He Must Increase

Introduction

John 3:22–25 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.

Divine Transition

After Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus he and his disciples started to minister in the Judean country side.

It says here that Jesus was, but later on in 4:2 we are told that Jesus isn’t the one baptizing but his disciples are. So there’s just some further clarification.

At the same time John is baptizing some on the other side of the river.

And notice that when John is baptizing it says that there is plenty of water…why does it say that?

Well the word Baptize means to submerge or immerse someone or something in water.

This word is the same word used when a ship sinks.

Meaning that baptism that is done by both Jesus’ Disciples and John was baptism that dunked people under water.

And they needed plenty of water for that purpose.

It had to be deep enough for someone to go under the water.

So this wasn’t a sprinkling or pouring of some water over someone’s head, it was dunking them into the water.

And John the Gospel author wants us to know something else.

John the Baptizer had not been thrown into prison yet.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all have Jesus’ Ministry starting after John is thrown in prison.

But John the gospel author has a little more special insight b/c he was there.

Jesus’ ministry actually overlapped with John’s Ministry.

John the Author is using John the Baptist again to set the stage for Jesus.

This is the Last time in this gospel that John is going to be an active part of Jesus’ ministry.

John will be mentioned a few times later in the Gospel but this is his last active role in the gospel.

And he never looses focus of his calling.

Remember what he said in John 1:23 “23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord—just as Isaiah the prophet said.””

John the gospel’s author is using John the Baptist to show the transition to Jesus’ ministry.

John the Baptist was the last of the OT Prophets preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry and this is the final transition point in John’s Gospel.

John the Baptist was a witness to the reality that God’s Savior had arrived.

That God’s savior was here to die for the sin of the world.

That God’s savior was the fulfilment of what was promised in the OT.

With Jesus the Old had gone and the New had come.

So Far in John’s Gospel we have seen this type of transition in succession.

In 2:1-11, Jesus turns the jars of purification into the New Wine of the New Covenant.

In 2:12-25, Jesus cleanses the temple and proves himself to be the greater temple.

In 3:1-21, Jesus fulfills the prophecy of the fulfillment of the water and the spirit regeneration promised in Ezekiel as well as the one lifted up for salvation as in the serpent in the desert.

And Jesus here is showing us that the ritual purification in the OT that is sought after by the Jewish people only washes the outside, but doesn’t cleanse the filth of our soul.

There is a new cleansing that needs to happen and that cleansing is being washed by the blood of the lamb.

Not all were appreciative or ready for this transition including some of John’s followers.

John 3:26–30 CSB

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.”

Joyful Submission

Jealousy and envy feel the hearts and minds of John’s Disciples.

“Everyone is going to him.”

This is an exaggeration probably due to some resentment toward Jesus.

They are upset that Jesus is getting new followers.

They are upset that people are leaving John to follow Jesus.

They are upset that their position of prestige and power has dwindled.

They covet the ministry of Jesus.

They want to be on par with Jesus and his disciples

The great transition has started and they don’t want to be a part of it, rather they want to complain about it.

Now let’s not forget that they gave up everything to follow John.

They are devoted to John.

They have ministered with John and they think that the work that John has done should be rewarded.

They also think that the work they have done should be rewarded.

Here’s the thing, often the disciples of teachers are more zealous than the teachers themselves.

They don’t want to see their teacher disparaged.

They don’t want to see the one they committed their life to in second place.

And I think that part of the reason why is because they feel like that reflects poorly on them.

That the students chose the wrong teacher.

Not only that but they are envious of Jesus and the renown that he is receiving.

Envy is not a healthy place for our hearts to go.

Envy is the opposite of love.

Envy desires to see others fail.

Envy breeds contempt.

Envy festers hatred.

Envy poisons the heart.

Envy leads us to covetousness.

Covetousness is discontentment with were God has called you.

Covetousness is saying that what God has given and where he has brought us isn’t good enough.

That we deserve better than what God has given us.

Envy and covetousness elevate us to God’s status.

Envy and covetousness are arrogant, self-serving, and put us at enmity with God.

They distort the picture of God as the good father who gives good gifts to his children.

Why do we succumb to envy and covetousness if they are so bad for our hearts and souls?

Well, because many if not most of us have a very limited view of our life.

This is do to the fact that in our culture and in our hearts our default position is to see ourselves as the hero and center in our story.

We see ourselves as the center of the universe.

Think about it for a second.

How often do we get mad, frustrated, or upset b/c someone has ruined my day?

We don’t think about the fact that the clerk behind the checkout is struggling to pay her electric bill, and the fear that she can’t keep her home warm for her children is making her seem unfriendly today.

Or maybe that car that just cut you off and is speeding down the highway has a mother about to give birth in the back seat.

It’s easy for us to assign malicious or evil intent to a stranger, but we would hate for someone to do that to us.

Why? Because we expect that everyone know why my life is horrible, why I am stressed, or what problems I am facing.

And if we look at it within the church world we are just as guilty.

I know that I can be at times.

Why is that church growing and ours isn’t?

Why does that ministry seem to flourish when others are flopping around like a fish out of water?

