Losing to Win: Why Decreasing is the Goal

Welcome, Ramesh, “Don’t forget about your daughters here.”

Have you ever had a situation where the apparent issue at hand, wasn’t the real issue?

First married, ‘to-do’ list from Katie. “It’s not that you didn’t have time, you didn’t make it priority.”

When we look at the beginning of today’s text it seems rather strange, but the issue at hand, isn’t what’s really going on, it’s much deeper.

Open your Bibles to John 3 and show them to me, and have your notes and pen in hand.

Let’s recap where we’ve been to set us up to understand the text.

Jesus was just in Jerusalem for Passover (NYC on New Years)

Nicodemus comes to Jesus at Night (Nic at Night) revealing the spiritual darkness and decay of Israel, Jesus showing us our need for a savior to make us new or Born Again.

Then we have this text and story where it says that they are leaving Jerusalem and hear NE to this area called Aenon near Salim. Different location then when we first encourter John the Baptizer

1. What happens when we compare ourselves to others? vv. 22-26

John’s disciples were frustrated with how they were losing followers to this new guy named Jesus.

In that, there was disagreement of the mode of which they were doing ministry, baptizing. It appears in this text that the disciples aren’t just having a “discussion” as it says in v. 25, but rather were arguing or having a dispute as some other translations put it.

Sometimes our emotions lead us to argue, break relationships, cause disunity, because we are really struggling with something much deeper.

So, the disciples get frustrated and don’t feel as if they are either ‘winning’ the arguement, or they didn’t win it well.

So they then come to John thinking “our master must know how to answer this better”

Read John 3:26 “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.””

First and only time someone other than Jesus is called “Rabbi” in John’s gospel.

The truth comes out, it isn’t about the mode of purification they are really upset about, it’s that people who would’ve been following John and the big group they would’ve had, are now following JESUS!

“...look, he is baptizing, and ALL are going to him.” v. 26b

Comparison enters in John’s disciples minds and robs them of being able to see the bigger Kingdom Picture.

“Envy or jealousy over someone else’s popularity, especially in ministry, can never advance God’s kingdom but only deteriorate our spiritual lives.” Kenneth Gangel

Think back in your life, has comparison ever made you more like Jesus?

Comparing your job status

Comparing your income status

Comparing what you drive

Comparing your vacation

Comparing your kids

Comparison never makes us more like Jesus.

There is something about the human psych that gravitates towards “Bigger is better”.

Buccee’s just opened in Rockingham County

A normal gas station with 4 pumps good, BUT what if there were 100 gas pumps.

A normal convenience store with 6 options of beef jerky is good, BUT what if there were a WALL of jerky?

Most impressive about Buc-cee’s, their restrooms!

Then once you’ve experienced a Buc-ee’s, no other gas station is good enough.

We see that John’s disciples, wanted to defend ‘their’ ministry and how it was the talk in town, but now isn’t. How they wanted to defend the reputation of their leader and his ministry, get upset that this new guy, Jesus, was now the talk of the town and it was growing. Because their eyes were still not on the Kingdom of God.

How so is it with our eyes? Have we sabotaged our understanding of the Kingdom of God and what we will see next as our role in it?

Comparison never makes us more like Jesus. What happens when comparison creeps into our lives? It deteriotes us and robs us of the Life Christ has for us.

2. Am I willing to decrease so Christ can increase? vv. 27-30

What we see in this section vv. 27-30, is John the Baptist’s response to his disciples, one that showcases spiritual maturity and an understanding of the Kingdom of God.

John 3:27 “John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.”

John’s theology drives the way he lives.

“Nothing I have is my own, not one thing. All this is in my possession is actually from God for me to steward.”

How many of us have false sense of control, have a false sense of ownership, have a false sense that possessions, power, and prestige is ours for the taken, and ours to use for our identity.

John 3:28 “You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’”

You heard, now don’t you remember “I am not the Christ”.

We ought to remind ourselves of that daily “I am not the Christ” “I am not Jesus”. Repeat after me “I am not the Christ.”

John then gives his disciples and analogy on that they all would understand. That the one who is to be married to the bride is the bridegroom, the bridegroom has a best-man, and we are he, the best-man to the bridegroom.

Have you ever been to a wedding and there is some jealousy or power hunger and someone wants to steal the spotlight from the wedding couple?

Story of photographer liking one of the bridesmaids, so they had more pictures of this bridesmaid than the bride herself.

The Bible Begins with a wedding in the Garden of Eden, and the Bible ends with a wedding. John is getting at a much larger story here. God is the Bridegroom and we, the church, are his bride.

“Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, and I must decrease.” vv. 29b-30

“It is a sign of true godliness and Christian maturity when we can rejoice in the achievements of others.” Colin Kruse

v. 30 was one of the first verse I committed to memorizing

Say it with me 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.”

What is this Joy found here? The Greek word is chara

Lexham Theological Wordbook χαρά

The term

Our joy is made complete, when we understand our place in God’s Kingdom.

It’s about Jesus. Life is found in Jesus.

When you face challenges in life, is your first question “How can I decrease in this and Christ increase?”

When you have an issue with a coworker, is your first question “How can I decrease in this and Christ increase?”

When someone gets your order wrong or you feel wronged, is your first question “How can I decrease in this and Christ increase?”

Am I willing to decrease so that Christ can increase?

3. Do I truly believe in the One who is above all? vv. 31-36

This section, vv. 31-36 is where John the Baptist’s words have ended in v. 30, and the Author, John the Evangelist, gives us a synthesis or explanation of this section.

“A Spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, all together within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting our response to His Presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality.” A.W. Tozer

John 3:31–36 “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.”

There has been up unto this point in John’s Gospel account, testimonies of who Jesus is. That He is the Son of God, the Messiah and savior of the Word.

You would expect the people to rejoice and follow in droves, to Jesus, but as Pastor Josh Horne told us a few number of weeks back, Jesus can’t be who he isn’t and who the people wanted the Messiah to be, isn’t who the Messiah is. The earthly, military powerhouse, rebuild the house of David and kick the Romans out.

So, they reject him or as v. 32 says “yet no one receives his testimony”

Some did receive him as v. 33 says “Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.”

John 3:34 “For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.” We see the Trinity Here.

“words of God” not logos like we say in John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

But Rhema or that Jesus speaks or declares the statements of God, he literally talk of God because Jesus is God.

He gives the Spirit without measure, he doesn’t hold back.

2 types cooks/bakers

Those who weigh and measure everything

Those who measure ‘by eye and taste’

Mom’s family, serves food ‘without measure’ got enough for everyone to eat 2nds and 3rds, and then take 4ths and 5ths home with you.

“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.” v. 36

Do I truly believe in the One who is above all?

Belief is both a trust and obedience.

Bring back to Katie story about “priority” to wrap it up.

Prayer team come forward.