John 3:22-30
So That You May Believe • Sermon • Submitted
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· 32 viewsWe must be pointing to and following Jesus
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Today we start with John telling us of a time when John’s disciples went to speak to John because of an issue with John. Now, John was not doing what they thought he should be doing so John writes to us to tell us that John wants us to follow, not John, but to follow Jesus and thus John records what John’s disciples are told.
So who’s John, Who’s on first, John, no what’s on second, no what’s not playing John is playing.
So apparently I’m going to need everyone to really pay attention today or we are all going to get lost!
We have two John’s here today. We have John the author and the apostle, hear by to be known as Johnny A.
And we have John the Baptist, hereby to be known as Johnny B.
The author of the Gospel of John, (Johnny A) begins by setting the stage for the next scene in which he tells of an incident with John the Baptist, (Johnny B)
But before we get to this new scene in chapter 3, let’s do a quick recap of how we got to this point.
Our Author: John the Apostle
Chose each scene carefully to display the purpose his Gospel.
Let’s take a moment to remember this purpose together:
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
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.
This means that that all we have discovered thus far and will discover in the future will be pointing to the believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
For believing in Him brings forth life.
Not just any life, Life more abundantly here on earth and life eternally with our Savior.
Let me be clear, life abundantly doesn’t mean God will give you your every wish and all will be easy.
Life abundantly means that you will be restored to your purpose in this life.
Your life will truly have meaning as it was intended and we live out of this new reality.
This is the reason that John A began his prologue in Chapter 1:1-18.
He begins by Exclaiming that Jesus is God’s Word, who was with God, is God, and the agent of Creation.
Jesus is the light shining in the darkness.
Jesus is grace and truth.
This truth is embodied in Jesus.
You want to know the Father, look to Jesus.
The Apostle John then opens up the narrative in Chapter 1:19-42 with John the Baptist. John B
John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament Prophets
He was sent by God to prepare the way for the Messiah and calling those to repent and be ready.
Then in the rest of Chapter 1 is John B is pointing to Jesus and the first disciples of Jesus are being called forth.
Chapter 2 begins with the first Miracle of Jesus.
John the author and apostle is showing us the power of Jesus to turn water into wine.
Jesus takes the purification ritual made by man and turns it into wine made by God.
In this event Jesus own example and testimony reveal that He is the Christ.
Next we see Jesus cleansing the temple and showing everyone, including a man named Nicodemus that Jesus has the authority of God!
So, we see the power of Jesus in the wine and the Authority of Jesus in the temple!
This sets up Chapter 3 where Jesus encounters Nicodemus and we encountered John 3:16.
Jesus tells us that we must be born again and that this wonderful glorious act is an act of God and God alone.
We cannot see as we ought, we cannot know as we should, unless we are born from above.
Once born again, we then see what our response will be belief in Jesus.
Need a reason to believe? Well we can look to God’s great love.
God displayed His love to all of HIs creation by sending His Son
To rescue and ransom, to redeem and restore
Which then brings us to John 3:22-30.
Before we read our Scripture let me share what happened to me last week
Last week I returned for the first time since the pandemic started an old familiar road.
A Road that I must have traveled over a 1000 times but this time felt different.
I knew all the landmarks and even new ones being built.
Past signs and toll booths. Past cars with shoe polish written on their windows and kids pressing their face against them to see all of the sights.
I knew the lanes in which to navigate and when the right time to merge would be in order to hit the light at just the right moment.
It was like muscle memory for my mind.
The manicured grass was just how I last left it.
The pristine landscaping, artful outdoor decor
And a guard station with a gentlemen I knew would be smiling. Although you couldn’t tell because of the mask.
I rolled down my window and flashed my license as he asked.
Where do you travels take you today?
The Grand Ballroom I replied. I am back for the first time since the pandemic to DJ a Fairytale wedding for Disney.
Weddings always make me emotional. I’m a hopeless romantic.
Listening to vows of everlasting love, hearing parents share of their enduring love, has me choking back the tears every time.
Being able to DJ them brings me into a unique role and opportunity with the event.
Everything I do from introducing the couple during the Grand Entrance,
Announcing their First Dance, facilitating the cake cutting, and
Celebrating on the dance floor is all done with one purpose in mine.
Pointing everyone, in every situation, in every event, to the reason we are all gathered today.
