Shalom dear brothers and sisters! Good to continue with the study of the Gospel of John together. And will you please open your Bibles to the Gospel of John? And today we are in the third chapter once again, but hopefully we'll deal with the second half of the third chapter of the Gospel of John. I would like you to follow after me as I'm reading from John chapter 3, verses 22 to 36. In this passage, we see the Lord Yeshua, the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, who presents Himself in the role of a Bridegroom, but also He presents Himself in the role of a witness. In the first 21 verses of the third chapter, John 3, verses 1 to 21, we have already heard and seen and read how the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, Deliberated with Nakdimon, this ruler of our Jewish people who came to Him by night.

In these first 21 verses, we can see Yeshua, Jesus, as the Rabbi, the Rabbi, the Teacher, who taught Nakdimon, how one must be born again, born from above. And we have learned how it is so important for any person who is exposed before the Lord to understand the necessity to be born from above, by the Holy Spirit of God, born again. But now, in these next verses, we continue to see now the Lord, which the evangelist, John, Yohanan, who is really the apostle, who wrote the Gospel of John by divine inspiration, representing Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah, as the Bridegroom, and as the true witness, the true Ed.

Ed in Hebrew means a witness. And so we read in verse 22, After these things came Jesus and His disciples into the land of Judea, and there He tarried with them and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Anon, near to Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison. And then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto Yohanan, John, and said unto him, Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom you bearest witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all men come to him.

Yohanan answered and said, A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourself bear me witness that I said, I am not the Messiah, but that I am sent before him. He that has the bride is the Bridegroom. But the friend of the Bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoices greatly because of the Bridegroom's voice, This my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all. He that is from the earth is earthy, and speaketh of earth. He that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he has seen and heard, that he testifieth, and no man receiveth his testimony.

He that hath received his testimony, has set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God has sent, speaketh the words of God, for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and has given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son, has everlasting life. And he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Amazing passage, beloved brothers and sisters. We are studying the Gospel of Yohanan, the Gospel of John. And this Gospel is very, very important, because it emphasizes the fact, that the Lord Yeshua, the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, is indeed a divine person.

You remember what we began, in the reading of this whole Gospel. The Gospel of Yohanan. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Verse 14, And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. The first chapter of this Gospel, have already emphasized the important thing, that John wanted to communicate, that we all will understand, that all the readers will understand, that in the beginning, how far you may want to take it, thousand years, hundreds of thousand years, whatever amount of years you want to put here, He was there.

In the beginning, was the Word. The Word was with God, He was a distinct personality in the Godhead, but He also was God, because the Word was God. In verse 14 of John 1, He was dead, and the Word became flesh, and God became a man. God became a man, human nature, with His divine nature, when He was born in the city of Bethlehem, to the virgin Miriam. By the time we moved along, we have already arrived now to the third chapter, and in the third chapter, we learn an amazing lesson, how Nicodemus, in verses 1 to 21, came before Yeshua the Messiah, and said unto him, in chapter 3, in verse 1 and 2, and he said, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher, come from God, for no man can do these miracles, that thou doest, except God be with him.

Nakdimon, this Rabban, this Rabbi of Rabbis, his ruler of our own people of Israel, he came to Yeshua by night, and told him, Rabbi, we know that you are men, come from God, because no one could do what you are doing. God was drawing Nakdimon to himself, and Nakdimon eventually become a child of God, he became a born again, born from above, as Yeshua said to him, you must be born again. And in verse 16 of chapter 3, Yeshua said for God, so love the world, Nakdimon he love you, Israel he love you, but he love all the people of the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

And Yeshua taught Nakdimon, or emphasized before him, the necessity of being born from above, born again. And he was teaching a teacher in Israel. But then again, there is no greater teacher, Rabbi, than our Lord Yeshua HaMashiach. Well, beloved brothers and sisters, now we have arrived to this second half of chapter 3, verses 22 to 36, and Yeshua presents himself now, or presented by the apostle Yohanan John, as the bridegroom, who has a bride, and as a witness, who come to this world, to give witness to the true and living God of Israel, who promised that the Messiah will come. And Yeshua, he came. So you notice now in verses 22 to verse 30, that Jesus is presenting himself in the role of a bridegroom.

