Jesus Must Increase, I Must Decrease.

John 3:22-30.

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Introduction

Turn Bibles to John 3:22-30.

How many of you know who Stan Lee is? Yeah Marvel dude, which characters did he come up with? Yeah, ironman, thor, spidey, black widow, Black panther, so on so forth. Does anyone know who Arthur Conan Doyle is? He came up with the Sherlock Holmes story of the investigator of good guy and bad guy. We Arthur Doyle was one of the writers that heavily influenced the Great Stan Lee. In so many ways, we see the slogan of so and so walked, so so and so can run. In this way, we can say Arthur Doyle walked, so Stan Lee could run.

Tonight we will be looking and seeing how that in our life, school, home, spiritual walk Jesus Must increase, and I must decrease.

English Standard Version (Chapter 3)

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).

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.” 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.”

Pray.

As we look back we need to be able to seek context.

Context that is given from V. 22-24.

Address the “After”- We have to remember Eastern writers, and the culture of writers in this time. John, the apostle who is writing this gospel, is the one who is writing this in a way to get his main point across. What is his main point of writing the gospel?

That is John 20:31 “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Eastern writers in this culture were not worried about a chronological news article, where they did give an accurate depiction of what was happening.

Going out to the Judean Countryside would be similar to going out to the country. You have the city, then the country where they go. Why did they go, so that they can baptize, but in Chapter 4 verse 2 John makes it clear that Jesus was not the one baptizing, it was his disciples.

The support for this is verse 24, and how it ties back into the other gospels.

John 1–11: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 10: From John to Jesus (John 3:22–36)

The statement informs readers that this incident took place between Jesus’ temptation and John’s imprisonment, a period of time about which the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are silent.

The other passages such Matthew 4:12 “Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.”

Timeline wise, we are towards the beginning of Jesus ministry. And this is where the conversation begins with John’s disciples and a Jew. The argument likely centered around Ezekiel 36:25–27 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

When Jesus Increases, We Have True Understanding. V. 25-28

Explain

This discussion argument was more than likely who should be the one doing the purification? Should it be this new teacher, who is Jesus, or should it be John the Baptist, who we can know and see is the last prophet

The disciples of John have the potential to be jealous that John is losing followers as they are going to Jesus.

John 4:1 “Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John”

His boys were not happy, they were concerned for their teacher. As many of the followers were leaving John, and following Jesus.

So they looked to John and brought their concern to him, his followers, fans, friends potentially are leaving him.

John’s response is a “shot” at his disciples.

And then is like guys, i told you this…

Illustrate for the point of understanding.

Dude named Douglas MacArthur had an assignment to know the theory of relativity. Before Einstein broke it down and was able to understand it.

In a car going 60 MPH, does it feel like it? What if i throw a ball 60 MPH. I don’t know it that well, it is just for an illustration…

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Douglas MacArthur

The first section was studying the time-space relationship later formulated by Einstein as his Theory of Relativity. The text was complex and, being unable to comprehend it, I committed the pages to memory. When I was called upon to recite, I solemnly reeled off almost word for word what the book said. Our instructor, Colonel Fieberger, looked at me somewhat quizzically and asked, “Do you understand this theory?” It was a bad moment for me, but I did not hesitate in replying, “No, sir.” You could have heard a pin drop. I braced myself and waited. And then the slow words of the professor: “Neither do I, Mr. MacArthur. Section dismissed.” Gen. Douglas MacArthur in Reminiscences recalling a stratagem he carried out while at West Point.

The disciples heard and knew what John was teaching, they even knew the Old Testament prophecy, but they did not understand it.

Look at verse 28 again. Reminds of the Progressive challenge flag commercials. John is saying to his disciples, i have told you better, i was never the final answer.

John 1:20 “He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.””

Apply

We see in churches today people arguing over what type of worship should be done. What type of clothes people should, the pastor wear. What look the church should have should it be more “classy old timey” or should it be more “vibey”. And even the teaching points a teacher should teach on.

The application is to seek scripture for answers and life change. I do not want you to ever think you have to come on Wednesday and Sunday to be able to learn the Bible. No, i want and desire you to have a personal relationship with Jesus. That goes further and deeper than just the words myself, John, or you small group leaders say. I want and desire you to take the talking points i bring on a Wednesday nights and look through the text again and see if it is correct. And if you have questions, then lets talk.

When we have true understanding of Jesus, his hopes for us, and his heart for us, we have true joy.

When Jesus Increases, We Receive True Joy. V. 29-30

Explain

The wedding festival back in the 1st century illustration. The Church is the bride, Jesus is the bridegroom, and John the Baptist is the friend.

Illustrate

Follow the story of the bridegroom, with the bride. with Tony Stark, and Pepper Pots. Imagine if Happy Hogan stepped in. He would never, he was pumped, and supported them.

John the Baptist knew of all the prophecies that were concerning the Coming Messiah. He was in the corner rooting for Him, as he was the chosen forerunner to prepare the way for Jesus. To remove distractions and to fix peoples eyes on Jesus.

Even the joy we have doing the cool events. The deer hunting, the win on a game, when your favorite team wins, that is just a happiness

You will mist a shot

You will lose a game

Your sports team will rip your heart out

But Jesus is the only source of True Joy.

Apply

Sharing the gospel and truth of Jesus brings us joy.

V. 30

He must increase, i must decrease.

John is showing this tension to his followers, that they both can not be THE Rabbi, THE Teacher. The follow through of his joy, and his purpose is to exalt Jesus above all. The only for that exalting, that lifting up the name of Jesus, he must lose recognition.

Do we do the same? Do we decrease our name, our wants and desires?

If we want and pray this verse, we can go Jesus i pray you increase, and i think i might ya know decrease a little, but not much. I still want all my friends, all my family, i want a big house when i get older, i want i want so on so forth.

John’s language here is not an accident. For Jesus to increase in our life, we have to put aside all of our want and desires and solely focus on Jesus.

There is a book by David Platt who is a well known pastor and evangelist. And his book is called Radical. He walks through how as a follower and disciple of Jesus we are to radically different than the culture.

How does the culture feel about us decreasing?

Well whats the most popular photo style. The Selfie. The culture tells you to put yourself at the center. For ladies, you dont need no man!

For dudes, you cant have emotions, you have to make 6 figures,

For all of you all, you have to have certain grades, a certain lifestyle, a certain style of clothes, a certain friend group,

What does increasing Jesus mean?

It means seeking to have him as the front and center of your life.

Its not girlfriend, then Jesus. Its not video games, then Jesus. Its not family, then Jesus. Its not friends, then Jesus. Its not popularity, then Jesus.

What does decreasing mean?

It does not mean this self pity, like Eore from Winnie the Pooh. Rather it is getting rid of our selfishness our pride our ego, being humble and allow Jesus to lead our life.

We also know this is the boasting in Christ. If someone asks man why are you different, what makes you different. It comes from Jesus and Him alone.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Are willing to decrease ourselves and our desires to make Jesus increase in your life, your school, this county, and the world

For the believer my hope and prayer is that you begin to seek and search what roadblocks you have in your life that is holding you back from Jesus being the upmost abundance in your life.

For the unbeliever, all of this starts with a personal relationship with the Lord. For you to have true understanding, for you to have true joy.

God’s Design

Sin

Brokenness

Gospel

Repent and believe

Recover and pursue.

Let us PRAYYYYYY

Small Group Questions

How do we receive true understanding?

How can we have true joy?

What are some ways you practically need to decrease, so Jesus can increase in your life?

Who is someone you can share the gospel with this week?