In this particular event, it is the bride and groom.
The last of the Old Testament Prophets was John, John the Baptist.
Although his name probably would have been better shared as John the Witness.
That is exactly what he continued to do over and over in the Gospel of John.
Bear witness to the one who we all are invited to celebrate with.
John even used a wedding as his illustration.
Except instead of the DJ he likened himself to the Best Man.
His job was to prepare the way for the marriage of Jesus and His Bride, the church.
He would bring the Bride to the spot of the marriage and await the groom to arrive.
Let’s open our Bibles, or turn them on if that is your preference to: John Chapter 3 Verses 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.”
This passage focuses us to the singular point of John’s ministry as a witness and ultimately our calling as well: to point people to follow Jesus.
We are also going to discover 3 areas that are going to try and keep us from achieving this goal.
So our goal today is to listen to John the Author recount how John the Baptist points to Jesus and how we too should do that in every way.
The next scene in the Gospel of John unfolds with a new location. Let’s look together. Chapter 3: verses 22 - 24.
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).
The festival of Passover has ended and Jesus and His disciples were on the move.
It seems that people began following Him after the miracles and signs that he performed.
So Jesus camped out at Aenon near Salim because there was plenty of water.
While this isn’t the point of this section and the purpose of chapter 3 isn’t baptism.
I found it fascinating that it certainly seems that Baptism was not a sprinkle, but full emersion in the New Testament.
While I am sure there are situations that could prevent full emersion, due to health, age, and locations and so forth.
Yet it seems it would be an exception to the rule and not the rule.
But again just a fun fact and not the point so let us continue moving forward.
John is found nearby due to the water supply and had not yet been put in prison.
Why would the author share this? Because he is helping us see the timeline.
The events that were being spoken of all happened before John was imprisoned.
So, what we just experienced in this Gospel all happened before Matt 4:12
This Gospel was the last to be written so John is helping us with the timeline.
So our location and backdrop is set, now it is time to see what is about to happen.
Let’s continue to verse 25
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.
The camera, so to speak, pans away from Jesus and his disciples and lands on John and his disciples.
Here we find the first of three issues that keep us from our witness.
#1 Distraction
In debate this specific fallacy is known as irrelevant conclusion.
The disciples and the Jew were missing the point all together and talking about man-made rules instead of Jesus.
Pointing to Jesus was completely missed because the conversation moved to purification rituals.
Here is the issue in witnessing. We can get caught up in all sorts of topics and issues when trying to witness that we completely miss the Gospel.
You could have a great opportunity with an atheist to share Jesus but you get side tracked into discussing whether dinosaurs and humans co-existed.
Don’t get distracted with rabbit trails and non-issues that take away from our purpose.
But, that is where we find ourselves in this verse. So here is what happens: a discussion arises.
We do not know the details of it, just the topic of discussion.
Actually, Discussion is probably a nicer way of putting it.
When my wife and I are having a lively debate, Dylan my 6 year old will come up and say. “Daddy are you and mommy having an argument.”
Which I will quickly reply.
“Oh no, we are just having a discussion.”
Dylan doesn’t buy it, our kids in the next room don’t buy it, our neighbors don’t buy it, you get the picture.
And this word in the original greek is probably more than just a casual discussion and more likely an argument.
We don’t know exactly what it was about.
Perhaps it was tied to the purification jars similar to the wedding in Cana? Not sure
Thus, it is not necessarily for us to know the details.
What we do know is that this conversation led to what we see in the next verse.
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.”
Here we see issue at hand. Whatever the argument was about its climax lead to this:
Two Rabbi leaders. Two groups of disciples. One clearly winning influence, another loosing influence.
Yet, what was the root issue? What was the issue beyond the issue?
Here we are going to find issue 2 and 3 that prevent us from pointing to Jesus.
First, issue 2 is that of Jealousy.
#2 Jealousy
These disciples of John the Baptist were jealous that everyone was no longer coming to John but to Jesus!
Next, issue 3 is an issue Division, which is being caused because of the disciples selective hearing.
#3 Division
The desire to hear that which you want to hear and shutting out what doesn’t fit your desired narrative.
Here we have a disciple that has ignored John’s purpose in order to be a part of what he thinks is the purpose.
In the process he is about to cause great division between John and Jesus!
