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John 3:22-36
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9“How can this be?” Nicodemus
asked.
10“You are
11Very truly I tell you, we
speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
12I have spoken to you of
earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of
heavenly things?
13No one has ever gone into
heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of
…
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22After this, Jesus and his
disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with
them, and baptized.
23Now John also was baptizing
at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of
water, and people were coming and being baptized.
24(This was before John was
put in prison.)
25An argument developed
between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of
ceremonial washing.
26They came to John and said
to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the
one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27To this John replied, “A
person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
28You yourselves can testify
that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’
29The bride belongs to the
bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s
voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30He must become greater; I
must become less.”
31The one who comes from
above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes
from heaven is above all.
32He testifies to what he has
seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.
33Whoever has accepted it has
certified that God is truthful.
34For the one whom God has
sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
36Whoever believes in the Son
has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s
wrath remains on them.
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1)
Are verses 9 to 13
included in VisionCasting-John3.1-21?
o Yes.
2)
Why are verses 9 to
13 included here?
o They are included here to provide continuity of
context.
3)
According to
verse 22 where did Jesus and his
disciples go after his conversation with Nicodemus
and what did he do?
o Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean
countryside.
o Where
o He
§
Spent some time
with them.
§
And baptized.
4)
According to verses
23 and 24 where was John baptizing before
he was put in prison and why?
o He was baptizing
at Aenon near Salim.
5)
According to
verse 23 why was John baptizing at Aenon near Salim?
o There was plenty of water there.
o And people were
§
Coming.
§
And being
baptized.
6)
What does verse 23
suggest about the number of people who were coming to John to be baptized?
o It suggests that a large number of
people were coming to John to be baptized.
7)
Why was John put
in prison, given Matthew 14:3-4?
o It is because he had been telling Herod that it was
against the law of Moses for him have his brother Philip’s wife.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud Matthew 14:3-4 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
3Now Herod had arrested John
and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s
wife,
4for John had been saying to
him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
8)
According to
verse 25 what happened between some of
John’s disciples and a certain Jew?
o An argument developed between them over the matter of ceremonial
washing.
9)
Who was that man who was with John on the other side of the
o It was Jesus.
10)
According to
verse 26 what did John’s disciples and the
Jew tell John about what was going on with Jesus?
o They told John
§
That Jesus was
baptizing.
§
And that everyone was going to him.
11)
Was it really true that everyone was going to Jesus for baptism and
why, given verse 23?
o No, because a large number of
people were still coming to John to be baptized.
12)
Why then did John’s
disciples and the Jew tell him that everyone was going to Jesus for baptism?
o They were trying to magnify the impact on John of what
they were saying to him.
13)
In accordance
with verse 26 what did John’s disciples and the Jew imply was the reason everyone
was going to Jesus for baptism?
o They implied that everyone was going to Jesus for
baptism.
o Because
o John had testified about him.
14)
Did John’s
disciples and the Jew think that he had given an average or a highly-commendable testimony of Jesus?
o A highly-commendable testimony.
15)
In accordance
with verse 26 what were John’s disciples and the Jew particularly interested in
finding out from the way they reported the situation to him?
o They were particularly interested in finding out how
he felt about everyone going to Jesus for baptism because of his highly-commendable testimony of Jesus.
16)
What had John
previously testified about the relative significance of Jesus’ baptism and his,
given John 1:26-34?
o He made it clear that Jesus’ baptism was more
significant than his.
o Because
o He baptized with water.
o But Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 1:26-34 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
26“I baptize with water,”
John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.
27He is the one who comes
after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28This all happened at
29The next day John saw Jesus
coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of
the world!
30This is the one I meant
when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before
me.’
31I myself did not know him,
but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to
32Then John gave this
testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
33And I
myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water
told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one
who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
34I have seen and I testify
that this is God’s Chosen One.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
17)
In accordance
with verse 26 whose baptism, Jesus’ baptism or John’s
baptism, did the crowd consider to be more significant and why?
o The crowd considered Jesus’ baptism to be more
significant.
o Because
o Everyone was going to him.
18)
How effective was
John’s testimony of Jesus?
o It was so effective that everyone was going to Jesus.
19)
What is the context
of the argument between John’s disciples and the Jew over the matter of
ceremonial washing?
o The context is
§
Baptism for the
purpose of ceremonial washing.
§
And the relative
significance of
Ø
Jesus’ baptism.
Ø
And John’s.
20)
Was John
anticipating that everyone would be going
to Jesus when he testified about him, given John 1:35-37?
o Yes, because his disciples started following Jesus.
o When
o He testified about him.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 1:35-37 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
35The next day John was there
again with two of his disciples.
