The Humility of John Points to Self-forgetfulness

Luke 3:15-22

GBCCR snow day 3/3/24

Introduction

We’ll introduce next week’s sermon with a different attitude

Prayers

Catch- Humility is something to be regarded

And it is hard to be humble when

But why is it hard to be humble when someone has a crowd following them?

Especially when the crowd likes the boasting?

Luke 3 shows John the baptist

Chapters 1 and TWO SETUP JESUS AND John as the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises

Chapter 3 shows that John is the merely the voice pointing to the One, the Lord Yahweh himself

John attacked easy believes and said you’re life should backup your statements of repentance.

So he gives them specific ways they need to change

But none of it was for his good/praise because

John’s focus on his king Jesus transitions the ministry focus

John’s exemplary humility (15-20)

Explanation

The people’s expectation (15)

Luke 3:15 NASB95

15 Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ,

Look at verse 8-9…

Luke 3:8–9 NASB95

8 “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 9 “Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

he does not have message of comfort but rebuke.as we said, jews knew that a sweet speaking prophet who said everything was ok was more dangerous

jews knew that a sweet speaking prophet who said everything was ok was more dangerous because it leads to sin overpowering and judgment coming.

So instead of getting upset at John’s words, the people take him for a prophet and begin to say.. Is he the christ

This is long hope for a promised one to come from the very beginning in Genesis

They are questioning in their hearts, which elsewhere means they say it where no one can hear it

Their expectation would have been the God was bringing about the day of the Lord that will solve them

But does it take the credit?

John’s humility (16)

Luke 3:16 NASB95

16 John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John responds to their quiet discussions among themselves

Here no one asks him, but we read in

John 1:19–20when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

He addresses the leaders directly, but he could have let the people just keep on thinking

John instead says, woah…. You think I’m great

I’m only baptizing with water

But there is one who is mightier… the word means strong or powerful

And john is not even worthy or able to untie his sandals

Sandals had all these straps used to tie them onto a child’s food

Comeone John… what does that mean.. I undo my kids sandals all the time.

This was very radical because in those days

disciple was not merely expected to learn from his rabbi, to be a humble student, but he was also expected to act in the capacity of the rabbi’s servant.

But RC sproul pointed out There was a rabbinic saying: ‘Every service which a slave performs for his master shall a disciple do for his teacher, except the loosing of his sandal thongs.’

That job was too humbling.. The removal of the guest’s sandals was the job of the lowliest servant who was also required to wash the dusty and soiled feet of the visitor.

We might say I’m not even qualified to take out the guy’s trash

That’s easy to say when you’re you do not have to give up anything, but remember he really belives this

Read John 3:22–30- 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.”

What is John willing to lose to Jesus?

And he doesn’t even care because he’s not looking at himself

In his helpful little book on humility called the freedom of self forgetfulness, Tim Keller writes

Wouldn't you like to be the skater who wins the silver, and yet is thrilled about those three triple jumps that the gold medal winner did? To love it the way you love a sunrise? Just to love the fact that it was done? For it not to matter whether it was their success or your success. Not to care if they did it or you did it You are as happy that they did it as if you had done it yourself because you are just so happy to see it.

John is just happy to see Jesus lifted up even if it means him becoming second

That’s because he knew his purpose and what was

John’s ministry summary (18-20)

John knew the promised one was coming

We need this kind of humility

John did not really appear so sucessfu

Did you know Up until the twentieth century believed that too high a view of yourself was the root cause of all the evil in the world, What is the reason for most of the crime and violence in the world? Why do people do the bad things they do?

Traditionally, the answer was hubris – the Greek word meaning pride or too high a view of yourself.

Today, we say people need better self-esteem… maybe John needed to look at what he accomplished and be content

But it is actually the high view of self and needing to feel accomplished that robs us of Joy

John knew who He pointed to and didn’t need to be thought well of

Therefore

What we’ve seen Gospel humility is needed and show by JOhn

Gospel-humility is not needing to think about myself. Not needing to connect things with myself

'I'm in this room with these people, does that make me look good?

The freedom of self-forgetfulness

Final discussion

Gospel humility

Gospel-humility is not needing to think about myself. Not needing to connect things

with myself. It is an end to thoughts such as, 'I'm in this room with these people, does that make me look good? Do I want to be here?' True gospel-humility means I stop connecting every experience, every

conversation, with myself. in fact, I stop thinking about myself. The freedom of self-forgetfulness.