26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Key Observation:
I applaud McGee’s comment on John the Baptist: “He is the last of the Old Testament prophets who walks out of the Old Testament onto the pages of the New Testament to announce the coming of the Messiah.”
Devotion:
McGee also says of this passage that John the Baptist shows not a jealous bone in his body. Look at what John says when his disciples were showing jealousy over the fact that Jesus seemed to be taking all of the disciples away from John. Remember that John the Baptist had lost two disciples in the first chapter, John and Andrew, who each also got their brothers involved. Perhaps, even probably, the brothers were also aware of John the Baptist, and were also disciples of John. Naturally the disciples remaining to John watched the loss of their brethren and expressed natural human disdain for what was happening.
These things John, the last of the OT prophets, said:
1) A man receives nothing but what is given him from heaven. v. 27
2) I am not the Christ; I am sent before him. v.28
3) He that has the bride is the bridegroom, and I rejoice for the bridegroom. v.29
4) He must increase but I must decrease. v. 30
5) He that cometh from above is above all. v. 31
6) What he hath seen and heard, that he testifies. v. 32
7) He that receives his testimony believes God and what God says is true v. 33
8) Christ speaks the words of God, for He has all of God’s Spirit v. 34
9) The Father loves Jesus and has put all things in His hand. v. 35
10) John concludes that believing the Son will give life, but refusal to believe results in the anger of God.
There is one work which I must do; that work is to give up all my attempts to redeem myself, for only God can do that. I must believe God. I must believe that Jesus died for my sins on that cross, that once for all, all the sins of the world were judged, with the single condition for salvation remaining, that I believe God has done this. It is finished!
McGee, J. Vernon (1990-01-30). Thru the Bible 1-5 (5 Volume Set) (Kindle Locations 100402-100403). Grupo Nelson. Kindle Edition.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
2. Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conquerors we are!
3. His Word shall not fail you He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Chorus:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Lyrics: Helen Howarth Lemmel
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