John 3:24-27

Dr. Ronnie Wolfe

Soon after both John and Jesus (through his disciples) were both baptizing people, John the Baptist was imprisoned; soon afterward he was killed.

While John was still working, some people brought up questions concerning John's disciples and purifying. This purifying would be Moses' commandment concerning this rite, or it could have even been the command of the Jews in their commandments of men added to Moses' law to go through certain rituals for purifying. This baptism of John may bring into jeopardy the rites of Moses or the traditions that men had added to them. So, these men were actually dismissing John's baptism as unnecessary and even destructive to the Jewish theology of the day.  These men came to John emphasizing the work of Jesus in other places and how that Jesus was drawing "all men" to himself and that the ministry of John was deteriorating.

John knew, however, that his ministry must decrease and the Lord's ministry must increase (John 3:30). John is not to build the church, but Jesus is to build his church. John's disciples must be Jesus' disciples in the end, and the churches were to go to the uttermost part of the earth.

Now John answers these critics in a very important and powerful way. He says in verse 27, ". . . A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." What a powerful defense of the Gospel! God must grant repentance (Acts 11:18), and salvation is by grace (the work of God). Later John would say in John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

What a mighty work that God does in our hearts as he draws us unto himself, gives grace to believe, and seals us with his Holy Spirit! Jonah confessed in the fish's belly, "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9).

Therefore, the Gospel message goes to all people in the world to repent, confess sins, and trust completely in--and only in--Jesus Christ as Savior.