Single lesson
John the Baptist Points to Jesus
John 3:22–36
In this lesson, children explore how John the Baptist spoke about Jesus with humility and joy. They will see that John did not try to keep attention on himself, but pointed people clearly to the Son.
Before you teach
In these verses, Jesus stayed with his disciples in the land of Judea and baptised, while John was baptising in Enon near Salim, where there was much water. After a dispute about purification, John’s disciples noticed that many people were going to Jesus, and John answered by explaining his role and speaking about Jesus as the one sent from heaven.
Students will be able to state that John’s message in John 3:22–36 is that Jesus is greater than John and should be trusted and obeyed.
Welcome: Who gets the attention?
5 minAsk children to name times when one person helps everyone notice someone else, such as introducing a speaker or pointing to a team captain. Explain that John the Baptist did this for Jesus. Today we will hear John say that Jesus must increase while John decreases, showing joy in Jesus’ importance.
John 3:28, John 3:29, John 3:30
Read and explain: John knows his place
8 minRead John 3:22–30 aloud. Point out that Jesus was in the land of Judea and John was baptising in Enon near Salim. John’s disciples were concerned that people were going to Jesus. John answered that what a person receives is given from heaven. He reminded them that he had already said he was not the Christ, but the one sent before him.
John 3:22, John 3:23, John 3:25, John 3:26, John 3:27, John 3:28
Discuss: The bridegroom and the friend
6 minExplain John’s picture carefully from the verse itself. John says the friend of the bridegroom stands and hears him, and rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. John uses that picture to show his own joy about Jesus. Then read the short, important sentence: ‘He must increase, but I must decrease.’
John 3:29, John 3:30
Make and respond: Reminder card
7 minChildren choose a child-suitable key line from the passage, such as John 3:30 or the believing line from John 3:36, and make a small reminder card. Help them write one real-life example, such as listening to Jesus’ words because he comes from heaven and speaks God’s words.
John 3:30, John 3:31, John 3:34, John 3:36
Closing: Why Jesus matters most
4 minRead John 3:31–36 and summarise the reasons this passage gives for Jesus’ greatness. He comes from above, speaks what he has seen and heard, speaks the words of God, receives the Spirit without measure, and the Father has given all things into his hand. Invite children to say one sentence about why Jesus should be trusted.
John 3:31, John 3:32, John 3:34, John 3:35, John 3:36
Questions to explore
Why were John’s disciples worried, and how did John answer them?
Look at their concern that people were going to Jesus, then notice that John says each person receives what is given from heaven and that he is not the Christ.
John 3:26, John 3:27, John 3:28
What does John mean when he says, ‘He must increase, but I must decrease’?
Use the wedding picture first, where the friend rejoices because of the bridegroom’s voice, then connect it to John gladly giving the important place to Jesus.
John 3:29, John 3:30
What reasons does this passage give for believing and obeying the Son?
List what the verses say about where Jesus comes from, whose words he speaks, what the Father has given him, and what belongs to the one who believes in the Son.
John 3:31, John 3:34, John 3:35, John 3:36
Make, think or respond
He Must Increase Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- card or paper
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or markers
- scissors
Try it together
- Read John 3:30 together and, if suitable for the class, also read the believing line in John 3:36.
- Fold or cut paper into a small card and write a short child-suitable line from the passage on the front.
- On the back, write or draw one way to point attention to Jesus this week, such as listening to his words or speaking truthfully about him.
- Let children share their card with the group in one sentence.
- Take the card home as a reminder that John pointed people to Jesus, not to himself.
The card helps children remember John’s message that Jesus must be honoured as greater, and that people should believe and obey the Son.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, pre-write the key verse on cards for tracing and let them draw the friend of the bridegroom rejoicing because he hears the bridegroom’s voice.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to compare John 3:28–30 with John 3:31–36 and explain how John’s humility matches the passage’s teaching about Jesus’ greatness.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: ‘Father, thank you for showing us that Jesus is greater than all. Please help us to listen to the Son, trust him, and gladly point others to him.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
John 3
22 After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them and baptized.
23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came and were baptized;
24 for John was not yet thrown into prison.
25 Therefore a dispute arose on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.
26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, he baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”
27 John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’
29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore my joy is made full.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 “He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.
33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.
34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.
35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.