Point and Follow

If you have your bibles please open up to John chapter 3. John chapter 3. I have titled this message this morning Point and Follow.

My daughter loves to point at things and tell me or her mom or others what that Item is. Especially items she cares deeply about. Currently she likes to show me many things, but one of her favorite things is her tiny Elsa little person, and what she does it she points and grabs it and say Elsa over and over again pointing over and over again. And after she grabs her toys she often wants and then want me to follow her to play. She loves to Point and me to follow.

John the Baptist in similar way points others to Jesus over and over again, because of his love for him. But instead of asking them to follow him like my daughter. He asks them to follow Christ. Continually making his ministry about Christ.

My daughters joy who is 2 joy is in things, but John the baptist joy is in Christ. One points to things that matter to her on this earth, one points to someone who matters in this life and the life to come.

And as we dive into the Word of God today. The idea of pointing and following Jesus must rest on our own hearts everyday, and John the Baptist gives us this model for that very thing. Let us get into the Word today.

The word of God today says this. John 3:22-36

John 3:22–36 ESV

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison). 25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 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.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 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. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” 31 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. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 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.

If you are taking notes this morning, or following along in your bulletin the main point I want you to get this morning is this. A Christian’s ministry should focus on pointing others to follow Jesus.

The setting in this text is in the Judean countryside. And what they were doing in the countryside was baptizing. Both John’s group and Jesus group. Its believed that the area was full of springs, and plenty of water. And people where coming to be baptized by John and by Jesus disciples. We know Jesus did not baptize because in John 4:2 it says.

John 4:2 ESV

2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),

And through these baptisms a dispute or a discussion arises, over purification, but as we see in the text its not the real issue. Ultimately this dispute was over competition. The disciples of John were getting a little jealous of the amount of people that were coming to Christ.

Which leads me to my first point and its this..

A Christians ministry finds ways to point people to Jesus.

John the baptist disciples told John what was going on. . They said, Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness look he is baptizing and all are going to him.

Notice a few things about this statement... They call him Rabbi, we see this term often used for Jesus but in this text the disciples of John are calling him Rabbi, which means teacher.

John the baptist had been there teacher. Been the one teaching them about the ways of the Lord. For many of the disciples, John could have been there only Spiritual teacher in their lifetime. They depended so much on him for their own spiritual health. John was there leader.

The disciples of John were what it seems like puffing up John a little bit as well. They said this is the one whom you bore witness to. Look he is doing what you are doing. Clearly acting like John was the superior one.

They wanted some sort of answer out of John, but rather than John giving them an answer they wanted to hear. He told them something profound. Something they were not expecting. A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven.

And as we know Jesus is from heaven. John is really telling his disciples that the work that Jesus was doing over there is a work of God. Don’t be jealous don’t fight about it, rejoice in it. Rejoice that people are going to Jesus.

John’s witness was always to point people to Jesus not himself so if people where coming to Christ and not him he was glad, because all his ministry was, was pointing people to Jesus.

As much as a personally love being Baptist, my main identification is a follower of Christ. Not just a member of Agape, not just Pastor of Agape. A follower of Christ. That is the most important thing. And my goal as a minister of God’s word is primarily to tell others about Jesus. Yes I want this church full of people who believe the doctrine I believe, but most importantly I want this church full of people who follow Jesus. And like John that is my goal.

Contrary to what you may believe we are not in competition with other faithful Churches. In 1 Corinthians Paul addresses a group of people that seem to be having this issue. That seem to be trying to create a following for themselves.

It says in 1 Cor 1:10-13 “10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

John is making a similar point to these disciples that I came to just to proclaim about Jesus not myself. I am not here to gain followers of myself. I am pointing you to him and not me. These disciples were his disciples, but his Goal was from them to be disciples of Christ.

John was not called to point people to himself but point people to Jesus and our goal is the same.

While at the same time trusting that God and God alone can change someone’s heart. We are not in the business of changing hearts of God can truly do that, but we are in the business of pointing people to Jesus.

You see John in this text says that a person cannot even receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven.

There is an inability of man to respond to God unless, unless he is changed by God. John was a humble man he realized what we at Agape must realize that God is the one who does the work. All we can do is be faithful what he called us to do. And the good news of John and the good news for us is that God will do his work.

Yet, some were still coming to John the Baptist as we know from the text, but people were making there way to Christ. John not that he needed to explain himself further to his disciples does by saying.

You yourselves bear me witness, that I said I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.

John tells his disciples that I am not Jesus, thats Jesus people should be going to him not me. I only point to him, I am not he. He only wants them to know Jesus. The one who is nearby.