We could stop and talk about Jealousy and Division caused by Selective Hearing for the rest of our time.
But then we would miss the whole point and the answer.
These are the three areas that prevent us from being about the main point of being a witness.
So, Instead of me giving you my thoughts and opinions about jealousy
Or sharing a funny story about my kids selective hearing
Or risk my wife interrupting and telling the congregation about my selective hearing
Let’s see what the author wants us to hear and what John the Baptist is going to say.
That is probably safest for all parties here today!
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.’
Verse 27 address the Jealousy issue and verse 28 addresses the division caused by hard of hearing part.
You can imagine John pointing to his disciples and going:
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
You heard this over and over!
When the Pharisees sent priests and Levites to John and his disciples John replies in
He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
Verse 23 tells us that he was sent before Jesus to make straight the way of Christ.
Over and over and over John is setting the example and fulfilling his calling by pointing to Jesus in every way to every one he can.
There is no excuse for his disciple not to get this.
Now before we go and bash this unnamed group of disciples, we better check ourself.
We have all experienced this in ourselves and yes, we’ve experienced it with others, too.
#3 Division
My mentor Mike in Oregon when I first was born again would tell me things over and over and over.
As a new Christian I had my own thoughts, my own opinions, my own desires
All of this clouded my ability to take in that which I should be listening to.
Why do we cause division? Sometimes it is caused by having selective hearing.
How?
It could be because we think that we know better.
Perhaps we do agree that a different view is better but that would require us to change directions and we are comfortable where we are at.
In this case, it could very well be that the disciples enjoyed being on the “band wagon” so to speak, and didn’t like that their “team” was losing.
So what is the best way to fix this?
Well, cause division and start a social media hashtag, hire a consultant, and begin a new ad campaign! John 4 Baptisms!
No!
These disciples were not hearing what John was saying, they were not understanding why John was pointing to Jesus.
The author of this Gospel, John A, spoke specifically to this two weeks ago when we talked about being born again.
We cannot see, hear, and know spiritually unless we have been regenerated by God.
This reminded me though, that I can plead and show and prove till I can’t take it anymore, and unless God does what only God can do, he will not hear and will not listen.
If these disciples of John wouldn’t listen to him, who was he going to listen to?
Listen to what Jesus said about John
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
How can this disciple miss this?
This exchange should cause us to test our hearts and test our minds.
How do we conquer division? How do we stay focus on our mission and purpose?
We must hold fast to God’s plan and not our own plan.
Are we truly putting God’s Word as our source of truth and adjusting our lives to fit it.
Or are we adjusting God’s Word to fit our beliefs and lifestyle?
Would we listen to John’s Words that point us to Jesus?
Are we listening to the words of Jesus?
Now before I get too far down this road I want to make sure the point is not missed.
John the Baptist brought forth truth over and over, and the truth was not heard
Instead of listening to the truth, the disciples had their own agenda and desires
The coming of Jesus derailed their plans.
Do you see how insane that sounds? Jesus messed up their plans about following God!
Yet Jesus also exposed their heart for their true intensions.
John helps them by giving a very true and very profound statement.
John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
In a sweeping and profound case for the providence of God, John says not one thing can a person receive even one thing unless it is from God.
Not only do we see the greatness of God but we see the utter destruction of what would be jealousy.
Let’s Jump back to the second reason we could miss out on our purpose.
#2 Jealousy
How do we fight jealousy? Remembering that everything is from God.
If you have an issue with what one person has, then you need to take that up with God!
If you covet what another church or ministry is doing then you need to take that up with God.
If you find that someone has found success over and that doesn’t sit well, then take that up with God.
Here is what is often missed and why we become, so jealous, so often.
We think that God is working our plan together for our good, and when our plan doesn’t happen we don’t understand.
Either God isn’t who He says He is, or maybe God doesn’t even exist!
But listen to me, this is very important.
God doesn’t exist to bring forth our plan, didn’t create us to bring forth our plan, and didn’t rescue us to bring forth our plan.
God is bringing forth His plan for our good, and His glory.
This is God’s World, God’s way, God’s plan, God’s purpose.
When we get away from our focus and our desire and our plans, and exchange them for God’s, that is when we will experience the abundant life!
But then how do we explain when it seems like good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to Christians?