And he does so as the evangelist John presents him in his writing, but also Yohanan Amadbi, John the baptizer, presenting him as that bridegroom. And you notice in verse 22 we read, that after these things came Yeshua and his disciples into the land of Judea, and there he tarried with them, and he baptized. Apparently, after all this discussion with Nakedimon Nicodemus, there's some events that occur in between verse 21 and verse 22. Now he's back to Judea. And there notice he's, according to verse 22, he says he baptized. Now, if you read in chapter 4, the next chapter, verse 2, he says, "Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples." In other words, he, Yeshua, the Messiah, people came to him.

Now, it's not only that Yohanan Amadbil baptized, John the baptizer baptized, but Yeshua himself baptized, but his disciples did it on his behalf, because many followed him. Many came to the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, recognized that he is indeed the Messiah. And they identify, you notice this baptism, this Tvila in Hebrew, or Mikva in Hebrew. This Tvila in the water here, it's simply a baptism on to repentance. In Hebrew, the word repentance means Teshuvah. And these Jewish people, from among our people of Israel, in the days when Yeshua was here on earth, they repented, confessed their sins, they were waiting for the coming of the kingdom, promised to Israel.

And they came to Yeshua, and not only that some have been baptized by John the baptizer, but here some have been baptized by Yeshua, by Yeshua himself, whose followers, whose disciples actually did the baptism. Very interesting here. And we read in verse 23, that John himself, this is Yohanan the baptizer, he also baptized in Anon, near to Salim, because there was much water there, and they came and were baptized. Apparently, the baptism of Teshuvah, the baptism of repentance, were now being done by both. By John the baptizer himself, and also by Yeshua himself, through his disciples, according to chapter 4, and verse 2. Now, this word, Ainon, in Hebrew, Ainon, a spring, is there, apparently, because he came to Judea, and that place, somewhere, from Mount Ebal, all the way to the Jordan area, there was a place that's called Ainon.

We read, John, baptized in Ainon, and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, baptized in Judea. So, in a sense, what we learned, that, Yeshua came to Judea, and baptized in Judea, and John, the baptizer, baptized in Ainon, near Salim, because there was much water there, like it was in the Jordan River, and there, many came to him, as well. So, what you really see here, that, after, John, finished to baptize, in the Jordan River, he went further north, and Ainon, is a location, some place, found, near Mount Ebal, between Mount Ebal, to the Jordan, somewhere there, and he, apparently, baptized there. So, you have, Yeshua, baptizing in Judea, and John, the baptizer, baptizing a little bit, further north, and you can see, that the ministry, of the word of God, continuing on.

You remember, like we, have read earlier, when John came, and he, all Judea came to him, he said, prepare for the kingdom, of heaven, is at hand. There was an anticipation, of the coming kingdom, and many, who repented, from among, our people, of Israel, confessing, their sins, in preparation, for the kingdom, they were, identifying, with the coming, kingdom, by, symbolically, going, under the water, and, identifying, with the, call, to repent, and, to be prepared, because, the king, is going, to establish, a kingdom, and, how interesting, that many, apparently, as we read, in other gospels, and Matthew, and so on, how many, came to John, to be baptized, of him, apparently, there are those, who came, to be baptized, by Yeshua, the Messiah, as well.

You notice, what it says, in verse 24, that John, was not yet, cast into prison, well, he will be, cast into prison, a little bit, later on, because, you know why, because John, the baptized, gave a testimony, that, he was such, an amazing, proclamer, of the coming, kingdom, that, as we read, in chapter 14, Herod, Antipas, he was the son, of Herod the Great, he put him, in prison. According to, Matthew chapter 14, verses 1 to 3, at that time, Herod the Tatrach, heard of the fame, of Yeshua, and said unto his servant, this is, John, or Yohanan, the baptizer, he is risen, from the dead, and therefore, mighty works, do show, for themselves, in him.

And then he tells us, later on, that John actually, was taken to prison, it says, in verse 3, for Herod, had laid hold, on John, Yohanan, the baptizer, and he bound him, and he put him, in prison, for Herod's sake, his brothers, Philip's wife. Why? Because, verse 4, of Matthew 14, says, what John said unto him, it is not lawful, it is not lawful, for thee, to have her. In other words, beloved friend, here is John, at this point of time, when we are in, the third chapter, of the Gospel of John, John, the baptizer, according to verse 24, of chapter 3, he was not, yet, cast into prison, he will be cast, somewhat, later.

