He Must Increase

Context, Context, Context (vv. 22-26)

Where are they?

Jesus

What are they doing?

It says that “Jesus and his disciples… were baptizing.” However, it is clear from John 4:2 that Jesus himself “did not baptize, but only his disciples.”

What kind of “discussion” were they having?

The Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) says “debate,” and the NIV says “argument.”

Side Note: It can be really helpful to use different Bible translations to understand things like this. I was talking with Kyle about this and portrayed it the way the ESV seems to portray it: like a discussion. He, however, helped me out by looking at some other Bible versions and showed me the above alternate translations.

Extra Side Note: If you’d like to use the same computer software that I use to look at definitions for the original Greek or Hebrew words, let me know! There are many resources, I primarily use Logos and BlueLetterBible.

Why does the author John point out that John the Baptist had not yet been imprisoned?

Because the Apostle John is the only one who addresses Jesus’ ministry outside of Galilee, and he wants to clear up the apparent discrepancy that that creates with the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).

He Must Increase (vv. 27-30)

Why are the disciples asking John about Jesus? Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.

What do you think John’s disciples were really asking their Rabbi?

They were probably comparing what they had previously had with their teacher, John the Baptist, against what Jesus and his disciples have now.

The Danger of Comparison. Some of you have visited other churches—which is great! Maybe you visited their small groups, their Sunday service, or maybe you even went to one of their events. All of those things are great, and I encourage that! However, there is great danger when you go to other events and come back to your home church and compare what you have against theirs. Don’t get me wrong, it is good to work together with other churches and ministries to better serve the Body of Christ, and sometimes that involves imitating what they do. What is wrong is when someone says “Dang, they’re really good. My ministry isn’t as good as theirs, so it’s not as valuable,” or when you say, “Man, we’re way better than them. My ministry is more valuable than theirs.” That’s a dangerous comparison, and is very unhealthy.

What does John the Baptist’s response mean?

John the Baptist could have easily been like, “Hey, yeah, you know what, he is taking all of our people. Why should he get all the glory?” But John the Baptist had humility.

What is humility?

Humility is having a right view of who you are before God.

What does false humility look like?

False Humility: Humble-Brag. There is absolutely such a thing as false humility! Somebody might say something like, "Ha, I don’t know why people make such a big deal about my huuuuuge muscles. They’re really not that much to brag about.” He’s bragging, a humble brag.

False Humility: Deflecting Compliments. When someone gives you a compliment and you deflect it, saying, “No, no, no, that’s not me,” that’s false humility. \

False Humility: Self-Deprecating Humor. When you make fun of yourself; when you say something like, “man, I’m not good at ____________;” self-deprecation can come across as humor, but it is, behind the facade, just pride.

In the case of this conversation, the disciples are not being humble. They’re displaying false humility, and John the Baptist calls them out on it.

What does John the Baptist’s response mean?

“A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” Everything we get is from God! We are not God, and we cannot stand in God’s place. John’s disciples were discontent with the place God sovereignly placed them, and they pridefully thought that they knew better than God. John tells them

What does true humility look like?

Philippians 2:1–4 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

True humility means knowing who you are before God. If you

Jesus is Above All (vv. 31-36).

Why does John repeat the same thing twice?

Because when the Bible repeats things, it wants you to PAY ATTENTION!

Jesus is above all because He comes from heaven, sent by God. He can tell us about heavenly things (cf. John 3:12–13) because He comes from Heaven.

What does v. 33 mean?

If someone accepts Jesus’ testimony, they certify that God is truthful because God sent Jesus. If someone does not accept Jesus’ testimony, they are proclaiming that God is a liar, for Jesus has been sent by God, or that Jesus is a liar, and He is not actually sent from God (cf. 1 John 5:10). These are the only two options.

What are the benefits of accepting Christ’s testimony as true? What does eternal life look like?

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life...”

What are the consequences of not accepting Christ’s testimony as true? What does it look like for the “wrath of God” to remain on him?

“whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

What is Christ’s testimony?

Jesus, who was sent by God, given the Holy Spirit “without measure” (v. 34) and who “utters the words of God” (v. 34), testifies that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus testifies that He is the Son of God, and that He has come so that whoever believes in Him would have life, and would not perish.

Main Point: Jesus is above all.

Benediction: Read Philippians 2:1-11

Philippians 2:1–11 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.