New Beginnings: Week Seven (John 3:22-36)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: He Must Increase
Introduction: He Must Increase
He Must Increase (John 3:22-36)
Introduction
In our “New Beginnings” series, we’ve seen Jesus come into the world in a way no one expected.
He wasn’t just another teacher— He was the Word made flesh.
John the Baptist, the forerunner, introduced Him as the Lamb of God.
We’ve watched as Jesus called His first disciples, turned water into wine to inaugurate the New Covenant, and cleansed the temple to show that God was cleaning house.
Last week, Andy lead us in exploring the concept of new birth— not just trying harder, but being spiritually transformed.
Today, we’re at a turning point.
John the Baptist, who has been the main figure in the story so far, is facing a shift.
Jesus is starting to gather more followers, and John’s disciples don’t like it.
They come to him, frustrated and jealous, and it’s here that John’s response will teach us something powerful about our place in God’s plan.
Have you ever experienced a time when someone else got the spotlight?
Maybe your hard work, the things you’ve poured into, started to fade as someone else rose to prominence.
How did you respond?
John the Baptist shows us how to handle this tension in a way that points to Jesus.
LET’S PRAY
1) A Secondary Task Is Still a Task for God (John 3:22-27)
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.
SHOW MAP OF WHERE THEY WERE
As we move from John’s encounter with Jesus and the shifting focus of His ministry, we see a small shift in the narrative.
In verses 22-24, the scene sets the stage by describing the place where John the Baptist was continuing his work of baptizing.
But then, the scene takes a turn.
John’s disciples begin to notice something— a growing concern as Jesus' ministry starts to eclipse their own.
And it’s this concern that leads to their confrontation with John in verse 26, as they struggle with the idea that Jesus is getting more attention.
But John’s response to this jealousy is profound and serves as a model for how we should view our roles in God’s kingdom.
John’s disciples come to him, distressed.
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.”
This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about jealousy.
John had the biggest ministry, and now it’s shrinking.
But instead of feeling threatened, John’s response is profound:
27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
John knew something his disciples didn’t: Everything he had came from God.
His role was never about building his own kingdom— it was about preparing the way for someone greater.
William Barclay notes that John understood his task as secondary but still vital.
He wasn’t the main act—he was the opening band. And he was content with that.
In our culture, it’s easy to get obsessed with being number one.
We want the biggest platform, the largest following, the most influence.
And with social media today, you could be a star for one week and never heard of the next.
But sometimes, God calls us to be like John: to step aside so that someone else can shine.
Of course, this is Jesus we’re talking about so that would be obvious, but the principle of this is still true.
And there’s a deep joy in fulfilling the role God has for us, whether it’s the lead role or the supporting role.
Personal Story:
When I first entered ministry, I had big dreams of leading something significant.
It was a rose colored glasses type of thing that I didn’t realize that things like that not only took time, but years.
But God kept placing me in roles that supported someone else’s vision- pastor’s and church leaders, where I learned something from each.
It wasn’t easy all the time, but over time, I learned that there is joy in being faithful to whatever task God gives us— even if it’s behind the scenes.
Because it gives me a greater appreciation where we are at as a church- God has me here to lead, I’m sure of this, but we do it as a team, as a family.
Briefly talk about how this is carried out in teams and our goals/vision.
2) No One Receives More Than God Gives (John 3:28)
John continues,
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
John’s understanding was simple:
Everything he had, from his ministry to his influence, was a gift from God.
Warren Wiersbe explains that John’s joy came from knowing his place in God’s plan.
He wasn’t bitter or jealous because he understood that his role wasn’t about him— it was about God.
Another pastor, Tony Evans, puts it this way:
“If you define yourself by your position, you’ll be crushed when you lose it.
But if you define yourself by your purpose, you’ll always have a reason to rejoice.”
John’s disciples were clinging to position.
But John was clinging to purpose.
And in this, he found peace.
This is a great reminder to all of us as we serve together- are we clinging to a position or a purpose.
3) The Bridegroom and His Friend (John 3:29-30)
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 uses a beautiful image here.
He compares Jesus to the bridegroom and himself to the friend of the bridegroom.
In Jewish weddings, the friend of the bridegroom had a crucial role.
He made the arrangements, sent out invitations, and made sure everything was ready.
And when the bridegroom arrived, his job was finished.
He didn’t resent the bridegroom; he rejoiced.
This image is deeply rooted in Old Testament imagery.
God Himself is referred to as the Bridegroom in passages like Isaiah 54:5 and Hosea 2:16.
Now, Jesus has come as the true Bridegroom and John?
He’s the best man, there to introduce the bridegroom.
Application:
How often do we try to make ministry, relationships, or success in life about us instead of pointing people to Jesus?
Are we acting as the friend of the bridegroom, rejoicing when He gets the attention, or are we trying to steal the spotlight?
There’s two people I think of right off the top of my mind who wouldn’t mention that they were behind a great movement of God that’s been started.
Talk about what God put on Bobbie’s heart years ago and where it’s at today- our adopting Salisbury, teen center, etc.
Talk about Terry with mission’s and Kenya, young people experiencing missions because of it.
God is preparing and using us globally and locally, not for our glory, but for His!
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John’s words here echo loudly.
This isn’t defeat, this is joy.
Remember Tony Evans’ words- “If you define yourself by your position, you’ll be crushed when you lose it.
But if you define yourself by your purpose, you’ll always have a reason to rejoice.”
John found his purpose in magnifying Christ, even if it meant stepping back.
How can you magnify Christ in your purpose, in your life right now?
4) The Supremacy of Christ (John 3:31-36)
John, not John the Baptist, but John the author, makes a shift to his own thoughts and theological truths.
(Pause)
Let’s pause for a minute and take a step back, because it’s helpful to remember where we’ve been in this "New Beginnings" series.
From the very beginning, we’ve seen Jesus reveal Himself in unexpected ways— He’s the Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, and the one who came to turn everything upside down.
We’ve watched as He calls His disciples, as He cleanses the temple, and as He begins to make His presence known in powerful, transformative ways.
But through all of this, we’ve also seen a subtle tension building— what does it really mean to follow Jesus?
What does it mean for Him to increase, and for us to decrease?
So, as we move into this next section, verses 31-36, it’s like we’re taking a step back to reflect on the bigger picture.
John the Baptist has shown us his role in preparing the way for Jesus, but now, in verses 31-36, the author, John, takes us even deeper into the truth of who Jesus really is.
It’s something we don’t want to brush past or miss because it’s a basis for why our prayer should be for Jesus to increase and us to decrease.
It makes me think of the Jeremy Camp Song, “Empty Me”:
Holy Fire, burn away
My desire, for anything
That is not of You
And is of me
I want more of You
And less of me
Empty me, empty me
Fill, wont you fill me
With You, with You
It’s a great prayer, and as we transition to these last verses in chapter 3, it isn’t just about John’s testimony anymore— this is a profound declaration of Jesus’ divine nature and His role in bringing us eternal life.
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. 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.
When you want to know about a family member, you ask someone close to them.
If you want to know about a vacation spot, you ask someone who’s been there.
If we want to know about God, we turn to His Son.
John makes it clear that when Jesus speaks of heavenly things, it’s not secondhand knowledge— it’s direct from the source.
Jesus knows God perfectly, and as a result, He alone gives us the full truth about God.
And we can believe Him because God gave Him the Spirit without limit.
Jesus doesn’t just have a portion of the Spirit like the prophets— He has the fullness of the Spirit, and He perfectly reveals God to us.
To listen to Jesus is to listen to God Himself.
This is the choice John puts before his disciples:
To accept Jesus is to accept life; to reject Him is to remain under wrath.
In Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Joshua 24:15, Israel faced a choice: life or death.
Here, we face the same decision.
Will we accept Jesus and receive eternal life, or will we reject Him and face judgment?
Conclusion: The Gospel and Our Response
John’s life pointed to Jesus, and Jesus’ mission was to give new life.
John’s final words in this passage are a stark reminder:
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.
This is the gospel in its simplest form: it’s not about being good enough or earning favor— it’s about trusting in Jesus.
Object Lesson: Candle and Light
Imagine a candle in a dark room.
Just like Christmas Eve when we turn off the lights and light (or turn on) or LED candles.
The purpose of the candle isn’t to draw attention to itself, but to bring light.
If we focus on the candle itself, we miss the point— it’s the light that matters.
John knew this.
He wasn’t the light— he was just bearing witness to the light and so are we.
Challenge:
A pointed question we need to be asking ourselves is:
Are we more concerned with our platform or with pointing people to Jesus?
Are we willing to decrease so that He might increase?
Because when Jesus increases, John’s point is: that’s when real life begins.
LET’S PRAY