And, he will be in prison, because, he was testifying, to the, wrongdoing, of some. Now, beloved friend, notice that, that here is a question, that rises up. Notice that, in verse 25, and verse 26, it says here, in verse 25, John 3, 25, and there arose, a question between, some of John's disciples, this is John, the baptizer's disciples, and the Jews, about purifying. Again, to remind you that, nearly 70 times, the word, Yehudim, the word Jews, is mentioned, in the Gospel of John. And why? Because these Jews, these Yehudim, are really, the spiritual leaders, of our people, Israel. Now, don't forget, that it was, all were Jewish. John the baptizer, was Jewish.

Yeshua the Messiah, was Jewish. The disciples, were Jewish. It's not that, there were, different backgrounds, that were from, the same nation. But, John, for one reason, or another, gave the word, Yehudim, to the spiritual, leaders of Israel. Specifically, in the Gospel, to identify, the religious leaders, of Israel, who were at, odd, with the Messiah. They were at, odd, with John the baptizer, also. And so, here we see now, that, according to verse 25, that John's disciples, and the, spiritual leaders, of Israel, they had, a question between, some of them, about purifying. Again, to remind you, John was called, or was recognized, as, Yohanan Hamadbil, the one who, deep into the water.

Yeshua, also, was, through his disciples, putting people, under the water, as an identification, with a repented nation, that, are preparing himself, some, remnant from Israel, to prepare themselves, for the coming, Messianic kingdom. So, purifying, was part, of these, symbolically, because, after all, if you remember, in Exodus, chapter 30, already there, and then, when God had instructed, Israel, to build the tabernacle, already, in Exodus, chapter 30, verse 17, to 21, God had instructed, Israel, Moshe, and Aaron, and the people of Israel, to build, the laver, laver, the kior, where, the priests, the servants of the Lord, will wash their hands, and wash their feet. Let me read you, these verses.

Exodus, chapter 30, verse 17, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, speckled to Moses, saying, Thou shalt also make a laver, in Hebrew, kior, of brass, and his foot, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal. And thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shalt wash their hands and their feet therein. When they shall go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not. Or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn the offering made by fire to the Lord, so they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not.

And it shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generation. You see, beloved friend, it was not something that God suggested to Israel. He commanded Israel, when they build the tabernacle, to also make a laver, a kior, you might say a place where the Aaron, his sons, the servants of God, will wash their hands, wash their feet, symbolically to have an external cleaning hands and feet to represent the fact that they are serving God in the tabernacle. Well, over the generation, washing became part of the Jewish life, Israel's life. Including tevila, baptism, washing, going under the water, symbolically saying I am confessing my sins, and I am washing myself out of that which is contrary to God.

Well, even today, when believers identify with Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah, they are going through the washing, they are going under the water, they are going through the baptism, what is known to be tevila, baptism. They are not saved because they are going under the water. We are not saved and say clean internally because we have done water baptism, but it is symbolically given expression for the fact that one says, I have accepted Yeshua, the Messiah, as my Messiah, Lord and Savior, and I identify with him in his death, burial, and resurrection. It doesn't make us saved, it doesn't wash away sins. Just the same like here in the baptism of repentance and the various purifying, it doesn't make one clean internally, but it was an external expression of an internal condition which should have been there.

And so here we see that there was apparently a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. Let me just remind you that it has gone so far that this external washing become so far in, it's sadly, whether it is in the history of Israel or even in the history of the church, man takes it beyond what it actually means. What God meant for us, for Israel to have symbolically something that will symbolize something and will help us to appreciate what God done internally in our hearts, yet men have gone beyond. like the Jewish people in the time of Yeshua and many today in the last days of the church age, the same thing going beyond scripture.

In Mark chapter seven. We read in verse one. Then came together unto him the Pharisees and certain of the scribes which came from Jerusalem. and when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold as the washing of the cups and pots and brazen vessels and of tables. Then the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the traditions of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?

And you notice what the Lord answered them from the prophet Isaiah. He said, Oh, he said, you hypocrites, as it is written, he said to them, These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. This is amazing how we go over and over again with arguments and why you don't wash your hands this way or that way or the other way. But we neglect to understand that the washing was simply a symbol to represent that which happened within our hearts by the Holy Spirit of God. So while God did give to Israel the responsibility to build the labor and that Aaron and his sons will wash their hands and feet, it had been taken so far that by the time Yeshua came, there was all sort of purifying ways of doing things that there was an argument and discussion between the people of God.

Sadly, it is the same today when it's come to the washing to baptism, whether one should be sprinkled and another one should be put under, whether it should be put under this way or that way or the other way, whether one is saved before or then get baptized or first get baptized and then accept the Lord and all these things. You know, some people have gone through baptism with never, never, never, ever have accepted Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah, their Lord and Savior. And like in days of old, so it is today, beloved friend, the going beyond what the Bible is teaching us, the traditions of men rather than the word of the Lord.

And so there was this, as it says here in our verses here in verse 25, that there was a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews. This is the Jewish leaders, the Pharisees, the Sadducees about purifying. And now notice verse 26. John's disciples came to John with a question. And we read in verse 26, they came to John, this is John the baptizer. And they said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold the same baptizers, and all men come to him. So apparently, perhaps this discussion, this question between the Pharisees and John's disciples were, look, everybody goes to Yeshua the Messiah to be baptized of him.

Rabbi, they came to their own Rabbi, to John the baptizer, and these disciples of John said to him, look, he that was with thee, this is Yeshua, he that was with thee. Beyond the Jordan, to whom you bear witness, you remember, John the baptizer said, behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of this world. So the disciples saying to their Rabbi, Yohanan, Rabbi John, they said, you know, he's now baptizing there and all men come to him. And here, beloved friend, how beautiful to see the spiritual state, the spiritual condition of John the baptizer. You might say that John could be so jealous, that he would be, oh, look, now I don't have this place that everyone comes to me like they did when I was in the Jordan River.

Now everyone go to Yeshua the Messiah. And look, my dear friend, this is so precious to the heart. John the baptizer did not want to set the attention of anyone to himself. This is the need that all of us must have if we are to serve the Lord, the responsibility that we as believers and those that preach the message of the gospel and those who are seeking to be shepherds of the sheep and those who are seeking to teach the word of God. So, in any generation, one must set the attention of the hearers to the person of the Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. Years ago, when I began to serve the Lord, in a full time, I left my secular job.

I remember a dear brother told me many, many, many years ago, if the Lord gives you an opportunity to speak, to share his word, he said these words, he says, make much of the Messiah. Make much of the Messiah. In other words, the responsibility that a servant of the Lord have is to direct the attention of our Master, of our Lord, of our God, of our Savior. And you know, it's in every generation. Before the assembly, before the church was born in Israel's history, any godly servant of Israel, the servant of the Lord in biblical days before the church was born, is responsible to set the affection of the nation of Israel upon the God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

And in the same thing, in this present day of the church age, any servant of the Lord Jesus, Yeshua the Messiah, he is responsible to set the attention of God's people set upon the person of our Lord, Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah, who loved us and gave himself for us. Because this is essential. And you notice, John, in verses 27 to 30, presented himself only as one that is a servant. And he pointed to the Lord, Yeshua, the Lord Jesus, as the one who is the bridegroom, who came for a bride that will become his. And that's what John, the baptizer, does here as he responds to his disciples.

Notice that. In verse 27, John is now presenting himself only as what is known to be as best man. As best man. You notice that? John answered and said, A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven. John said to his disciples, look, there's nothing that I receive. There's nothing that I have that I've earned it. I receive this from above, from heaven. It reminds me of the verse that is found in the book of Yaakov, the book of James. Every good and perfect things came from above, from the Father of light. From the Father of light, with whom there is no wearableness, nor shadow of turning.

This is amazing. James 1, verse 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of light, with whom is no wearableness, neither shadow of turning. Everything we have, every gift we have, positioned us in this world, is from Him. It's from Him. Everything we have. And so, John the baptizer said, A man can receive nothing. A man can receive nothing except it be given unto him. What an attitude this man had, John the baptizer. In 1 Corinthians chapter 4, this same attitude we see in the Apostle Paul who said, He said, 1 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 7, You see, Paul reminded the Corinthians that everything that they have had came to them from God.

