John 3:22-36 | What's the connection?

All throughout this section, there are competing themes that highlight how Jesus is better. Beginning the section off, there is a dispute between John's disciples and the Jews about ritual purification. To what degree they were arguing I do not know, but Scripture makes it clear that there were differing viewpoints. What interests me is that the conversation immediately flows into the fact that Jesus is baptizing and it seems that He is getting all the traction. In short, while John's disciples and the Jews are arguing about purification, Jesus' is better. Even John testified of this fact.

30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’
-John 1:30

33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
-John 1:33

Another point is made by John that highlights the fact that Jesus is better. When it comes to a wedding, who is the important party? Is it the couple or the friends to the couple? Most definitely, it is the couple. Now contrary to the way we operate in modern times, the central focus was not so much on the bride as it was the bridegroom. What John is highlighting in this particular analogy is that he is there to support the bridegroom and it brings him joy to do so.

Following this is a comparison to that which is heavenly and that which is earthly. This does not differ from a lot of understanding we have today. Certainly, heaven is better than earth. Most definitely, the authority is better. While John is one that comes from earth. Jesus is One that comes from heaven. As such, Jesus' authority is greater.

The last point that is given to highlight the dividing factor of Jesus being greater is the fact that upon Him abides the Spirit of God, but upon those who do not believe upon Him, wrath abides. So not only is Jesus Himself free, but He is the One who makes free. Most definitely we would say that a free man, at least in capacity, is greater than a man who is locked and chained. But how much greater is one who can set free? The connection is that across all of Scripture and all the institutions that has been set up, Jesus is greater than them all. It makes me think of how the writer of Hebrews speaks of this. We will conclude with what was written.

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
-Hebrews 11:1-4

What connections are you seeing?