36When he saw Jesus passing
by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37When the two disciples
heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
+++++++++++++++++++++
21)
According to
verse 27 what did John say was the only
thing a person could receive?
o A person could receive only what was given them from
heaven.
22)
In accordance
with verse 27 from what perspective did John answer his disciples and the Jew?
o From the perspective of God’s sovereignty.
23)
According to
verse 28 what had John said about himself
in the context of the Messiah or the Christ?
o He had said
§
That he was not
the Christ.
§
And that he was
only sent ahead of him.
24)
In accordance
with verse 28 did John’s disciples and the Jew know that he was not the Christ
but was sent ahead of him and why?
o Yes, because they knew that he said it before.
25)
Who is the
bridegroom in John’s analogy of his assessment of the current situation in verse
29?
o Jesus is the bridegroom.
26)
Who is the bride?
o People who
§
Formerly flocked
to John.
§
And were then flocking
to Jesus.
o Are the bride.
27)
Who is the friend
who attends the bridegroom?
o John is the friend.
28)
How did John apply
the analogy of the bride, the bridegroom and
the friend who attends the bridegroom to the current situation in verse 29?
o People who formerly flocked to John and then started flocking
to Jesus really belonged to Jesus.
o John
§
Had been waiting and listening for Jesus.
§
And was full of joy.
§
When
§
He heard Jesus’
voice.
o That joy was his.
o And it was right
then complete.
29)
According to
verse 30 what did John say was the expected transition for Jesus and John
respectively?
o Jesus must become greater.
o John must become less.
30)
Did John find out
about Jesus becoming greater and his becoming less unexpectedly and why, given
verse 29?
o No, because of his language of anticipation of waiting and listening for the bridegroom for the
bride to be turned over to the bridegroom.
31)
In accordance
with verse 30 what constitutes the criterion for success and failure for John
in his mission?
o John would have failed.
o If
o He had become greater.
o And Jesus had become less.
o In reality John had succeeded.
o Because
o He had become less.
o And Jesus had become greater.
32)
What was the
contrast between how John’s disciples and the Jew expected him to feel about the
current situation and how he actually felt?
o They expected him to be disappointed.
o But he actually joyfully embraced
his lot in the current situation.
33)
Why was John able
to joyfully embrace his lot in the current situation, given verse 27?
o In humility he joyfully submitted to God’s sovereignty.
34)
What role did John
see himself play in God’s plan, given verses 28 to 30?
o He knew
§
That he was not the
Christ.
§
That he was only sent
ahead of him.
§
And that he was
to play a supportive role for him.
35)
How did John find
fulfillment in God’s plan for him, given verse 29?
o He found fulfillment in fulfilling his supportive role
as the friend who attended the bridegroom.
o When
o The bridegroom finally came.
36)
How do we
evaluate the outcome of John’s ministry as laid out in the words of Isaiah the
prophet, given John 1:23?
o John fulfilled the words of Isaiah the prophet.
o When
o People who formerly flocked to him started flocking to
Jesus because of his testimony of Jesus.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 1:23 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
23John replied in the words
of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make
straight the way for the Lord.’”
+++++++++++++++++++++
37)
What qualified John
to act as a leader going ahead of the Christ who enlisted John’s help in making
straight the way for him?
o John’s humility as a leader who did his utmost to draw
out the greatest potential of those who followed him, first his own disciples,
then the Christ.
o Humility is the most crucial measure of a leader.
38)
Why did Jesus say in Matthew 11:11 that among those born of
women there has not risen anyone greater than John, given the fact that Jesus himself
was born of a woman?
o It is because of John’s humility as a leader.
o Jesus himself
§
Followed John.
§
And was baptized
by him.
o As the leader.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud Matthew 11:11 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
11Truly I tell you, among those
born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet
whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
+++++++++++++++++++++
39)
According to
verse 31 what is the status of the one
who comes from above?
o The one who comes from above is above all.
40)
What does the
one being above all suggest about his nature in
comparison to all others?
o It suggests the nature of supremacy of the one over all others.
41)
How much emphasis
is laid on the fact that the one who comes from above is above all?
o It is stated twice.
42)
Who is the one
who comes from above, given verse 13?
o Jesus is.
43)
Who then is the one
who is above all and has supremacy over all?
o Jesus is.
44)
According to
verse 31 what is the assessment of the one
who is from the earth?
o The one who is from the earth
§
Belongs to the
earth.
§
And speaks as one
from the earth.