And why one assumed that if he gained it on his own, if he received it from God? This is something we all need to learn in our lives as believers, that everything that we have came to us from God. You see, Paul said in 2 Corinthians chapter 4, Therefore, seeing we have this ministry as we have received mercy. We receive mercy, we faint not. This ministry that we have, John the baptizer's ministry that he had, he received it from the Lord. You remember we read in chapter 1, there was a man sent from God, whose name was John. John 1 and verse 6. He was sent by God. God sent him.

God called him. He was that messenger that the prophet Malachi was writing about. The messenger that will come to introduce the Mashiach. So John is instructing his disciples, hey, don't forget. A man can receive nothing except it be given to him from heaven. He continued in verse 28. And he said, Do you remember what I already said to you in the earlier part of my ministry? When they asked him in John chapter 1, Who are you? He said, I am not the Mashiach. John chapter 1 and verse 20. So they asked him, Are you Elijah? He said, I'm not. Are you that prophet? He says, No. Remember what he said in John 1 verse 23, Quoting Isaiah chapter 40.

I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord. As said the prophet Yeshayahu, the prophet Isaiah. What a man. What a servant. Amazing. When we read this about John the baptizer, it really humbles us. And all of us need to learn from him because he is setting before us such an example. And I know it's not always easy for us because of our sin nature and the pride that rises within us. But what a lesson to learn from Yohanan Hamadbil. How one has to see himself but a servant, but a voice, but a messenger that direct the attention of the hearers to the person of the Lord Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah.

Then, beloved brothers and sisters, in verse 29 of John 3, John teaches the disciples of Hiv a very important lesson. Again, let me remind you that we already read in John chapter 1. We read in verse 10, He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. Then we read in verse 11, He came into His own and His own received Him not. In other words, at His first coming, the Lord Yeshua, the Messiah, was not known in the world that He has created, the populated world, and He was not received by the nation of Israel as a nation. But then, we learn in the next verses of John chapter 1, that as many as receive Him, both from Israel, the nation, and from the world, the nations of the world, to them He gave the right to become children of God even to them that believe on His name.

So, what really happened now is that we see the preparation for the building of what is known the Ekklesia, the assembly, the church. As we will read in Matthew chapter 16, where the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, said to the disciples that upon this rock, this is the confession of the apostle Peter that Yeshua is the Mashiach, the son of the living God, ben Elohim Chaim, that upon the confession of Peter, He will build the church, the assembly, the Ekklesia, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. So, what's happening is while Israel did not accept Him at the first coming, and the world did not acknowledge Him at the first coming, in a meanwhile, He is going to build what is known to be the assembly, until the end of the age, of the church age, when He ultimately going to come back, restore Israel to Himself, and also judge the world, and restore the world to Himself, and establish a kingdom that He promised in days of all.

So, what we learn here from John that had some, you might say, insight into that which the Lord allowed him to understand, notice what he says. And I thought it was very interesting because in verse 29, John the baptizer said, He that has the bride is the bridegroom. You notice that? He recognized that the Messiah, Jesus, Yeshua, is the bridegroom, but he also has a bride. And then he said, but, he continued in verse 29, the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoice greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This, my joy, therefore, is fulfilled. Now, you notice what he called himself? John, Yohanan Hamadbil, called himself the friend of the bridegroom.

And the bridegroom is the Lord, Yeshua, the Messiah, and John, the baptizer, called himself a friend of the bridegroom. He didn't call himself the bridegroom or the bride, but the friend of the bridegroom. This is a very interesting expression that we have here. That shows us that John was the friend of the bridegroom, but he was not part of the bride because the bridegroom has the bride. And I, John, the baptizer, saying, I'm the friend of the bridegroom, and I'm standing, and I'm hearing him, and I rejoice greatly because of the voice of this, of Yeshua, the bridegroom, and my joy therefore is fulfilled. What he's really saying is that he's so rejoicing with the fact that he is being the friend of the bridegroom, even though he is not the bride.

Here, beloved friend, we learn an additional lesson that we began to unfold as we study the Gospels and later on the Epistles, and we learn that even though Israel is a nation called the wife of Jehovah, yet the wife of Jehovah is an earthly wife. Now, in this present day, when Israel as a nation did not accept Yeshua the Messiah at his first coming, the Lord Jesus the Messiah is building a company called the Bride of Christ, the Bride of the Messiah, which are not earthly company, but heavenly company, meaning that they are heavenly people, the blessings are not earthly, but heavenly. You remember in Ephesians chapter 1, we read about the church, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah who have blessed us, you remember that, in Ephesians chapter 1, who have blessed us with every spiritual blessings in the heavenlies, in heavenly places, in Christ, in the Messiah, according as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy or without blame before him in love.

