Bible Reading for January 8 – John 3:22-36

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” That’s a pretty good summary of the Christian life, for once Jesus has saved us, our lives should be completely devoted to Him. After all, as John reminds us, we wouldn’t have anything from Heaven, any faith, any love, any salvation without the work of Christ (3:27). We wouldn’t have the gift of the Holy Spirit unless Jesus had given Him to us (3:34). We wouldn’t have eternal life if He hadn’t died for us (3:36). So of course we should give the new life He has given us right back to Him.

And that means, according to John’s illustration, we should see ourselves as participants in a wedding. But at this wedding, we are cast in neither the role of the bride or the groom – instead, we are members of the wedding party. Now, most of us have served in such a capacity before. We know that the bridesmaids and the groomsmen are there to rejoice in the bridal couple’s happiness, and to do all they can to add to it. Whether carrying the rings to the ceremony or arranging the bride’s train for the pictures or pouring punch at the reception, the bridal party finds great joy in making their friends’ special day as memorable as possible.

So, how do we live our lives for the glory of the Bridegroom? Of course by trusting in Christ to save us from our sins (3:36). But also by rejoicing in His voice, cherishing the words of love and grace He has spoken to us, thus loving Him with all our hearts (3:29). And also by receiving His testimony, believing that His Word is true (3:33), and thus living according to everything He has told us. Since Jesus has given us all that we are and all that we have, does He deserve anything less?

John 3:22-36 (ESV)

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.
23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized
24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.
26 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.”
27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
29 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.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
31 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.
32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.
33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.
34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.