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We were reading that exciting and probing conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus Christ, where the theme is, “You must be born again”. If you are not born again, you will not even be able to see the Kingdom of God, and you will certainly not be able to enter it.

This is why we must make sure we see people fully and adequately born again.

We now go outdoors. We leave the city of Jerusalem and we make our way down to the Jordan River, and there we see Jesus and His Disciples ministering and baptising, although Jesus Himself is not actually baptising. Chapter 4 verse 2 makes that clear.

When Jesus baptises Jesus does not use water but the Holy Spirit, and on the day of Pentecost the risen and living Jesus baptised these 120 disciples with the power of the Holy Spirit at nine o’clock in the morning in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Jesus would have us born of the Spirit, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, and then our real work and ministry begins.

We are in John Chapter 3 and at verse 22. John the Baptist is still preaching and baptising at a place called Aenon which means ‘fountains’ – and it is near Salim which means ‘peace’. It is a beautiful picture. This is at a place where seven springs were feeding the Jordan River. I do not know if these springs continue to flow. Having been in that area a few times I did not see seven springs of water and the Jordan River is what we in Scotland would call a ‘muddy burn’. The geographical and ecological environment has changed somewhat, but truth never changes.

Those who had repented of their sins were being washed in water, and the area is called Salim or shalom or peace.

There was a lot of water there and people were constantly coming to be baptised. Do note the significance of that almost throwaway phrase, and this is being written some sixty years after John was baptising, or plunging, or dipping people, in the waters of the Jordan. If we get this one wrong then there will be something shaky in our foundations, and it is wise to have sound and solid foundations from the beginning.

For a few months the ministries of John and Jesus overlapped.

There arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about washing, or purifying and cleansing. It is basically about baptism and about what John was doing. This was an argument – a debate – a disagreement – a division.

When God does something new, is it not amazing how frequently this happens?

When God raises up a man to do a work, this is often one of the consequences. The enemy seeks to attack it, and plant confusion, and sow disagreement and division.

When these things arise, see who is behind it all.

In verse 26, John’s disciples come to him. Rabbi, do you remember the man who was with you a few weeks ago on the other side of the river? YES. Do you remember you spoke highly of Him? YES. Well, He is now baptising and everyone is going to Him! Rabbi, it looks as if He is getting a bigger congregation than you. It looks as if all the crowds who used to come to you are now going to Him. Rabbi, we are going to defend you.

These men saw all this as a bit of competition, and it aroused feelings of envy and jealousy and disappointment.

These things can arise at any time, to distract from Christ, and to hinder the work of God, and to sidetrack people from the essential heart and core of what God is doing, unless a satisfactory answer is given.

But God can use feelings of disappointment and rivalry and competition, because out of this situation there flows some of the most wonderful words John ever spoke.

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

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