John 3:22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
3:23
And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
3:24
For John was not yet cast into prison.
3:25
Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
3:26
And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
3:27
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
3:28
Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
3:29
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease
The disciples of Jesus were baptizing in Judea. In Jn.4:2 the Word tells us that Jesus himself baptized no man. Some of John"s disciples and the Jews were debating over some purification manners and there were also questions concerning the disciples of Christ baptizing. John reminded them that he was not the Christ and in verse 30 that"He must increase ,but I must decrease." And in just a few monthe that would come to pass for John would be beheaded by Herod. Let"s look a little at verse 30.We are reminded of Jesus in Mark 8:34,35 that "Whosoever will come after me , let him deny himself and take up his cross ,and follow me." For whosoever will save his life shall lose it ; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospels the same shall save it. I believe taking up your cross means a lot of different things to a lot of people.What does that mean to you,"Taking up your cross?"
Have a wonderful day,
Chuck
It's an open forum and I don't have to be a scholar to post in it.
To me taking up your cross can mean different things. It could mean doing something for Christ even tho you see that doing so may/will have unpleasent consequences for yourself.
It could also mean taking up your "excuses" and doing something for Christ anyway. Taking up my cross to me means following the Lord regardless of circumstances and bearing everything that comes with it.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Jesus took up his cross by sacrificing himself for us, we must take up our cross by sacrificing ourselves for him and His cause. Putting God's will first in our lives and letting our will not control us and how we live IMO is one way of taking up our cross.
__________________
THE NRA, WHERE WOULD YOU AS A GUN-OWNER BE WITHOUT THEM.
GUN-OWNERS, UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL.
........ Let"s look a little at verse 30.We are reminded of Jesus in Mark 8:34,35 that "Whosoever will come after me , let him deny himself and take up his cross ,and follow me." For whosoever will save his life shall lose it ; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospels the same shall save it. I believe taking up your cross means a lot of different things to a lot of people.What does that mean to you,"Taking up your cross?"
Have a wonderful day,
Chuck
I am by no means a scholar, bu I do agree with the statement of a man who was much better known and respected than most in these modern times:
"Christianity has always insisted that the cross we bear precedes the crown we wear."
Jn.3:22-30 Question for da scholars.
