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Jesus does not tarry long in Jerusalem. As Matthew Henry puts it, "His preaching and miracles made the most 'noise' in Jerusalem, but did the least good." After talking to Nicodemus, Jesus goes out into the country side of Judaea. Here He remains for a while and baptized those who came and believed. We take note here that most believe that Jesus, himself, did not baptize anyone but directed His Disciples to do it. John 4:2 says that Jesus himself did not baptize but His Disciples did.
Notice that even though Jesus had begone His ministry and His Disciples were baptizing, John the Baptist was still continuing his ministry also. There was no conflict between the two ministries. John was preparing the way for the ministry of Christ, a job that is as needed today as it was 2000 years ago. John was baptizing at Ae'non and Salim, wherever they were. These places are no where mentioned other than this one reference here in John.
We are told that a discussion arose between John's Disciples and some Jews about "purifying". We can assume that the Disciples of John were putting more importance upon the purification of John's baptism than they were upon the Purification Rites at the Temple, both of which used water as symbolic of cleansing. In an effort to belittle the baptism of John and divide the joint efforts of John and Christ and, therefore, weaken the position of the Disciples, the Jews attempted to create envy in the heart of John by telling him that Jesus was winning more converts than he was. John's Disciples appeared to be disturbed over this, perhaps not understanding or putting more significance upon the baptism of Jesus by John, thinking, it was John that sent Jesus on his mission. But John knew his part in the mission of Christ, "He, Christ, must increase, I must decrease."
Envy is the tool of the Devil. It creates more problems than anything else in our churches today. One members envy of another, of the gifts and graces of God. We must leave it to God to choose upon whom He will bestow his gifts.
Notice that John was not disturbed at the news that Jesus was winning more disciples that he was, for this had been predestined. Note what John says here, "No one can receive anything except it be given him from heaven", we can only assume that the opposite is true also, no one can give anything except it first be given them from heaven. What John was saying in effect was that he understood that it was not his calling to be the Christ but rather the one who prepared the way for the Christ. The fact that Jesus was increasing and he was decreasing was prophesied and was as it should be, and Christ would continue to increase because it was God's will and plan. He testified that he was called to prepare the way for the Christ and if now his job was over, it would be according to God's will and plan.
John compared himself and the satisfaction he had received in doing what he had been called to do, to that of the friend of the groom who rejoiced over the good fortune of the groom rather than being envious of his bride. He then testified in verse 31 to the divine nature of Christ and his earthly nature. Christ, being divine, could tell us of heavenly things, John, being earthly, could only speak of earthly things. Even though Christ will speak of heavenly things, John says, "They, the Jews,, will not receive it, they will not hear it, they will have spiritual deafness." This fact caused John to wonder and to grieve. Certainly the "spiritual deafness" of sinners is the "grief" of saints.
John ends this chapter, as he does so many, with the simple but profound statement, "He who believes in the Son, had eternal life, he who does not, had the wrath of God upon him."
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