It's All About Jesus - John 3:22-36

Before you start anything, take some time to be still and to pray. Let go of any distractions, worries, or stresses you have. Offer them up to God. Ask him to help you focus and to learn from his word. Take your time. Prepare yourself to hear from God.

Once you have done that, Read John 3:22-36

In this passage, we encounter John the Baptist a second time. We first saw John the Baptist in chapter 1 when the Pharisees asked him who he is and what he was doing. In chapter 1, John was baptizing people but in doing so he proclaimed Jesus’ name and not his own (like in John 1:26-27). Here in chapter 3, he again glorifies Jesus and not himself. In verse 29, he talks about how we are like the friends of the bridegroom. Imagine for a second that you’re a best man at a wedding. You dress up in your best tuxedo, you come up with an awesome speech, and you make a big toast. Wouldn’t it be ridiculous if the best man made a speech about himself and toasted to himself? Of course. It’d be ridiculous because the wedding isn’t about the best man; it’s about the bride and bridegroom. The best man should rejoice in the bridegroom, and not rejoice in himself. John uses this example to illustrate how we Christians should live. It’s ridiculous for us to try and draw attention to ourselves because our lives should be about Jesus. That is why in chapters 1 and 3 John the Baptist gives the glory to God and not himself. John captures the whole idea in verse 30 when he says, “He must become greater; I must become less”. Our lives must be more about God and less about ourselves. Are you giving God the glory and recognition that he deserves? Take some time to think about areas in your life that should point to God and not to yourself.

In verse 27, John says “A person cannot receive even on thing unless it is given him from heaven” (ESV). Think about that for a second. We can have nothing unless God gives it to us: no life, no salvation, no family, no friends, no love, no talents, no nothing. The list goes on and on. This shows us how awesome and loving God is because he has given us everything we have even when we deserve none of it. We often forget and take all the things God has given us for granted, but his grace and provision should lead us to thanksgiving. Take some time to reflect and thank God for all that he has given you.

John ends with telling us why our lives should point to him and why we should be thankful. Verse 35 says, “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands”. When Jesus died on the cross, the weight of all of mankind’s sin was in his hands and he took the punishment for us. Christians who believe and accept Christ’s receive eternal life and certify that God is true. We can rejoice because we are free from the penalty of sin, we will be in heaven one day, and we can have a personal relationship with God. God’s salvation is a gift to mankind, a gift from heaven (verse 27). Because God has given us salvation and so much more, we should be thankful and our lives should point to him, just like the best man at a wedding.

As you finish your time in the Word, take some more time to reflect and pray. What are you going to get out of this devotional? Is it to be reminded that your life should be about God and not yourself? Do you need to be more thankful and not take God’s provision and grace for granted? Do you need to be reminded of the cross? Ask God to make it clear to you what he wants you to get out of these passages and to remind you of it daily.