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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
A PLACE OF PEACE
"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. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony." (JOH 3:31-32)
John was taking their eyes off of him and telling them to look unto Jesus. He said that what Jesus had heard and seen from the Father was what He testified, and that’s why all men came unto Him. "He must increase, but I must decrease." John the Baptist mission was not to capture and hold the audience as a powerful preacher but to get people to turn and look unto Christ, not unto himself.
In context with JOH 4:2, verse 22 says, "and there he tarried with them, and baptized." It is speaking about Jesus and His disciples. Look at JOH 4:2. "(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples)." It was His disciples that were baptizing, yet verse 22 alone would give the impression that Jesus Himself was baptizing.
What does this teach us? It teaches us the principle that whatever is done by Christ’s sent servants-indeed, all that is done upon the authority of His Word, is done by Christ Himself. I’ll give you another passage of Scripture to confirm this. If I am preaching to you the authority of the Word of God, it is not Ralph Bouma that is speaking to you this morning. It is Christ in person. Christ is the Word of God. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God." (2CO 5:20)
God is speaking to you through His Word. The authority is in the Word, not in the man. This is what is so important that you and I learn to understand: that the man is but a voice, crying in the wilderness. A voice is nothing to be seen. John declared himself to be: nothing more than a voice crying in the wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord."
The place where John was baptizing, when these Jews strove to fill his heart with jealousy and contention, is also very significant. Where was John the Baptist when the Jews came to try to get him all upset and stirred up with jealousy and contention? JOH 3:23 says, "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized."
What does that tell you? When you learn to understand the true meaning of a couple of those words, it tells you much about where he was in such a time. The word Salim means cannot be shaken, or stirred up, or it means perfect peace. John was in a place where he could not be shaken or stirred up. These Jews came there to stir him up, and he was at the place of peace. This tells us that God had prepared him. How would he come to such a place of perfect peace? He tells us that as we follow along.
John was baptizing at Aenon, "because there was much water there." This teaches us a very important principle also. The word Aenon signifies the place of springs. "There was much water there." He was not at the River Jordan now. These water springs were furnishing "much water."
That tells us the same principle that we learn in JOH 2:6-7. We have these waterpots, which were for the purifying of the Jews. What did Jesus do in the beginning of miracles? Jesus did not make a command and say, "Water turn to wine!" The Lord did not perform the miracle in a conspicuous way. It was as the servants obeyed that the miracle was performed.
"And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece [the Jews did not understand the washing of regeneration by the Spirit of the Word of God]. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim." (JOH 2:6-7)
What was that water? It was the symbol of the washing of the water of the Word. These waterpots were standing there for the purifying of the Jews; they contained a couple of firkins of water, and the Jews would come and wash their hands and pots and do their "purification." The Lord Jesus said to fill them up to the brim. The servants filled them up to the brim, and as they obeyed, the miracle was performed, because in the next verse Jesus says, "bear unto the governor," and it was wine. The miracle was performed as they obeyed, and this is how the work of regeneration works. The water became wine, a symbol of rejoicing.
John’s ministry began in the "wilderness of Judaea," in the dry and the thirsty land, in the place where no water was and "in the region round about Jordan." (MAT 3:1-5_ The only water was in the river, the River Jordan, and Jordan is a type of death. That’s where his ministry began. He bore faithful witness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His ministry now became a place of "springs." As his ministry went forth, and as he proclaimed the gospel, his ministry became springs of water springing up in a dry and a thirsty land. It became a place of peace. It became a place of settled foundation, a place that could not be shaken up, where you could become stable and firm on your feet. You could come to perfect peace. It became a place of refreshment and peace. Amen
Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.
Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus’ keeping we are safe and they.
Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and he in on the throne.
Peace, perfect peace, death shad-‘wing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.
It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus call us to heaven’s perfect peace.
~Author: Edward H. Bickersteth, 1875
Our sermons and devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion and sermon notes on-line. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.