John 4 (Ch.3:22-36)

[HKHaugan]

We have just come through the primary theme of the Gospel of John, thinking, trusting and acting spiritually. Receiving Jesus as personal Savior and Lord enables us to be born spiritually which is our second birth. That means we have His Word to spiritualize our mind, His attitude to spiritualize our heart and His faith to give our spirit new motivation. By being born a second time spiritually means the image of God in us has been spiritualized, given new life. With this in mind we return to John the Baptizer.

Vs.22 begins a soliloquy that differentiates Jesus' mission from his own. It starts by mentioning two places (see Sam.9). Neither one exists now but the location is not as important as the meaning they suggest. Many times there is more to a name, a place or a person mentioned than just their appearance in Scripture. We need to see why it is mentioned. Look at these two places:

Aenon was known for its springs and in Greek means 'never ending.'
Shalim (Shaalim---the haunt of foxes---consider the activities of foxes and then Jesus citing Herod as a fox) is where God leads the prophet Samuel. There he finds Saul, anoints him and designates him to be the first king of Israel.

In Shaalim Samuel tells Saul, “The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you (1Sam.10:6-7).” This is just one of the many Old Testament foreshadowings Jesus fulfills as King, anointed with power in the Holy Spirit and acting in total faith for He is Emmanuel, 'God with us.'

Vs.25 At Aenon a squabble erupted between John's disciples and a certain Jew or Jews, probably Pharisees, about ceremonial washing (see Mark7:3 forward for Jesus' response to tradition.). They go to John for an answer but the question has to do with the validity of Jesus' baptism as opposed to John's. Had they heard the dispute raised in Matthew 15:2 that Jesus' disciples didn't wash their hands before they ate? To see what really happened there go to Matthew 15:1-20. There Jesus talks about spiritual cleansing which is the real issue.

Now John senses the legalistic spirit in both his disciples and the Phasrisees. He has already noted who he believes Jesus to be and continues to point to Him as the Son of God in a dramatic and clear presentation of Jesus' spiritual origin. The following carry forth his spiritual understanding:

vs.27 “A man can only receive what is given him from Heaven.” He was given specific understanding that he was not the Christ but sent ahead to pave the way for the Christ.

vs.29 “The bride belongs to the bridegroom.” Israel, the family of God and the church to be are the bride. John sees himself as a friend of the bridegroom who is to wait and listen for Him. And, since He has come, John is full of joy at the sound of the bridegroom's voice. Since Jesus is here John's joy is complete.

vs.30 Therefore, John concludes, “He must become greater; I must become less.”
These verses are the ones with which we are called to identify. We have received Jesus as a personal gift from Heaven. In Christ we know we are not God nor a god nor in control nor alone. Jesus must become greater and we must become less.

vs.31 The focus shifts to Jesus. “The one who comes from above is above all” comes twice. Sandwiched in between is “the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.” This says three things.

First, we are “the dust of the earth and to earth we shall return (Words from the Ash Wednesday service.).” Our bodies that contain a mind, heart and spirit that will die apart from God.
Second, this implies our temporariness due to sin and the conditioning of our environment and culture.

Third, the hope built into the second “from above” phrase that allows for our turning to the choice we have of being born spiritually from above and the new eternal life it brings.

vs.32 Jesus testifies to what He has seen and heard but no one accepts His testimony. “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” The spiritual condition of sin blocked the individual heart from recognizing Him. When you are locked into power, legalism and superiority only the Spirit can break through. Nicodemus is the example.

vs.33 If someone accepts Jesus he is certifying that truth has entered His mind and heart.

vs.34 That person knows when Jesus speaks it is God speaking to him and the Holy Spirit continues to pour Himself into that person eternally.

vs.35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands. Who the Son is the Father is and the Spirit is, One God. They are One. A loving Father who gave His only Son that the Spirit might bring them into every heart that would receive His son.

vs.36 John ends his soliloquy with three definitive statements:
First, whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.
Second, whoever rejects the Son will not see life.
Three, God's wrath remains on the one who rejects Him.

The question, 'What is God's wrath?'
Ps.7:11 God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses His wrath every day.

vs.14-16 He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment. He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made. The troubles he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head.
When guilt, remorse, resentment, regret, manipulation take over and intentional evil is committed then a person isolates himself from God and those are the result. Wrath is a self inflicted wound. (Rom.1:18-20)