After
these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. For John was not yet thrown into prison. There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification. They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”
John 3:22-26
John 3 [10.] Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
John 3 [22.] After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. For John was not yet thrown into prison. There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification. They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”
John 3 [27.] John answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Meaning:
After the conversation with Nicodemus in Jerusalem, Jesus moves out into the Judean countryside. For a time the ministries of Jesus and John the Baptizer run side by side, and this leads to a complaint from John's disciples that sets up John's last great testimony.
- “He stayed there with them, and baptized”
John later clarifies that “Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples” (John 4:2). The baptism was carried out under his authority. Like John's baptism, it called people to repentance and readiness for God's Kingdom.
- “John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim”
The exact location of Enon is uncertain. The name means springs, which fits John's note that “there was much water there.” John the Baptizer kept on with the work God had given him.
- “For John was not yet thrown into prison”
The other Gospels tell how Herod Antipas arrested John for condemning his marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip's wife (Mark 6:17). Matthew notes that “when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee” (Matthew 4:12). John's note explains that these events in Judea came earlier, before John was imprisoned.
- “a questioning … about purification”
The Jews practised many washings for purification, like the water jars at Cana (John 2:1-11). With two teachers baptizing nearby, people naturally asked which washing mattered and how they were related.
- “everyone is coming to him”
John's disciples were troubled. The one their teacher had baptized and testified about was now drawing bigger crowds. Their words show loyalty to John, but also rivalry. Joshua once felt the same about Moses, and Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahweh’s people were prophets” (Numbers 11:29). Jesus' own disciples showed similar jealousy toward someone who “doesn’t follow us” (Mark 9:38). John's answer follows: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
The Significance of John 3:22-26
- No room for rivalry
Christians and churches can be tempted to compete for followers. Paul wrote, “I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). The work belongs to God.
- Faithful in our place
John kept baptizing even as crowds moved to Jesus. Each servant of God is called to be faithful in the task given, whatever its size.
Cross-References:
John 4:2: “although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples” John's clarification about Jesus' baptizing.
Mark 6:17: “For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John,” The later imprisonment of John.
Numbers 11:29: “Are you jealous for my sake?” Moses rejects jealousy on his behalf.
1 Corinthians 3:6: “I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase.” Servants working together under God.
Conclusion: John 3:22-26 describes a time when Jesus and John the Baptizer were both baptizing in Judea. When John's disciples complained that everyone was going to Jesus, they revealed a spirit of rivalry. John's reply would show the humility of a true servant of God.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible