Must I decrease?

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison). (John’s first century eyewitness biography of Jesus Chapter 3: 22-36)

After what? See last week’s Info. Nicodemus, his questions and what Jesus asked him about himself. That took place in Jerusalem – by night. Now Jesus stays in Jerusalem territory – but moves into the countryside. Why does John the biographer mention that John the Baptist (two different people) “was baptizing in Aenon near Salim”? “Aenon” means “springs of water” and “Salim” means “peace”. And what about “plentiful water there”? Lots of people coming to John the Baptist to be cleansed at this special place. Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” It seems that a Jewish person must have raised an issue with “some of John’s disciples”. Maybe this was this about cleansing, plentiful springs of water and peace nearby? Was it also about success? “All are going to him” – goping to this other man named Jesus. Shall we stay on what seems to be the losing side?
John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.”	.
Has anyone ever said anything like that to you – about that person’s more successful counterpart? Have you said it about yourself? “You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.” You may have participated in a wedding of recent months. Was there in your heart a real desire that the bridegroom and bride be abundantly blessed? Or did the speech of the best-man gently point you to the best-man’s worthiness? “He must increase, but I must decrease.” My response would have been, I “must increase”. (Although I might try to conceal this.) Maybe it’s the “I must decrease” which is so searching? Interestingly, it looks as though John did “decrease”, just as he wished. See above, “John had not yet been put in prison”. Why wish that? “He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.” Had John the Baptist seen things which others would only see later? “He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.”
So, John the Baptist was, in fact, bearing witness all the time about Jesus, pointing to him. Why were John’s disciples still staying with John and not listening to him by going to “he who comes from above” to “the bridegroom”? Were they holding on to Jewish cleansing? Instead of to the one who alone "gives the Spirit without measure”?	.
“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal being; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see such being, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Was John the Baptist wrong to make it so clear that “believing in the Son” and “obeying the Son” is so consequentially enormous for “whoever”?

Sinner Syvret

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