This is Ephesians chapter 1 verses 3 and 4. Now again, it began to unfold here, we get the better and fuller truth and we get to the epistles, to the book of Acts and the epistles, bridegroom. Which is Yeshua the Messiah, he is having a bride that he is now collecting and establishing and forming and that bride is a heavenly company and here John, Yohanan, the baptizer, who is the last prophet from among our earthly people of Israel, he is now calling himself the friend of the bridegroom. He is not a bride, but he is a friend of the bridegroom. What we really learn from that, that while the assembly, the ecclesia, is known to be as the bride of Christ, according to also the book of Ephesians and Revelation, Israel is the wife of Jehovah, the wife of Jehovah, Israel is an earthly company, the church, the assembly is a heavenly company, Israel is the friend of the bridegroom, as John sees himself as part of the nation of Israel.

You see, John the baptizer was not part of the assembly because the assembly didn't begin, the church didn't begin. The church only began after Yeshua died, was buried, rose again, ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit of God and then after the day of Pentecost, the day of Shavuot, the assembly had its beginning. John the baptizer died long before the assembly was formed, some two or three years prior to the foundation of the assembly. And so, what we learn here, an amazing lesson, and notice what he continued to say in John chapter 3, and this time in verse 30, he says, he must increase, but I must decrease.

You see, here is a wonderful testimony of John, the Messiah must increase, and I, the servant, must decrease. This is a principle that we all need to learn if we are to serve the Lord, because that is the attitude that servants of the Lord must develop with the help of the Lord, of course, we cannot do it on our own. The apostle Peter said it like this in 1 Peter chapter 5, he said, humble yourself therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. In other words, don't be proud, but humble yourself, get and develop the attitude that John the baptizer had, he must increase, I must decrease.

That's the beautiful character that the people of God need to develop in their life. So beloved brothers and sisters, verses 22 to verse 30, we learn that of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, who is presented before us as the chatan. In Hebrew, the word chatan is the bridegroom. Kala is the bride. He is the chatan, and he is about to form a kala, a bride. And every believer in this present day assembly age is part of the bride of the Messiah, the bride of Christ. And the very fact that we are living now already 2,000 years since the assembly, the church was formed, you can see that more and more new individuals are part of this bride of Christ, bride of the Messiah, and new believers are added to assembly.

So the bride is not yet ready in the full sense of the word because every day new believers come to know the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, become born of the Spirit, born again, and become part of the bride of Christ, the bride of the Messiah. But Yohanan, the baptizer, he is the friend of the bridegroom. in Matthew chapter 11 and verse 11, Yeshua could say about John the baptizer something and I would like just to read this, Matthew 11 and verse 11, Verily, verily, I say unto you among them that are born of women, there has not risen a greater than John. No one is greater than John the baptizer.

But Yeshua continued in verse 11b and he says, Nevertheless, or not withstanding, he that is the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he, namely, greater than John the baptizer. In other words, it is a privilege to be part of the assembly today because he that is the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the baptizer, although John the baptizer was the greatest man that ever was born of a woman in this world. What a testimony Yeshua gave to John the baptizer. Well, now, quickly, let's look at verses 31 to the end of the chapter, to verse 36, and here we see the Lord Jesus is presented before us as really the true witness.

He is the one who witnessed to the truth of God. He is the one that came to this world to give the truth concerning God's plan and program for mankind. And so in verse 31 we read, He that cometh from above is above all. John the baptizer is saying to his disciples, He that is of the earth is earthly, and he speaketh of the earth, but he that cometh from heaven is above all. You notice again John the baptizer is elevating the person of the Lord Jesus the Messiah. Why? Because he came from above. He is above all. He is God, the Son, who took union, human nature, with his divine nature.

He came from heaven, and the reason he came from above, from heaven, is to save sinners. And that's why he says he that cometh from above is above all. He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth. He that cometh from heaven is above all. In other words, I was born here on this earth, John the baptizer is saying. I'm a creature. I'm a creation of God. I'm not the creator. And you and I, my dear friend, also, you and I came from the earth. We were born of women. We were sinners by nature, but he came from heaven. He is above all because he came from above.

John continues, and in verse 32 and 33, he says, he that come from above, he give a testimony. Everyone should receive the truth that he presents before us. Let me read you these two verses, verses 32 and 33, and what he has seen and heard that he testifieth and no man receiveth his testimony. He that has received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true. So, in other words, John the baptizer is saying, listen, I that seen and I have heard him, I testify. I testify of Yeshua. Yeshua testified of himself that he came from heaven. And here we see, but no man receives his testimony.

In other words, what we really see that men love darkness rather than light. You remember what we read in John 1 and in verse 7 already earlier, the same came for witness to bear witness of the light that all men through him might believe. See, that's the reason that the Lord Jesus the Messiah came from heaven to bear witness of the true light. Because men love darkness. Men love darkness. And we already read it in the previous verses in chapter 3. This is the condemnation that light came into the world and men love darkness rather than light. See, God is light. In Hebrew, Elohim Huor. God is light.

And God wants man to come to him. So the Lord testifies himself. John the baptizer testifies of the Messiah Yeshua. And what he that hath seen and heard, this is verse 32, that he testifies and no man receives his testimony. He that has received his testimony has said to seal that God is true. Now, my dear friend, let God be true and every man a liar. Paul said it in the epistle to the Roman. God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. In John chapter 7 and verse 17 we read, if any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself, Yeshua said.

He gave testimony that he came from God, that he was the promised Messiah. In John chapter 8 there we read as well in verse 38 I speak that which I have seen with my father Yeshua said and he do that which he have seen with your father. In other words, the spiritual leaders of Israel have gone so far that they didn't recognize that he was the son of the father, the promise Emmanuel that came down to this world to redeem mankind. But they followed the voice of Satan rather than the voice of God. And so sadly, John the baptizer said he has seen and heard that he testified and no man receives his testimony, his witness.

What a sad thing when many refuse to receive the testimony of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and also the testimony of John the baptizer who testified concerning the person of our Lord Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah. Sad, beloved friends, sad when these things occur and even up till today. How many today just do not accept the fact that they are sinners, that they need forgiveness of sins, that they have accountability towards the living God, that they are not going to live here forever and one day they will have to stand before the judge of all the earth. Many neglect this. You and I would have neglected this as well unless God drew us to himself and brought us to himself and thank God for that.

But sadly, many do not receive his testimony as we read here in verse 32. And John 3, verse 33 continue and John the baptizer is saying, he that has received his testimony, meaning Yeshua's testimony, he has set to his seal that God is true. That God is true. In other words, when we receive the testimony of the Lord Jesus the Messiah, when we receive the testimony of those who present him before us, we set to seal, we in a sense, a stamp, and we say God is true. Let God be true and every man a liar. This is very, very important. Paul said, and let me read you this verse in Romans chapter 3, verse 3 and 4.

for what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? He says, God forbid, let God be true and every man a liar, as it is written, that thou might be justified in thy saying and might overcome when thou art judged. In other words, God is true. Everyone else who do not submit and present the truth of God is actually false. And we call it here a liar. And so we read in verse 33 of John chapter 3, he that has received his testimony, the testimony of the Lord Yeshua, the testimony of Yohanan about the Lord Yeshua, he has set to his seal that God is true.

That Elohim who haemet. Remember later on in John 14, 15, 16, Yeshua said in John 14, 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one come to the Father but by me. Well, let me conclude here with the last three verses of John chapter 3. A God the Father gave him the authority. God the Father gave his Son, the Lord Yeshua, the Messiah, the authority. Verse 34 and 35 we read, For he whom God had sent, he is Yeshua. God sent Yeshua. He speaks the words of God. And also John the baptizer, he speaks the words of God. For God had given not the Spirit by measure unto him. In other words, John testifying about the Messiah, and here is the Messiah that was sent from the Father.

God the Father sent his Son. He sent him, and you know what we read? That God gave not to him the Spirit by measure. You see, let me emphasize here, beloved friends, something that is very important. you see, there was no man in this world that was born without sin, because everyone has sinned. But there was one man, the Messiah Jesus, the Messiah Yeshua, was born in Bethlehem to the Virgin Miriam, who is a sinless one. And when the Spirit of God resided on him, the full, Holy, the person of the Holy Spirit of God was placed within him to lead him, to control him, and to guide him in this world.

And he submitted to the, as man, he submitted to the Spirit of God, and God did not give to him the Spirit by measure. The person of the Holy Spirit of God came and reside in believers, yet for us, we only receive the person of the Holy Spirit of God after we have accepted the Lord Jesus, repented of our sins, and the Spirit of God came to reside in us. But when it come to the Lord, to Jesus the Messiah, to him the Spirit of God was not given by measure. From the time that he was born until the time he was taken to heaven, back after the crucifixion on a Roman cross, he was totally under the control of the person of the Holy Spirit of God, beloved brothers and sisters, it is amazing to realize that.

You remember what we read in earlier, Nicodemus needed to learn that you must be born of the Spirit of God. You see, any one of us who became child of God, we did not have the Spirit of God in dwelling us before we became believers, only after we became believers, because we are sinners by nature, we needed to repent and turn to the Lord. But when it came to Yeshua, Jesus, the Mashiach, who was born to the virgin Miriam, he was that holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, to him the Spirit was not given by God by measure. No, beloved friend, because he is God the Son.

In verse 35 of John 3, we read, The Father loveth the Son, and has given all things unto his hand. In John 5 and verse 20, we also read, For the Father loveth the Son, and showed him all things that himself doeth, and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. I love this expression, For the Father loveth the Son, for the Father loveth the Son. Beautiful expression that we have here in John 3, 35 and John 5 and verse 20. For the Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. You see, here we already learn, even in these verses, verse 34 and 35, of the triune Godhead.

God the Son, God the Father, God the Spirit. Here you can see, found in verse 34 and 35, all the three persons of the Godhead represented here before us. Verse 34, I'll repeat verse 34, For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God, for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. Notice, he whom God sent is the Messiah, God the Son. God sent him, this is God the Father. And God the Father giveth not the Spirit, this is God the Spirit to him by measure. All the three persons of the Godhead are presented before us in John chapter 3 and verse 34. What an amazing truth to understand, beloved friends, dear brothers and sisters, this is not something that we naturally understand and accept.

we need we need the help of God because it is not something that the natural man can even grasp unless the Lord open our hearts to see it, we will never see it because we are by nature unable to see that. This is really come to us from the Word of God by the Spirit of God. In the last verse of John chapter 3 we read, he that believeth on the Son, this is the continuation of the testimony of John the baptizer, he that believeth on the Son has everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Now listen to this beloved friend, he that has the Son has life, but as it says here, he that believeth not the Son shall not see life. Why? You know why? Because we are dead in trespasses and sins by nature. In sin did my mother conceive me. David, Melech Yisrael, the king of Israel said, Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips, Yeshayah or Isaiah said. Depart from me for I am a sinful man, Shimon Petro said. All wretched men that I am, Shaul Paul said. And we can continue on and present before us all the men and women of God in days of old who understood that they are sinners by nature.

And that's why he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. Chaye olam. Not only life for a certain season, for 100 years, 50 years, 70 years, but everlasting life. Why? Because Yeshua, the Messiah, God the Son, paid for our sins and died for us on that shameful tree in order to pay for the penalty that we could not pay. But he that believeth not on the Son, this is the man, Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who died and became a substitute, one who does not believe. Listen to this. But he shall not see life. Not see life. And not only this, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

God's righteous indignation against sin is remaining, abiding upon the one who rejects God the Son, the Messiah, the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of this world. The Apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 1 and verse 18, he said, for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Oh, my dear friend, you and I need to come to know the Lord Yeshua, the Messiah, as our Lord and Savior. And if we don't, the wrath of God will abide upon the one that rejects the Messiah. John 5 24 says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word and believeth on him that send me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.

How wonderful it is, passed from death unto life, my dear friend, but one must accept the Messiah, Yeshua. In chapter 6 of the Gospel of John, verse 47, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life, chaye olam, chaye olam, but one must believe on the Lord, Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah, in order to have everlasting life. He that has the Son hath everlasting life. He that hath not the Son of God shall not seek life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. One must believe and have the Son in order to have eternal life, in order to have chaye olam, chaye olam in Hebrew, everlasting life.

Well, my dear friend, may God help us all to open our eyes, to open our hearts, to accept the Savior, our Lord, Yeshua, the Messiah, and have everlasting life. God bless you. Shalom, shalom.