He Must Increase, I Must Decrease

John 3:22-36

(vv. 22-26) The jealousy of John’s disciples

Timeline- before John was thrown into prison

This seems too obvious to need to mention

He wants the reader to understand that this occurs before the recordings of the other four gospel account begin recording the ministry of Jesus

An argument arose with a Jew (verse 25)

The argument was about Jewish purification

This seems to trigger a realization that many people are going to Jesus instead of John

They complain to John that people are going to Jesus

(vv. 27-30) John’s humble joy

No one can receive anything except what is given to him from God

He recognized the sovereignty of God over his life and was deeply content with what he had been given

He told them that he was not the Messiah

John gives a parable to explain what is happening

They would have understood from the OT that the bride is the people of God

He is the ancient equivalent to a best man today in the parable

Jesus is the groom

John rejoices in Jesus becoming greater

He is filled with joy because this is what he was made to do and it is now complete

He is filled with joy because he MUST become greater and he must become less

There is nothing in life more satisfying than glorifying God

It’s what He made us for

(vv. 31-36) Why Jesus must become greater

He is the authoritative Son of God

John is only a man, but Jesus is God

All that Jesus says is true

All who believe in Him believe that all He says is true because God is true and Jesus is God

God gives His Spirit to Jesus without measure

This is a fulfillment of prophecy in Isaiah

Isaiah 42:1- Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

This is a statement connected to verse 35

He has power and authority over all things

Particularly, He has authority to accomplish the loving purpose for which the Father has sent Him into the world

All who believe in Him have life

There is no one greater

For all eternity He will be worshipped as the great Lamb of God

Revelation 5:11-13- Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

He must become greater among us and we must become less

We think far too much of ourselves and far too little of Him

The authoritative Word of God, climaxing in Jesus Himself, has been given to us, yet we would rather spend our time in front of the tv than meditating on His Word

We have access to the sovereign God of the universe through prayer, but somehow we validate how little time we pray because of our business, meanwhile we have little problem spending extended conversations with our friends about sports or politics

We have a God who is able to do far more than we can think or imagine, and yet we so often try to do things in our own power

We have a Savior who died to saved us unto Himself and give us a new identity as children of God, and yet we so listen to the lie that we must somehow find self-worth and self-esteem as we look in the mirror

We have been given the people of God to receive the week by week grace of God with and through, but so often other things we enjoy more pull us away and cause us to neglect the church

We have been given the greatest hope in the world- the gospel of Jesus, and yet we care too much about what other people might think about us to tell them the truth of the gospel

He must become greater and we must become less

We will not live the lives that He has created us for until this begins to happen in us

We will not display the glory of Christ to the lost until this begins to happen

We will not make Him greater in our lives unless He gives grace to work it in our hearts

My prayer for you and I this week is that the Holy Spirit will move us to repentance of where we have made ourselves greater and Christ less, and will give us power and grace to make Him everything to us. May He become greater in your life and may you become less.