Christ must increase
Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted
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Today’s passage seems almost out of place in that the apostle John seemingly interrupts his narrative and flow of thought regarding salvation and the true purpose of Jesus to again show John the Baptist exalting Christ. Yet upon careful reading and reflection one will realize that the apostle is simply contrasting the doubt and lack of knowledge and understanding of Nicodemus with John the Baptist’s faith and knowledge of who Jesus is and his purpose in coming. John is not simply repeating old arguments rather he is showing us the proper way to respond to Jesus. As we come to understand that Jesus is indeed from God to use Nicodemus words, then we should realize his supreme worthiness and right to be worshiped and obeyed. Yet he has granted us the right to choose. We can accept him as Lord and Master of our life and recieve the gift of salvation from our sin, or we can reject him. The choice is ours. Look with me at John 3:22-36
After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 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.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 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. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
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. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 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.
The Problem
The Problem
After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 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.”
Notice that both John and Jesus are baptizing in the same proximity.
The problem - people are leaving John to go to Jesus.
Cause - John’s teaching
Remember in chapter one John says John 1:26
John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
John’s teaching had caused the crowds to leave him and go over to Jesus, in fact in own disciples went after Jesus
It should be no surprise that his ministry was dying yet his disciples are upset about it.
I look at John and cant help but think of the times I have been guilty of the same thing. I spent almost 6 years working in Celebrate Recovery ministry and one of our greatest joys was getting to watch other groups start up by people who came out of our core group. Yet it was also painful to watch people flock to these other groups and ours seemingly limping along until we eventually felt God was telling us to close it up. I can understand John’s disciples being angry, confused, and hurt that the ministry they had devoted such time to was dying. Yet I admire John for his attitude and joy at seeing people flock to Jesus.
John’s Response
John’s Response
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 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. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
His position - the friend of the bridegroom
picture of a wedding
the friend desires to see the bridegroom married,
however this friend would have been what we call the best man and his role was to help with guest lists, supplies, location, honeymoon, and possibly even acquiring couples new home. Alot of work for the joy of seeing a friend married.
its not my marriage supper its Jesus marriage supper
its not my church its his church
its not my ministry its his ministry
Ultimately my lesson with Celebrate recover was it is not about how many are attending my meetings but rather how many are meeting Christ.
the point is not how many people are following Trinity Baptist church but how many people are following Christ because Trinity Baptist church pointed the way.
His Joy
rejoices greatly at the voice of the bridegroom
nothing brings the friend more pleasure than hearing the bridegroom say his vows, hearing him talk about the wedding the honeymoon etc. The joy of the bridegroom becomes the joy of the friend.
This joy of mine is now complete
In the same way the friend finds joy in the success of the bridegroom John finds joy in Jesus success. His joy is to see Christ lifted up and exalted. That Jesus bride the church comes to him.
Ultimately the crowds following Jesus is what John finds his pleasure in
Does your joy come from leading others to Christ?
Do you rejoice when others find Jesus, even if its not at your church or your ministry.
His humility
He must increase but I must decrease
Its not about me its about him
Less of me more of You Lord - Thumper
Let people see more of Christ to know him and worship him more and see less and less of me to follow me less and him more to not worship or glorify me but worship and glorify him
if we are not careful we will take the spotlight off of Jesus and place it on ourselves our ministries our church our righteousness us us us when it should be on the perfect one the lamb slain for our sins the one who died that we might live, the one who redeemed us bought us back let us magnify Jesus and lift him up that all may come to him.
The Question of Faith ???
The Question of Faith ???
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. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 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.
John the Baptist had faith that Jesus was the Messiah sent by God. He trusted Jesus was gonna deal with sin. He recognized Jesus had all authority.
Because of this John tell his disciples that whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life, and whoever does not the wrath of God remains on him.
John’s greatest desire is that others will recognize Jesus as the Savior of the world and put their faith in him
Notice it says the wrath of God remains on him all of us have earned God’s wrath due to our sin
Again salvation always comes down to a question of faith. Will you place your faith or trust in Jesus to cleanse you of your sin or will you choose to remain in the wrath of God. All of us have earned God’s wrath due to our sin, yet God in his grace and mercy sent us salvation through Jesus sacrificial death on the cross. The question is will you place your trust in Him? Will you turn away from your sin and choose to put Jesus as Lord and master of your life? If you have already accepted Jesus as Lord of your life are you seeking to see Him increase as you decrease. Will you humble yourself to put him first and seek to point others to him even at personal cost? Will you exalt the name of Christ, or will you instead enlarge your own kingdom while giving Jesus but token service?