A Successful Life

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Last week we discussed how these verses serve as an introduction for next several stories in John – How Jesus knows the human heart

exposes the human heart in order to

reveal the true need only he can fill

Nicodemus - last week

Samaritan woman at the well

Gentile official

Keyword for the passage we are about to read (and message) is HUMILITY.

Specifically in direction of life and measure of success.

Not - You have the bigger pizza slice, pick the movie, take my parking spot, etc.

ILLUST — working at the garage — shared food — no one took last piece — always cut smaller. False humility. I saw it as a waste of food and sought to correct the injustice.

Talking about redefinition of success at the core of who you are.

John 3:22–36 (ESV)

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).

John’s Gospel is the only Gospel to mention that Jesus was involved in baptizing people.

John 4:2 (ESV)

(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),

Mark and Matthew and Luke state that Jesus’ ministry began after John the Baptist was put in prison.

John showing that Jesus and John’s ministry overlapped for a season — this gives rise to our story.

Not ‘Christian’ baptism

John’s baptism (Jesus’ baptism at this point) was a sign of repentance from sin in view of the coming judgment of God.

Whether you consider yourself successful or not:

Redemption begins with repentance. (22-24)

The call to Jesus begins with a call to repentance. Coming to Jesus means to turn (shuv) from walking your life your way with all of its successes and failures.

Everyone needs redemption.

Successful and failures were all being baptized.

What was necessary to get into the water?

Successful - need to recognize their need

Failures -

Pumba - “Leave your behind in the past.”

Repentance is a dying.

Some need to recognize need for redemption.

Some need to release your past and walk in newness of life

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”

—Possible that this Jew was a part of the baptism of Jesus and his disciples.

John’s disciples come to John but not over the purification issue: J the B is losing followers and

Every Instagrammer knows there is nothing worse than losing followers!

he is baptizing, and all are going to him.

That’s a problem when your last name is “the baptist.”

John 4:1–2 (ESV)

1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),

The dude’s name is THE BAPTIST - talk about a smack to identity.

According to John’s disciples, Jesus is a threat to John’s success.

We’re never told about the dispute again

John, Jesus does it THIS way and look at all of those who are going to him to be baptized.

How does John answer?

27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John the discussion in a different direction. He doesn’t address the issue of purification or how they can get more people to baptize.

Instead, John does what he has been always doing - pointing people to Jesus.

John 1:6–8 (ESV)

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

John 1:20: “I am not the Christ”

John 1:27: not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals

The gospel writer is not simply retelling what he has already told - that John the Baptist is NOT the Christ

He is not showing us J the B in comparison to Jesus

He is showing us J the B in RESPONSE to Jesus

The increase of Jesus is the measure of our success (25-30)

The increase of Jesus defines and measures our success.

Recognized the source of success (27)

John the Baptist recognizes he is not a self-made man. He is a God-made man.

John had what he had because God gave it to him and Jesus had what He had because was giving it to Him.

When you believe that you are the source of your success you will find yourself feeling either too strong or too weak - pride or despair.

Proud that you controlled the world or

Feel you’re a victim of it.

The anxiety of creating or maintaining success is released when we realize that we are neither the source of nor the definition of success.

Changed the definition of success (29)

(We said earlier)

Talking about redefinition of success at the core of who you are.

BECAUSE

That which you define as success both motivates and guides your daily decision-making and will be the source of your joy.

Job title

Amount of money

Relationship

If you DON’T achieve: then, brings pain, depression, feelings of failure.

If you DO achieve: then it may just lead down a path of false sense of security — placing your identity, and joy in something that was never meant to bear it.

In Luke 12 a man comes to Jesus complaining about his brother. He wants Jesus to tell his brother to share.

Luke 12:14–15 (ESV)

14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (success)

Tells story of rich man so successful he needs to build bigger barns to hold all his wealth.

Luke 12:20–21 (ESV)

20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Story not just about amassing possessions but about finding security, identity, and joy in something that doesn’t last.

J the B has a different definition of success based on his role.

29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

(if you don’t recognize the true source of success or

Definition of success is faithfulness in seeing Jesus in your life and others seeing Jesus through your life.

This levels the field:

wealthy businessman may be unsuccessful High school dropout may be a total success

Redefined the measure of success (30)

The measure of success for John was that Jesus’ fame and glory was increased in and through his live EVEN at the expense of his own fame and glory.

Are you ok with becoming UNKNOWN, UNPRODUCTIVE, FORGOTTEN, or a FAILURE in the world’s eyes if it means that you know Jesus more or that more people know Jesus?

Take a demotion

Move into obscurity

If NO, than, source, definition and measure of success is focused on self

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 7. John the Baptist’s Continuing Witness concerning Jesus (3:22–30)

In short, John says, He must become greater; I must become less. The ‘must’ (dei) is nothing less than the determined will of God. John finds his joy, not in grudgingly conceding victory to a superior opponent, but in wholeheartedly embracing God’s will, and the supremacy it assigns to Jesus. A great deal of later Christian piety has turned on the same truth.

ILLUST - Oley - Moravians - Zinzendorf

“Remember, you must never use your position to lord it over the heathen. Instead, you must humble yourself and earn their respect through your own quiet faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. The missionary must seek nothing for himself, no seat of honor or hope of fame. Like the cabhorse in London, each of you must wear blinkers that blind you to every danger and to every snare and conceit. You must be content to suffer, to die, and to be forgotten.”

— Nikolaus Zinzendorf

You are increasingly successful as Jesus is increasingly seen in your life.

Notice there is no number there - bring 50 people to Jesus each year

There is no title - attain the rank of super Christian

There is no Doing - give this much, do this, don’t do that.

It’s an attitude is humility focused on the increased fame and glory of Jesus that results in your joy.

Jesus is both the standard and the goal (31-36)

31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.

This kind of thinking doesn’t make any sense but Jesus is the standard - He is above all.

32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Standard (31-34)

The New Bible Commentary 3:22–4:3 Jesus and John the Baptist

a. He is from above and above all (31). He is to be distinguished from those whose origin is earthly. He cannot be assessed by earthly methods. He is therefore different from John the Baptist.

b. He spoke from personal experience (32).

c. Although his testimony was rejected by some, when accepted it witnessed that God is truthful (33).

d. The validity of the divine messenger is possession of the Spirit (34).

without measure.

Kingdom success not culture’s success

The crazy thing about John’s response about Jesus gaining more followers is that it is crazy!

Goal (35-36)

This certainly not a health and wealth gospel story, but neither is it doom and gloom - it’s actually about redemption and grace.

Health and wealth = cheap and fleeting

Doom and gloom = false picture

Redemption and grace = Jesus

When the scale of success is recalibrated to the weight of glory given to Jesus in your life, it means there is success in what the world calls:

mediocrity

ordinary

extraordinary

failures

You are not a failure!!

The only way to fail in this life is to not allow Jesus to have your life.

To understand and receive this with joy requires a redefinition and new measure of success

Conclusion

Now is the ideal time to re evaluate your definition and measure of success.

With the world on pause, without the distractions and busyness of routine, what is your pursuit?

What has been your definition of success? How has that caused stress, anxiety, pride?

What are the areas of your life that must decrease in order for Christ to increase?

What do you need to repent of in order to redefine success?

Beauty is, YOU CAN’T LOSE!

If the definition of success is looking more like Jesus and pointing others to look at Jesus, than the only qualification you need is TO KNOW JESUS!

You can be

the worst plumber in the world and still be a success.

Gone through bankruptcy or wealthy

Gone through divorce or have picture perfect family

This is why this story starts with baptism — a picture of repentance

I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.