unbelievers. It does mean we have to accept that people make choices and one of those choices may be to stand condemned.
It is an easy thing to judge others and decide who is and isn’t condemned. The sad fact is, many pious, confessing church members don’t actually believe, and many seemingly lost individuals do believe.
Some time ago I told the story of the old lady and the well. No matter how beautiful she made the outside of the well the water still tasted foul because there was a dead cat in it. Outward appearances do not denote salvation. The inner workings of our heart do that, and our mighty Father in Heaven sees into our hearts.
Praise God that, because we believe in His Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are not condemned and weep then pray for those who are condemned.

God did not send his Son Jesus into the world to condemn it. He sent Him into the world to save the world through Him.
What could be more beautiful than those words! God sent Jesus to save, not condemn. So why do so many in the church condemn others? That is not why Jesus came. What gives those who claim to be Christians the right to condemn others when Jesus did not come to condemn? If all those who claim to be Christians were to stop condemning others and instead seeking their salvation the world would be the type of place God intended it to be. How many of those lost people stumbling in darkness would find the light?
Think about it. Are you opening the door to the lost so they may find salvation? Or are you slamming it in their faces?
Thank God that Jesus came to save you, not condemn you. Ask His forgiveness that so often you seek to condemn others rather than save them. Ask Him to send you out in the power of the Spirit to spread the good news of Jesus’ salvation to those around you.

Many years ago, a friend gave me “God’s Little Instruction Book”. One of my favourite quotes from that book is “Too many churchgoers are singing “Standing on the Promises” when all they are doing is sitting on the premises.” This was based on Hebrews 6:12, which you can check in your own Bible.
Over the years I have remembered that quote to remind myself to apply my faith, trusting God and waiting on Him when He calls me to, doing things when that is what He wants. Recently I have been involved in a very difficult situation that was out of my control, so I really had to trust God. I prayed earnestly and ensured I put on that armour and was aware of what that armour was all about (Ephesians 6:10-18). I still felt churned up and worried about the situation. Then I read the “infinite supply” devotional for 21 July (infinitesupply.org). The focus verse was 1 John 5:4 – “Whatever is born of God overcomes the world.” The devotional talked about how we are already standing in the victory, so we must stand in the victory not battle for it. It reminded us that we need to stop waging war and quietly rest in Christ, steadily praying for His Will. It hit me hard. I have been earnestly praying and putting on the armour. I had acknowledged that the armour was the victory won by Jesus on the Cross and I had to stand firm. But I wasn’t standing firm, I was waging war! How futile my actions were! So I bowed down in prayer, begging God’s forgiveness for my lack of trust and now I am standing in the victory.
Be careful when bad things happen to not get carried away with the battle. Remember, it is in the victory you need to stand. That is where the battle has already been won.
God is in control. Trust Him.