I love the quote by Martin Luther where he says, “God created the world out of nothing. When I realize that I am nothing, perhaps God can create something out of me too!” And boy did he.

John the Baptist was a great man of God not because of his skill set, but because he pointed people to Jesus. Over and over again you see John the Baptist pointing people to Jesus. And you know what Jesus thought of him? Listen to Matthew 11:11

Matthew 11:11 ESV

11 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.

Our greatness comes from being faithful for God’s plan on our lives.

I have said this before, but its something I truly believe. Only you can live the life God has called you too. Only you can live the life God has called you too.

And John the Baptist lived the life he was called to. Are you living the life he has called you to pointing others to Jesus?

The disciples of John now have enough information to know that what is going on is good and right. Well they do, but John continues to find ways to point them to Jesus.

He uses the illustration of a wedding to drive his point home. He says, The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoice greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is complete.

John goes further into what he has already mentioned. Christ is the bridegroom. His bride is the church, all those for whom Christ died for. John the baptist is not the Christ. He needs saving as well.

He should not be elevated to that role of the bridegroom. Now during that time its important to note that it was illegal for the friend of the bridegroom ( or known in our times as the the best man ) to marry the bride. But more importantly. Jesus is the only one worthy of this bride. Because he is the husband this bride needs. One who laid his life down for it.

John didn’t do that thing he only pointed to the one who did. Jesus is the only one worthy of such a thing.

John’s responsibility was to get everything ready so the bridegroom could marry the bride. And as we have learned so far his role was to be a forerunner for that very thing.

Our role is to do the same work in preparation of his return. Pointing to the fact that he has came and will come again.

And John the Baptist rejoiced at this role. He loved being able to point people to Jesus. The world is so about us, and how we can point to ourselves, but John the Baptist shows us that its not about me its about him.

In a world looking for someone to save it from all kinds of things, John offers the simple melody Christ. And the coming of Christ gave him complete joy.

If John’s disciples need further explanation of what he thought of what was going on he says some of the best words for someone to hear. He must increase, but I Must decrease. He must increase, but I must decrease.

John’s disciples thought Jesus and his disciples were getting in the way of the work of God, but this is not the case. And John showed them not only am I not Jesus, but I cant do anything apart from him, and better yet, I need more of him and less of myself. Our lives should always be pointing to Jesus.

In the case of Christianity less is more. Less of yourself and more of Christ. John knew this! so should we!

I found this illustration studying for this sermon this week and its so powerful listen to these words…

I spent one summer in the mountains of Wyoming. The camp I was at was on top of the mountain, a solid 25 minutes from the closest small town. When the sun went down, the moon and the stars began to light up the sky. There were no city lights for them to compete with no haze or smog just cool, clear mountain air. As the night deepened, the intensity of the stars and the moon grew. I was amazed at how bright they were. We would live out under the stars and enjoy the wonders of the night sky. But every morning the sun would come up, and the stars and the moon, as bright as they were, would start to fade. When the sun appeared, the stars were unnecessary. John the Baptist was a star, but when the Son came, the star faded. It's OK John declared in essence. Follow Jesus he is here now.

John the Baptist life pointed to Jesus, and as he faded away like the star more people looked to follow the Son. John used every opportunity to point back to him over and over again.

When people ask you what is different about yourself tell them what John the Baptist told his disciples, My life looks different now because there is more of Jesus and less of me. And use that opportunity to point people to Jesus.

A Christian’s ministry always finds ways to point people to Jesus. In a world that is always saying look at me, say look to Jesus.

A second thing I want you to get this morning but its going to have three sub points and its this.

A Christians ministry gives reasons to follow Jesus.

There is a ton of reasons that someone should follow Jesus but our text shows us three. And the first is this.

2a. We follow Jesus because where he is from.

As we have learned not only today, but through our study of John that Jesus origin is a heavenly one. We have seen in this book, that Jesus has eternally been God, and always been with the Father and the Holy Spirit, but in the incarnation he came down to dwell with us.

And being from Above he is above all, Being God he is worthy of worship.

And John makes the point that he who is from earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. And in turn should not be followed.

We learned last week that everything on the earth is condemned lost without hope without Christ, and also doesn’t have the ability to save itself. And in turn is not worthy of being followed. The earth has all these different value systems that are not from heaven. That dont give life.

However Jesus being preeminent. Meaning surpassing all others, he is worthy of worship. He alone is from above. He alone who comes from above can give eternal life.