45)
Who spoke as one
from the earth in the current context?
o John’s disciples and the Jew who told him
§
That Jesus
was baptizing.
§
And that everyone was going to Jesus.
46)
According to
verses 31 and 32 what happens when Jesus testifies
to what he has seen and heard in heaven?
o No one accepts Jesus’ testimony.
47)
Who did not
accept Jesus’ testimony, given verse 9?
o Nicodemus.
48)
Is it really true that no one accepts Jesus’ testimony and why, given verses 32 and 33 and John 2:11?
o No, it only means that few accepted Jesus’ testimony.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 2:11 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
11What Jesus did here in Cana
of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and
his disciples believed in him.
+++++++++++++++++++++
49)
What is ironic
about the fact that few accepted Jesus’ testimony,
given verse 26?
o The crowd heeded John’s testimony to go to Jesus.
o Yet few accepted Jesus’ testimony.
o When
o They came to him.
50)
According to
verse 33 what has anyone done in accepting Jesus’ testimony?
o Whoever has accepted Jesus’ testimony has certified that God is truthful.
51)
Who had certified
that God is truthful?
o The disciples who believed in Jesus had certified that
God is truthful.
52)
Why is it that whoever
has accepted Jesus’ testimony has
certified that God is truthful, given verse 34?
o It is because Jesus
whom God has sent speaks the words of God.
53)
According to
verse 34 how does Jesus whom God has sent speak the words of God?
o Jesus speaks the words of God by the Spirit.
o Whom
o God gives him without limit.
54)
What does Jesus’
being given the Spirit without limit suggest about his nature in comparison to all
others?
o It suggests the nature of supremacy over all others.
55)
Why does God give
Jesus the Spirit without limit, given verse 35?
o It is because God has placed everything in Jesus’ hands.
56)
Why is Jesus able
to speak the words of God when God gives him the Spirit, given 1 Corinthians
2:11?
o It is because the Spirit knows the thoughts of God.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud 1 Corinthians 2:11 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
11For who knows a person’s
thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the
thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
+++++++++++++++++++++
57)
What is the
consequence for Jesus that God gives him the
Spirit without limit, given 1 Corinthians 2:11 quoted earlier?
o Jesus knows the thoughts of God fully.
o In other words Jesus is able
to speak the words of God fully.
58)
According to
verse 35 how can we tell that the Father loves Jesus the Son?
o The Father
§
Loves Jesus the
Son.
§
And has placed everything in his hands.
59)
What does Jesus the
Son have when the Father has placed everything in his hands?
o Jesus the Son has everything the Father has.
60)
What is Jesus the
Son the embodiment of in the context of the Father when the Son has everything he
has?
o Jesus the Son is the embodiment of all.
o That
o The Father has.
61)
What is so
amazing about God so loving the world that he gave his one and only Son?
o In giving the world his one and only Son God gave all.
o That
o He has.
62)
What does Jesus’
being given all that the Father has suggest about his nature in comparison to all
others?
o It suggests the nature of supremacy over all others.
63)
How had John adjusted his testimony
of Jesus in comparison to his previous testimony?
o He had adjusted
his testimony to the level of Jesus’ supremacy
over all others.
64)
Why did John adjust
his testimony of Jesus, given verses
23, 29 and
30?
o It is because
§
The bride belongs
to the bridegroom.
§
And Jesus had
already come as the bridegroom.
o But people were still coming to John to be baptized.
o John’s testimony was intended once and for all to
motivate people who were still coming to him to go to Jesus.
o That was John’s consistent expression of humility as a
leader over his disciples and the Christ.
65)
What did John’s consistent
expression of humility as a leader ensure about the outcome of God’s calling on
his life for him to make straight the way for the Christ?
o It ensured the fulfillment of God’s calling on his
life.
66)
According to
verse 36 what is the consequence of believing and rejecting the testimony of Jesus
the Son?
o Whoever believes in Jesus the Son has eternal life.
o But whoever rejects the Son will
not see life.
67)
Why does anyone
who believes in Jesus has eternal life and why does anyone who rejects Jesus will
not see life, given John 5:26?
o Per John 5:26 Jesus has life in himself.
o Therefore whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life.
o But whoever rejects Jesus will not see life.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 5:26 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also
to have life in himself.
+++++++++++++++++++++
68)
According to
verse 36 why will anyone who rejects Jesus not see life?
o It is because God’s
wrath remains on them.
69)
Why does God’s
wrath remain on those who reject Jesus?
o It is because God has invested all that he has in Jesus.
o And yet
o Jesus is rejected.
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John 3:22-36
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