The synoptic gospels do not mention that Jesus and his disciples baptized those who came to them. Only in John 3:22,26 is it referred to and in 4:2 there is a clarification that Jesus himself did not baptize. This reference to the disciples baptizing others who joined them does make it easier, however, to understand how baptism became the essential manner of entry into the community of the new People of God from the very beginning of the Church (Acts 2 :38) and it provides a background for the command of Jesus to the disciples in Matthew 28: 19.

The final witness of the Baptist to Jesus is given after the comment of some of the Baptist's disciples (3:26) which arose out of an argument about ritual washing; John's disciples seemed to see Jesus' disciples as rivals. In 3 :24 it is mentioned that the author knew about the imprisonment (and death) of the Baptist but he makes no further reference to this, apart from what Jesus says in 5 :33,35, indicating that the Baptist's work had ended. The Baptist has no further place in John's gospel because after chapter 3, his witness to Jesus had been completed.

John refers to his God-given task of being the messenger who is the first witness to Jesus (3:27). The Baptist's disciples had been witnesses to what he said that he was not the Messiah but only the one sent ahead (3:28). In 3 :29 there is a vivid little parable which illustrates the relationship of the Baptist and the Messiah. At a wedding, the most important person is the bridegroom not the 'best man.' The 'best man' rejoices just to hear the bridegroom speak to his bride. The 'best man' has the task of supporting the bridegroom but when that task is over, the 'best man' asks for no more and is happy and satisfied (1 :30). In the parable there is the background of the Old Testament idea that Israel was the bride of Yahweh, illuminated so vividly by Hosea, but the contrast for John's readers is that the unfaithful bride of Yahweh is replaced by the pure and beautiful bride of Christ, the Church (Ephesians 5 :26-27).

The author continues from the witness of the Baptist to present his readers with a statement of Christ's divine origin, witness and work (3:31-36). Christ came from heaven and is above all earthly leaders but his message is not accepted in the world. The Son, whom God has sent and has filled with his Spirit, speaks what the Father has sent him to say. The Father loves the Son and has entrusted to him the divine plan for the salvation of mankind. Man's relationship to God the Father is determined by his relationship to the Son, Jesus Christ. Those who believe in the Son as being the one sent by God to free man from sin and to restore him to fellowship with God, have eternal life. Eternal life is a state of blessed fellowship with the Father and the Son (17:3), but those who reject the Son and refuse the divine offer of grace and life, remain in sin and call God's wrath upon themselves.

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