First, God’s ways are a mystery to us. He does not reveal everything to us.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
Secondly, God doesn’t waste anything and uses everything to bring about His plan and purpose.
Let me share with you one way that God has revealed Himself.
God sometimes allow people to be very successful only to discover that those things do not ultimately satisfy.
Illustration: I just finished reading Rob Paulen’s book called Voice Lessons. It is autobiographical in nature. He is the voice of some of the most beloved cartoon characters. Pinky, Donetello and Rapheal, Yakko of Anamaniacs.
There was a time when he no longer got calls to work and throat cancer.
There was a time when work dried up for him and he found how much of his identity was wrapped up in what he did.
Then to have throat cancer and could die or never voice act again was like the nail in the coffin.
You
God uses different scenarios for different people to help them look away from themselves and look to God.
What scenarios have happened in your life that caused you to stop and realize that there is more to life than just yourself?
The point John is making is that everything that happens, good or bad, is from God.
So jumping back to this scene John the Baptist is showing what is happening is all according to God and His plan.
#2 Jealousy
Therefore do not be jealous, do not be mad, do not covet, but rejoice.
John has been pointing everyone to Jesus and now people are coming to Jesus.
God, through John and through Jesus is accomplishing His plan.
Now, John is going to give a parable before parables were cool. Let’s check it out together
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.
This brings us back to the wedding illustration I began with and what John now points us to.
John shares about a bride, a groom, and what we would look at today as the best man.
The role of the best man in weddings was to bring the bride to the location of the wedding ceremony
The location of the celebration.
When the groom arrives, he will take over and the Best Man has done his job.
John has been pointing to Jesus this entire time.
He has been preparing the bride to meet him.
John hears the grooms voice, sees the groom, rejoices in him and now John has great joy.
Why? Because his calling is now complete, he has accomplished his purpose and has successfully handed Jesus the Bride.
Who is the bride?
Well, all through the New Testament we find the bride to be God’s children, those given to Jesus.
Everyone born again believer. Who gathers as the church locally and globally is the bride of Christ.
John displays the attitude that we should have and discovers the joy that comes with accomplishing this goal.
John leaves us with these 7 words.
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
What an incredible verse.
If the greatest man to ever be born from a woman outside of Jesus says this.
Then this must be our goal as well.
Everything in us that has been made prominence over Jesus must decrease.
Everything in us that points to Jesus must increase.
One of the hardest transitions I have had to make in my life is understanding this concept right here.
I’ve spent 20 years of my life as a DJ making everything about me.
That was my job, the larger than life I was, the better DJ I became and the more people wanted me.
I’ve spent my life pointing to me and it got me all the way to the stage of Cinderella’s Castle, DJ’ing NYE for 6 years in a row in from of 25,000 people in front of me and some 80,000 people park wide.
NYE at Disney would be a two night event, the 30th and 31st. If I add the people up who would have seen me or heard me through the park in just those 12 days, it would be 1 million people.
Now put me behind God’s Word, stand me beside John the Baptist or better yet, Jesus.
I am nothing. There is nothing of lasting value.
Here is where I love the words of sixteenth century reformer Martin Luther.
“God created the world out of nothing. When I realize that I am nothing, perhaps God can create something out of me too!”
There are no treasures stored in heaven for me because of my DJ accomplishments.
But I found something all-together wonderful.
I found the joy that John had. I found my joy made complete.
Now I get to do something more impactful than making the party people dance.
I now have the incredible joy of pointing people to my Lord and Savior.
When I stopped pointing to myself and I started pointing to God, so much changed in my life.
Here is what I must, I must ask you to consider.
What is it that you point to? If someone were to look at your life, what would they see.
Are you constantly pointing to yourself?
Are you pointing to your job, are you constantly pointing to your hobby?
Are you pointing to your spouse or your kids?
Listen to me, it isn’t that you can’t enjoy a hobby, or a side business, or a talent and gifting, or you name it.
But if that is increasing and you pointing to Jesus is decreasing then this message is to remind you to check yourself, to test yourself, to find your true self.
God created you for His glory, for His purpose, and you’ll find that living in that space, will be for your good and will live far more abundantly than any other way.
Please, test yourself, test everything about yourself, and when you are done. May you too be able to say:
He must increase, and I must decrease.
Let’s pray.