Dispute among Disciples

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Dispute among Disciples

25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about

purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the

Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

John 3:25-26

Jealousy is one of the root sins. Jealousy is a catalyst in so many other sins that exist in this world and is one of the first one’s that Lucifer felt as he transformed into Satan. Looking at others and comparing while at the same time coveting what they have is a power emotion that can get the best of us, even when we don’t want to.

Here we see the disciples of John being jealous of Jesus’ disciples. It seems that they believed that they had a monopoly when it came to baptism and didn’t like the fact that others were doing it. Perhaps they felt the push of popularity weaning and saw the surging of influence from Jesus. Perhaps they didn’t like or understand Jesus’ messages. Perhaps it was simply a case of us vs them. Whatever the reason, John’s response is very interesting.

27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from

heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been

sent before Him.’

John 3:27-28

Interestingly you don’t see the same jealousy in John that you see in his disciples. So they weren’t getting it from him. In fact he says that even what he had was not from himself. It was all from God and if He was choosing another person to lead, then he would not try and fight that. John knew his place and his purpose.

‘I am not the Christ.’ Is probably the most telling part. It suggests that his disciples thought he was. As the Christ of course as they saw it, numbers were essential. The Christ was going to be the human King who unites Israel and conquers Rome. Numbers would be very important in something like that.

And that for me is the most important element when talking about jealousy. It almost never truly makes sense. Their jealousy was based on a false truth they held both in what the Christ was and in who John was. Their feeling in the matter had no purpose. We too can fall into the same false ideas. We build jealous thoughts on truths that only exist between our ears.

Let us seek for truth and have the character of John. Let us know our place in this world and accept what God has for us.

Blessings
Pr. Steven Couto