John 3:23-36 Not About John

John had to explain to his followers why it wasn’t a competition between Jesus and him.  Jesus was the One John was to announce to the world.  Jesus was the bridegroom and John was only the best man.  Jesus was also a witness to the truth, and John listed several reasons that He was, according to my commentary:

1)       He came from heaven.  He was the only messenger who could claim that.

2)      Since He did come from heaven, everything He said, He’d seen and heard from the Father.

3)      God sent Him, gave him the Word and the Spirit, and gave Him all things.  He was therefore AUTHORIZED by God.

4)      We might escape the wrath of God through a living, learning, and loving relationship with Christ.

My commentary also said, “We must never forget the cost of those blessings.  For us to be born into God’s family, Jesus Christ had to die.  For us to enter into the loving relationship of salvation, He had to endure the hatred and condemnation of men.  He had to be lifted up on the cross so that we might experience forgiveness and eternal life.  May we never take this for granted!  He must increase, but I must decrease!”

Father, I want to be doing what You will me to be doing, at Your direction and in Your timing.  Please keep me ever mindful that it is never a competition with others.  I am simply to lift up Your Son.  Help me to magnify Christ through my words and actions, and never let it be about me.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford