SF013 - Christ Magnified by His Forerunner (John 3 22-36)
Christ Magnified by His Forerunner
November 11, 2001
John 3:22-36
Introduction
The closing verses of this chapter are a sequel to the Lord’s visit to Jerusalem. After the cleansing of the temple and His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus goes with his disciples into the rural areas of Judea. It is perhaps during these days that Lazarus and his sisters became followers of Christ.
John Phillips provides a helpful overview of Jesus’ journeys during his three years of ministry.
Ø AD 27 The Calm Year
Judea (1:1-42)
Galilee (1:43-2:12)
Judea (2:13-3:36)
Samaria (4:1-42)
Galilee (4:43-54)
Ø AD 28-29 The Crowded Year
Judea (5:1-47)
Galilee (6:1-7:9)
Judea (7:10-10:21)
Galilee (between 10:21-22)
Judea (10:22-39)
Perea (10:40-11:16)
Ø AD 30 The Closing Year
Judea (11:17-20:31)
Galilee (21:1-25)[1]
In these verses John presents to us a portrait of humility as he chronicles the Baptist’s response to our Lord’s growing ministry. He also sets before us the indisputable witness of our Lord.
1A. A Portrait of Humility (3:22-30)
In the last words of John the Baptist we find the ingredients for achieving true humility.
1B. God’s sovereignty (3:27)
John recognized that God was in control of the results of his labors.
Ø John continued to serve the Lord even after Christ began his ministry. (3:23)
He did not stop because his crowds had decreased.
Ø John recognized that God was working in and through Jesus Christ.
He did not become jealous of Christ’s success.
John understood that everything comes from God.
Matthew 16:17 “And Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.’”
1 Corinthians 4:7 “For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”
2B. Self-awareness (3:28)
John knew he was not the Christ and that without Christ he could do nothing.
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
John knew he had a job and that he must fulfill his calling.
Ø Paul addresses this truth skillfully in Romans 12:3-8.
3B. Christ above all (3:29)
John knew that as the friend of the bridegroom his job was to serve the bridegroom.
Ø John was not concerned about what others thought. His primary purpose was the to please the bridegroom; that this should be the purpose of every Christian.
“Humility is not the product of direct cultivation, rather it is a by-product. The more I try to be humble, the les shall I attain unto humility. But if I am truly occupied witht the One who was ‘meek and lowly in heart,’ if I am constantly beholding His glory in the mirror of God’s Word, then shall I be ‘changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord’ (2 Corinthians 3:18).”[2]
John also knew the joy of leading others to the bridegroom.
4B. He must increase (3:30)
John realized that the ultimate goal in life is to bring glory to God.
Just prior to his death William Carey is reported to have said, “When I am gone, don’t talk about William Carey; talk about William Carey’s Savior. I desire that Christ alone might be magnified.”[3]
2A. A Perfect Witness (3:31-36)
In verses 31-36 the apostle presents for us the perfect witness of God and His grace in the person and life of Jesus Christ. There are three things that makes a person a good witness: first hand information, a willingness to testify, and reliability. We see these traits demonstrated perfectly in Christ.
1B. Firsthand information (3:31)
Jesus alone has come from heaven.
Ø Twenty-three times in John we are told that Jesus was sent from God.
Ø The Greek verb apostellein, (to send) occurs seventeen times in reference to God’s commissioning of the Son.[4]
Jesus is unique in His relationship with the Father.
Ø He is more than a prophet; He is the Son of God.
In John 9:1-38 notice the progression of the blind man and his understanding of who Jesus is. In verse 11 he calls Jesus “a man;” verse 17, “a prophet;” verse 33, “of God;” and in verse 38, “he worshipped Him.”
2B. A willingness to testify (3:32)
Jesus testifies of “what He has seen and heard.”
“testifies,” martureo, is a present tense verb which means that Jesus is still testifying.
Hebrews 1:1-2 “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”
Jesus testifies today through the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
3B. A reliable testimony (3:32b-36)
The reliability of Christ’s testimony is not dependent on its reception by man. (3:32b)
Christ’s testimony is sealed by God. (3:33)
“Seal,” comes from the practice of affixing an official seal on a document.
Christ’s testimony involves the trinity. (3:34-45)
Ø The Spirit fills it.
Ø The Father provides it.
Ø The Son proclaims it.
Christ’s testimony invites the sinner. (3:36)
Ø To repent and believe.
Ø To flee from the sure wrath of God.
Application
1. Has God revealed to you the reality of His sovereignty? If not, would you ask Him to do so now?
2. Are you abiding in Christ daily? Is He the sole source of life for you?
3. Are you serving the bridegroom and are you seeking to bring others to Him?
4. Is it your desire for Christ to be magnified in your life?
5. Have you by God’s grace received Christ’s testimony and have you placed you faith in Him? If not, would you seek God now and ask Him to open your eyes to His truth?
Preparing for Next Week
1. Read John 4:1-6.
2. What are we to learn from the statement that “Jesus Himself baptized not”? (4:2)
3. Why did the Lord leave Judea when He knew the Pharisees were jealous? (4:3)
4. What prophetic foreshadowing do we have in John 4:3-4?
5. Why was it that Christ “had to pass through Samaria”? (4:4)
6. What are we to learn from the fact that the meeting between Christ and the Samaritan woman occurred at a “well”? (4:6)
7. Why are we told that it was “Jacob’s well”? (4:6)
8. What is suggested by the “sixth hour”? (4:6)
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[1] Phillips, John, Exploring the Gospels: John, (Neptune, New Jersey: Loizeaux Brothers, 1989), 78.
[2] Pink, Arthur W., Exposition of the Gospel of John, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975), 149.
[3] Boice, James M., The Gospel of John, Volume 1, The Coming of the Light, John 1-4, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1985), 257.
[4] Boice, 266.