John 3:22-26

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Write that down in your formation Journal

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Sermon Text

Sermon Text: Scripture

Call to Worship

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Passage:

Formation Journal Page Number: 101 11:07-11:55 2:43-3:27

John 3:22–36 CSB

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went to the Judean countryside, where he spent time with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized, 24 since John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25 Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a Jew about purification. 26 So they came to John and told him, “Rabbi, the one you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing—and everyone is going to him.” 27 John responded, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” 31 The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, and yet no one accepts his testimony. 33 The one who has accepted his testimony has affirmed that God is true. 34 For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands. 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

Opening Illustration:

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Pride is overestimating what you are owed.

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Getting into the Sermon

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A lot of times we think about Pride as being puffed up. Of someone who talks about themselves in the third person or something like that. That’s pride.

But we need to think about the everyday pride. What do you think you are owed?

We get angry because we don’t get what we think we are owed by our boss, or our spouse, or our friends, sibbling

I do want to be clear - right, I’m not talking about abusive situations. We do need to have boundaries and because we are made in the image of God we do deserve some things - we deserve respect, safety, not to be mistreated.

I just want to make that clear, because sometimes that’s the way things get twisted.

That’s not what I am talking about. What I am talking about is the subtle and common ways that we start to think that other people exist to please us. We are the center and they should be serving us.

So we start to have unrealistic expectations of our spouse - they should anticipate our every need or our every offense.

Our kids misbehave and we take that super personal - do you know what I’ve done for you.

At work, the boss doesn’t give us compliments and we just break down - I’ve worked so hard.

We start to have an inflated view of ourselves, you might call it “main character syndrome.”

We demand things of other people that we certainly don’t give.

But it isn’t just other people, it’s also God. And that get’s us angry. “God why haven’t you given me the answer to my prayer yet?” Why don’t you do what I want?”

That’s probably where it is the most clear because there is no relationship as one sided as our relationship with God. He is always faithful and has all the wisdom of the universe. He created every animal, knows the future, literally knows your heart and definitly knows what’s best for you.

Meanwhile, we are constantly unfaithful and then say, “But God, why aren’t you do what I asked?” It’s a bit silly.

But all of this confusion of what’s owed us leads to conflict. We get angry because we didn’t get what

True peace comes when we estimate what we deserve correctly?

So let’s look at it.

John 3:22–24 CSB

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went to the Judean countryside, where he spent time with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized, 24 since John had not yet been thrown into prison.

So they are out baptising. John the baptist is going to be sent to prison soon but they are baptising right now.

John 3:25–26 CSB

25 Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a Jew about purification. 26 So they came to John and told him, “Rabbi, the one you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing—and everyone is going to him.”

A problem happens. A dispute comes up. We don’t know what it’s about - there was a lot of ceremonial cleansing.

I think the thing that makes the most sense is that someone was coming and asking about Jesus - why is Jesus’ crowds bigger. Who is really doing the purification?

So John’s disciples are upset. They are angry that the people are going to Jesus. Why are they upset?

They are upset because they think that they are owed something.

Maybe they think that they were the first show in town so they are owed the loyalty of the people. Maybe they want the glory.

They believe they are owed glory they aren’t getting

You get glory if you are connected to the right person. A celebrity with their enterouge

So they want John to have glory so that they can get the glory.

Often, we fall into this way of thinking. We consider ourselves and our own kingdom. How do we get our kingdom larger? We view our life as a little kingdom and the purpose of the kingdom is our glory and our happiness. That’s the idea.

We build a kingdom to bring us glory

That’s what they were doing. But it wasn’t panning out. People weren’t going to them. They were going to Jesus.

So how does John respond?

John 3:27 CSB

27 John responded, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven.

First, he is recognizing that he has already received more than he deserves.

What do we deserve? The bible says that the wages of sin is death. Because of our sin and disobedience, everything we have is a gift.

Everything good in your life- is a gift which means you didn’t earn it.

There is a joke about praying before a meal where the person says - well, i worked for it so I guess it goes to me.

But that’s wrong - who gave you your job? Who gave you enough health to work? Who worked all those details out?

Everything we have is from God. That’s the first thing that John notices.

If everything is a gift then we don’t have a right to be demanding or entitled

John 3:28 CSB

28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’

Then John recognizes who he is not - he is not the messiah. He isn’t the one who saves people

He knows where he stands.

We are on the stage but not in the spotlight.

We get frustrated because we believe that we are owed the spotlight.

We are on the stage not in the spotlight.

John 3:29 CSB

29 He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete.

Ancient weddings - the goal is to point to the groom - to the couple getting married.

See we get this wrong - we aren’t building our own kingdom, we are building God’s kingdom. Our kingdom prep is about what we are going to turn over to Christ.

Performing the wedding - the bridesmade made it about herself - what do you think of those people

So why would that be ok for us?

It’s not your kingdom - you aren’t the king you are the caretaker

John 3:30 CSB

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

This is the central part of the text. Even the way the scripture is written is to emphasize this point.

With your kids

With your spouse

With your job

With your body

Everything is about turning it over to God.

He must increase but I must decrease - he is the only one who actually gets it.

But that’s true for our lives as well. Our lives should be about turning ourselves over to God.

How are we decreasing?

John 3:31–32 CSB

31 The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, and yet no one accepts his testimony.

So on the one hand - we are limited. We are from the earth. That’s all we know.

But Jesus is from Heaven. He is higher than us. He is bigger than us.

John 3:33–35 CSB

33 The one who has accepted his testimony has affirmed that God is true. 34 For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands.

John 3:36 CSB

36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

He is the one we should want in control anyway. All things were given to him, including the spirit without measure. He owns everything. He is owed everything.

the biggest form of pride is believing we don’t need God’s solution to our sin problem

This is what it means to believe.

So part of it is that we live to glorify Jesus. To make him the big deal, knowing that we aren’t owed anything.

But there is a church wide application too

You’ve heard me say that I spend most of my time thinking about your greatness. How to make you great so that you would have a vibrant relationship with God.

What would it look like for you to have some people that you were thinking about their greatness. You were praying for them. You were hoping for them. You wanted them to see God.

Why? Becuase Jesus deserves their worship. It’s the right thing and its the best thing for them.

So let’s be working for other people’s greatness together.

Lord’s Supper:

On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 

Benediction:

The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD makes his face shine upon you and be gracious to you:

The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.