Jesus Christ came from above and should be loved and followed.. Because of where he is from. Most importantly Jesus is God! And where he is from gives us reason to follow him.

A second reason to follow him is this.

2b. We follow Jesus because of his testimony

John the baptist has a wonderful testimony, one that we have studied in our study of the gospel of John. But his testimony does not compare to that of Christ’s.

The one who is from above, Jesus life and ministry speak to who he is. His testimony is powerful. Jesus Christ is the only person who can tell us about God, one because he is God, and because he was with God for all of eternity.

Who else would know about the mystery's of God, except for Christ himself. He has seen the glories of heaven, knows what it is like, knows everything there is to know about God, and knows how one can be saved, and have eternal life. And he came to earth coming with good news that the creator of all things was coming to save his people, yet no one believed him. No one recieved that testimony.

Now we know that some would believe because God opened there heart. And those who recieved the testimony of Christ believed who Christ was and what he has done. And to those who believe. God gives them a special gift.

The gift of eternal life, and he sets a seal on the believers heart. Its like when someone writes a letter and you see on the back of an envelope this seal so it can not be opened. But the difference between this seal is that No-one can take away the seal of God. If you missed last weeks message I touched on that idea in a bit more detail.

Another Part of his testimony was Christ came to earth sent from the Father to speak the word of God. When Jesus talked people were amazed. Luke 4:32 says this…

Luke 4:32 ESV

32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.

The words that he taught were truly incredible words of God. They were heaven sent and showed others that his testimony was worth following. Jesus words are so powerful that Peter himself says that he has the words of eternal life.

Christ was not some ordinary prophet he is the Son of God full of the Spirit. Other prophets at times possessed the Holy Spirit and did mighty works of God, and said many mighty things, but never before had the Spirit rested on someone during their whole ministry. Like what was done with Christ.

Remember filling of the Holy Spirit happened earlier in the book of John1 verse 32 and 33 John 1:32

John 1:32 ESV

32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.

John 1:33 ESV

33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

And this was a promise over 600 years before the Lord came in. Isa 11:2 says…

Isaiah 11:2 ESV

2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Jesus Christ was so full of the Spirit that his own testimony showed it, and this among many things gives Jesus Christ a testimony worth following.

2c. We follow Jesus because of his authority.

Jesus has authority. Multiple scriptures speak to this reality. Let me read a few. Luke 10:22

Luke 10:22 ESV

22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Colossians 1:17 ESV

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

His authority is not just one of a police officer, or governor, or even a president. Christ himself literally has the whole world in his hands. He has that kind of authority.

And your life is literally in his hands. Your destiny rests in him alone. You either believe or you dont. And he alone can dictate whether or not you have life and death.

If you believe you have life, and if you dont you are condemned. The text alludes to this idea that genuine faith works, It actively seeks to obey God because of what he has done and for who he is. As our authority he demands to be followed. There is no one Like Jesus.

Those are just three quick reasons to follow Jesus, and if you read your bible you will find hundreds more. Jesus Christ fully God ame Fully man is worthy of being followed!

All this to be said if you believe you have eternal life, if not wrath. Where are you today?

There are some things you must think about when you listen to this message or read this text.

It does not matter who you or what your status is, your job is to point others to follow Jesus. John the Baptist found as many ways as he could to point people to follow Jesus. How can you leverage where God has placed you to do the same. Each and every one of us have a place of ministry, be active in pointing people to Christ.

Remember one of the greatest things you can do is to tell people about Jesus.

If your ministry in your life is not focused on pointing people to Jesus and following him it is worthless. But Whats worse than that is not knowing him.

John spent all of his ministry pointing people to Jesus. Right now I am telling you if you don’t know him I am pointing to him the one who can save. The one who should follow. The one who has a heavenly origin. The one who’s testimony is powerful. Who know’s the mystery’s of God. The one who gives eternal life, the one who is the Word. The one who is full of the Spirit. The one who lived the perfect life, died on the cross, and rose on the third day. Who had the perfect testimony. Follow the one who has authority. Authority over all creation and authority to grant eternal life.

Believer who can you point to follow him this week? We all know people who don’t know Christ. Point them to him.

Every week we have a time of response, and during our time of response we ofter you a time to respond to the Lord. During this time you might want to place your faith in Christ, maybe you have never be baptized and you want to follow the Lord in believers baptism, If you are interested in joining what God is doing at Agape I would love to talk to you more about what we are about, and what we want to do. Maybe you just need prayer, come and pray up front or in your chair, or where you are at.

Respond however the Lord leads you today..

Let us pray.