Pride, Purpose, and the Power of Letting Go

Written By William Stitt

📖 Scripture Focus

John 3:22-30

Verse 22

“Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people.”

Verse 23

“At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism.”

  • Aenon was a city just north of Judea

  • The name "Aenon" means "fountain" or "spring," suggesting it was a place known for its water sources. It was located near the Jordan River.

  • Even though Jesus ministry had begun, he continued the job that was set before Him.

Verse 24

“(This was before John was thrown into prison.)”

Verse 25

“A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing.”

  • argument has broken out about….”a thing”

  • There must’ve been an aspect of cleansing involved in the way John Baptized to cause this argument

Verse 26

“So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.””

  • John’s disciples clearly have taken some issue with people now starting to go to Jesus to be baptized.

  • I believe that his disciples were operating in out of Pride and Fear.

    • PRIDE: how dare they go to him when you’ve been doing this for so long, you’re literally “The Baptizer”

    • FEAR: if people are going to him now, what does that mean for us and our ministry?

*DISCUSSION*

  • Can you think of a time when your response to a situation was Pride and/ or Fear? How could you have reacted differently?

Verse 27

“John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.”

Verse 28

“You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’”

  • John doesn’t go along with their pride and fear, but reminds them of the call and the mission that was given to him.

  • Jesus rebuked Peter for speaking from his flesh (Mark 8:33 “Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”)

  • John similarly (maybe a little nicer) rebukes his disciples and reminds him of his mission

*DISCUSSION*

  • In what ways can we effectively rebuke each other as fellow believers? Do you have any examples to share?

Verse 29

“It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.”

Verse 30

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

William Stitt
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