Why can’t I lead, serve, preach, or teach like that guy?

And when we start looking at those questions we start losing focus on who we are called to be and what we are called to do.

John’s disciples lost focus on what John’s ministry was.

Rather than staying in their lane and knowing their place they wanted to usurp Jesus’ ministry and make a name for themselves.

They failed to realize that any part they had to play in God’s kingdom was a blessing.

But they wanted to build of kingdom of their own.

They wanted to be celebrated.

They wanted to be exalted.

And we’re no different.

Especially here in our culture and context celebrities are idols.

But here’s what happens often when celebrities are celebrated they become full of themselves.

My heart breaks for the celebrity culture that has infiltrated the church.

Many of the “celebrity pastors” have fallen prey to sin.

Whether it be the sin of arrogance and pride.

The sin of greed.

Or most often the sin of sexual immorality.

And when these pastors fail b/c of their sin, because they got, as my momma would say “too big for their britches,” people are hurt.

People fall away from the church.

People see Christians as those not caring for the poor and needy but rather seeking power, prestige, and influence.

As a Creation of God, we are not meant to be celebrated.

We are not designed to be exalted.

We are not meant to receive an abundance of praise.

We are not created to be made much of.

And yes there are some amazing humans that have done some amazing things, but we have to remember that they didn’t do it on their own, only by the grace of God was anything accomplished.

We are not made to be worshipped.

We are created to Worship the creator not the creation.

We are made to glorify God.

So when we are worshipped or desire to be worshipped then we have shifted away from God’s design on our life.

So that when we don’t receive that worship, adoration, or praise then we are upset b/c we aren’t receiving what we believe is due us.

And then we get angry with those who do get the attention.

As Followers of Jesus, we aren’t here to build our own kingdom, we are here to build God’s kingdom.

God has called us to serve his purposes not our own selfish purposes.

And this is so easy to loose sight of.

It’s so easy to want people to praise me.

Adore me.

Exalt me.

Especially when we are in positions of power and influence.

So those of us who have a platform need to be extra guarded, extra diligent, and extra careful that we don’t seek the praise of men.

Whether you are a stay at home mom, a CEO, an Educator, a pastor, or in any position where someone is looking to you for guidance you need to be on guard against the desire to be praised.

That’s what is happening here with John’s disciples.

They were used to crowds coming to them.

They were used to people flocking to hear their teacher.

They were used to being sought out for guidance.

And when that influence and authority was threatened they started to panic.

But John’s disciples must not have truly understood John’s ministry.

He no doubt had told them and they had witnessed that John’s purpose and calling was to pave the way for Jesus.

That he was a beacon for Jesus.

that he was a signpost pointing to Jesus.

They had to be there when Jesus was baptized.

They had to have been there when John said John 1:29-30 “29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”

It seems as if they were more concerned with their ministry than they were with God’s Ministry.

They were more concerned with what they were doing than with what God was doing.

They wanted to make a name for themselves.

They wanted to be praised.

They wanted people to look to them for answers rather than pointing people to the Answer.

But John gently rebukes them.

John 3:27-30 “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.””

He wants to remind them of his calling.

That he isn’t the messiah, but rather one sent ahead of him.

John didn’t forget his mission.

John didn’t get sidetracked with popularity or power.

He knew who he was and he was happy to fill that role.

Are you happy to fill the role that God has called you to or do you hope for something more?

The fact that God has invited us to join him on his mission should be enough for us.

But often times, if we are honest, we are more like John’s followers rather than like John himself.

Perspective and humility are traits that we must have if we are to serve the Lord well.

Notice that we are called to serve God, not to be served by others.

John tells this little parable to help his followers see that what they are called to, what he had been called to is more than enough.

He uses the imagery of a wedding.

That the groom has come to take his bride.

And John is not the groom, he is the groom’s friend, or the best man.

His calling is to celebrate and make much of the groom.

He’s Jesus’ hype man.

And as the bride draws near to the groom, the best man rejoices.

His joy is made complete.

What’s with all this imagery?

What’s with this story about a bride and a groom?

Well in the OT Israel, God’s People, are often referred to as a bride.

Not always in the most positive of lights, but nevertheless they are God’s bride.

like in Is 62:4-5 “4 You will no longer be called Deserted, and your land will not be called Desolate; instead, you will be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land will be married. 5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a groom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.”

or Jer 2:2 “2 “Go and announce directly to Jerusalem that this is what the Lord says: I remember the loyalty of your youth, your love as a bride— how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.”

And in the book of Hosea, Israel is the wayward bride that runs back to prostitution and adultery, But God is one who mercilessly pursues the one who has abandoned him.

Israel is the bride that needs to be rescued by God.

And now God has come to rescue his bride.

So John can rejoice that he sees God’s promises coming to fulfilment.

John rejoices because Jesus is coming to rescue his bride.

And he got to play a part in seeing this reconciliation.

He got to play a part in paving the way.

God didn’t have to use John.

But God did, so John is joyful.

Often times we think that God needs us to accomplish what he wants to accomplish.

But listen to me, God doesn’t need you.

He doesn’t need you, yet he chooses to invite you do join in what he is doing.

