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Another problem that bothered the disciples of John

Text: John 3:22-36

ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT BOTHERED THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN

The disciples of John were obviously fiercely loyal to their master. They stood on his side in their conflict with the Jews. They were not afraid of identifying themselves with John the Baptizer. Though they did not convince the Jews concerning their theological position, they held their own!

There was another problem that bothered John’s Disciples. John observed,

“And they came to John and said to him,
‘Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan,
to whom you have testified –
Behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!’ ”
John 3:26

This set of John’s disciples was not like Andrew and Peter! They stuck to being with John. They must have figured that since John baptized Jesus, their master must be the “greater person”. Somehow, they did not fully fathom what John had declared concerning Jesus! They were certainly aware of the fact that John testified of him, but they made no move to contact Jesus as Andrew and John did! They stuck to John with a great sense of loyalty.

They must have been most perturbed when they noticed that Jesus made more disciples, and baptized more people than John. Some of John’s disciples had left to join Jesus. More and more people seemed to flock to Jesus! Instead of being happy, these disciples of John felt uncomfortable about what they saw. How were they supposed to respond to this new situation? How should they understand the popularity of Jesus!

THE KIND OF TEACHING JOHN GAVE HIS DISCIPLES

What kind of teaching did John give to his disciples? The following text would give us an idea as to what he must have taught his disciples. John desired to make no disciples at all. He just wanted to be that voice in the wilderness. He did not want to draw people to himself. All he wanted to do was to point people to Jesus!

Once again, John opened his mouth to speak about Jesus! The correct focus should be on Jesus! Why did his disciples not understand the heart of his ministry?

“John answered and said,
‘A man can receive nothing unless
It had been given him from heaven.’ ”
John 3:27

John was a skilled and patient teacher! Surely his disciples had heard him preach about Christ! Why had they not understood his teaching? Why should they be upset that Jesus now had more baptized disciples? If Jesus made more disciples, it was because God Himself had given Jesus these disciples! Surely, this truth was obvious! The disciples must try and discern God’s hand in the life of Jesus!

John went on to reiterate what he had taught on previous occasions.

“You yourselves bear me witness, that I said,
‘I am not the Christ,’
But, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ ”
John 3:28

This was not a new teaching to the disciples of John. Again and again, John disclaimed that he was the Christ! He maintained that he was only sent before Him, meaning that he was only a forerunner! That was all John saw concerning himself! His ministry was only that of a forerunner!

John needed to emphasize this basic truth to his disciples once again. If he was not the Christ, but only a forerunner, why should the disciples be upset if Jesus, identified as the Lamb of God, drew more disciples to Himself?

The sad answer was that these disciples had not yet come to the kind of faith that Andrew and John had. They had not yet come to the full understanding that Jesus was indeed the Messiah!

John went on to explain how he saw himself. He knew and appreciated what his disciples felt in their hearts. However, their feeling of love and loyalty was misplaced! John was not the important person they should honour. Jesus was the One they should learn to love and treasure!

“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.
Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.”
John 3:29

Every Jew would understand what John was talking about. In a Jewish wedding, there was a man who was called “The Friend of the Bridegroom”. He was essentially the wedding co-coordinator. He would look into every single detail on behalf of the Bridegroom. It was the privilege of “The Friend of the Bridegroom” to serve his friend in this special way.

However, “The Friend of the Bridegroom” was NOT the Bridegroom. No matter the work he would do for his friend, the Bridegroom was THE MAIN PERSON. John was that friend of the Bridegroom. Jesus was The Bridegroom!

Perhaps the disciples of John noted how hard John worked. They noted how fervently he preached. They must have noted how much he had to sacrifice and suffer, living in the wilderness! Suddenly, Jesus appeared on the scene and before you knew it, He was the CENTER of attraction! John’s disciples just could not accept this fact easily!

John wanted his disciples to understand that as far as he was concerned, he couldn’t be happier than to see people flock to Jesus. If people came to him and stayed on with him, then he would have failed to do his job! If, on the other hand, people turned to Jesus, then John was the true friend of the Bridegroom. He was not unhappy or jealous that Jesus baptized and made more disciples than he did. That Jesus drew an even greater crowd was absolutely delightful to hear! Did his disciples understand all that?