22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea , and there He was spending time with them and baptizing . 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim , because there was much water there ; and people were coming and were being baptized - 24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison . 25 Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification . 26 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." 27 John answered and said , " A man can receive nothing e unless e it has been given him from heaven . 28 "You yourselves are my witnesses that I said , ' I am not the Christ ,' but, 'I have been sent ahead of Him.' 29 "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 . So this joy of mine has been made full . 30 "He must increase , but I must decrease .
31 " He who comes from above is above all , he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth . He who comes from heaven is above all . 32 "What He has seen and heard , of that He testifies ; and no one receives His testimony . 33 "He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true . 34 "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God ; for He gives the Spirit without e measure . 35 " The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand . 36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life ; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life , but the wrath of God abides on him."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 3:22-36
Commentary on John 3:22-36
(Read John 3:22-36)
John was fully satisfied with the place and work assigned him; but Jesus came on a more important work. He also knew that Jesus would increase in honour and influence, for of his government and peace there would be no end, while he himself would be less followed. John knew that Jesus came from heaven as the Son of God, while he was a sinful, mortal man, who could only speak about the more plain subjects of religion. The words of Jesus were the words of God; he had the Spirit, not by measure, as the prophets, but in all fulness. Everlasting life could only be had by faith in Him, and might be thus obtained; whereas all those, who believe not in the Son of God, cannot partake of salvation, but the wrath of God for ever rests upon them.