That should be enough to rejoice in.

Jesus should be the focus and point of all ministry.

Ministry and our lives should always point to Jesus.

After all he is the reason that we are called sons and daughters of God.

He is the reason that we have been made alive.

He is the reason we have been called from darkness into the light.

In all we say, in all we think, and in all we do, we should be making much of Jesus.

And when we make much of Jesus our joy will be made complete.

But our joy is threatened when we take our eyes off of Jesus and focus on ourselves.

So if you want to have a joy-filled life keep your eyes on Jesus.

Remember that you aren’t the center of the universe.

Quit trying to earn other peoples adoration and worship and instead point the to Jesus.

This is simply modeled with how John ends his rebuke of his followers.

John 3.30 “30 He must increase, but I must decrease.””

Notice he didn’t say He needs to increase and I need to decrease.

He said that he must and I must.

When we become followers of Jesus it is imperative that we make much of Jesus.

John is in some way passing the torch.

The old has passed away and the new has come.

Things are changing and if we want joy we MUST make Jesus supreme in our lives.

It isn’t a suggestion. It’s a command.

He must become greater and I must become less.

That is God’s will for all those who are in Jesus.

Why is that?

Well, John the author tells us in the next few verses.

John 3:31–36 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. 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.

Supremacy of Jesus

Jesus is above all things.

How does John parse out that Jesus is above all things?

What we have to understand about Jesus is that he has first hand knowledge and experience about what God is doing throughout history.

And How does Jesus know this?

Well first he tells us that he is different b/c he came from Heaven.

He came from the presence of God to dwell with his creation.

Then John tells us that Jesus testifies to what he has seen and heard.

So what has Jesus seen and heard.

He has heard and see about things concerning the world.

He has see and heard the plan of God.

He has witnessed all of history leading up to his coming.

He speaks about the mission of the Father.

The problem is that no one accepts his testimony.

Obviously, that is use of hyperbole b/c there are some who accept it enough to follow him, but this should remind us of what is stated in John 1:10-11 “10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.”

Jesus is the one with all the answers and many reject his message.

But the ones that accept the Testimony of Jesus affirm that God is true.

That God is not a liar.

They recognize that God speaks through the Jesus and know that he is true.

God Speaks through Jesus. Jesus speaks the words of God.

They work in Tandem.

They are on the same page.

There is unity.

Jesus says and does only the things that are inline with God the Father.

So if you don’t believe in Jesus.

If you don’t trust his words the opposite is also true.

You are calling God a liar.

If accepting the testimony of Jeuss

When Jesus came he was given the Spirit of God without measure.

That’s a curious phrase.

What this means is that when God would send the HS to help people in the OT it was only temporary and they wouldn’t receive the fullness of the HS.

Here’s what that means.

God gave according to the prophets and figures in the OT according to the measure they needed to accomplish their task.

But with Jesus he gives the Spirit without measure.

The Spirit came and remained on Jesus.

Fulfilling Isaiah 11:2 “2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”

We also see that the sending of Jesus was fueled by love.

jn 3:35 “35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands.”

For many opponents of Xianity they see Jesus’ death as some sort of Divine Child abuse.

Where a vengeful and angry father has to kill his son.

But the reality is that God the Father loves Jesus the Son.

And Jesus doesn’t come to die unwillingly.

Remember he is from heaven, he knew the plan, he saw what was going to happen and willingly laid down his life.

We talked about this last week that God is love and all that he does is fueled by his love for his creation.

So out of love he sent Jesus to die.

Out of love he saves those who hate him.

Out of love he does all these things so that people will be made his Sons and Daughters.

And the Father shows his love for Jesus by giving him all things.

Jesus has all authority.

He has all power.

He has all majesty.

He has the whole world and its destiny in his hands.

We read it earlier in Romans 11:36 “36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.”

When Jesus departs he tells his disciples that “All Authority has been given to him in heaven and on earth.

Jesus is not a passive bystander by which the father forces his will upon him.

No, Jesus is a willing participant that holds the authority, power, majesty, and glory of God.

John 3:36 “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.”

So there are two choices when we are confronted with the reality of who Jesus is.

You can accept or you can reject.

And if you have made no choice, you made a choice.

Accepting Jesus’ testimony brings you eternal life.

Rejecting his testimony brings death.

For those who don’t believe the wrath of God remains on you.

The hand of condemnation rests on you, but there is an opportunity to have that removed.

The wrath of God can be removed through belief and trust in Jesus.

I have heard too often people joke about the fact that they are going to hell.

Things like, “I have a front seat and I’ll save you one.”

Or “I’ll have a vip room there.”

But the reality is Hell is going to be horrible.

Now I am not here to scare you out of Hell.

I want you to know that What God has for you is better than the life you have now.

That God wants a relationship with you.

that you can have conversations with the creator of the universe.

As terrible as Hell is, knowing Jesus is infinitely better.

If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus he is calling out to you this day to come and experience the life that he created you to live.

A life of loving and serving him.

A life of grace and mercy.

A life of gratitude and acceptance.

He is calling out to you, will you answer him.