ICS Chapel Christ Honouring

John 3:22-36 “After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison. Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.’”

Christ honouring. In this passage, John shows us how the Holy Spirit works in us to honour Christ.

This is difficult because we are much more adept, much more used, much more conditioned, by our sinful natures to honour ourselves above all others. Let’s see how the Spirit led John.

In this passage, we see two groups: #1 is Jesus and His disciples are baptising.

#2 John and his disciples are baptising.

Both groups are attracting people.

What do people naturally do, when there are two people, or two groups doing the same thing?

What if I were to ask for two student volunteers to come here and do push ups? What would happen, do you think? It would quickly turn into a competition, wouldn’t it? Soon, we’d all choose one to promote over the other.

That’s what was happening here. People were comparing the two groups. Jesus and His disciples seemed to be getting larger crowds. John, who was first, who started the ministry of baptism was being usurped by Jesus. And there were people loyal to John, they were like, “Hey John, that Jesus guy you talked about before, everyone is going to Him! He’s stealing your thunder. You need to do something about it!”

That seems logical, doesn’t it? But no. John set them straight right away. In the kingdom of Heaven, there is no competition. John’s ministry and Jesus’ ministry are complementary, John was sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus. And now that Jesus was here, his time was coming to an end.

Listen to what John said to them, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” John puts it rather plainly, doesn’t he? John was just a guy, just a normal human being, like you and me. But Jesus is different. Jesus is from heaven, He’s fully human and fully divine.

John had told them earlier, and he repeated it again, “I am not the Christ.” Think about that. Who among us would have the humility to do the same? Make no mistake, John had gained a large following. There were many who were pushing him to do more, to grow his ministry more, to set up in a more accessible location, to branch out, to plant more baptism centres. By the Holy Spirit who lived in John since before his birth, John stayed focussed on his task: pointing to Jesus.

John stated that he was sent before the Christ. He’s the best man to the bride groom. He went ahead of the bridegroom to prepare the way for the wedding. He secured the venue. He called all the guests. He organised the food and drink. He was super busy, getting everything ready, but now that the bridegroom was there, all the final details were done by him.

Since John isn’t the Christ, isn’t the bridegroom, he willingly, joyously, faded into the background. John’s joy, delight, and contentment was found in Jesus, the bridegroom. His whole focus was on Him.

Listen again to verse 30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John was willing to give up all his status, all his following, all his influencer status for Jesus. He is all about Jesus. John willingly stepped back into the shadows so that Jesus could take centre stage. For Jesus is He who comes from above. Jesus is above all. Jesus speaks the words of God, full of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

John believed in Jesus. He knew He is the Son of God. He willingly gave up his power, his position, his own life for Jesus.

Look back at verse 24, “For John had not yet been thrown into prison.” Because John pointed to Jesus, because he refused to cater to the people, to those in power, because he called them out for their sin, John was thrown into prison, and eventually was murdered by Herod.

Consider that for a moment. Consider the cost of following Jesus. If you had told me two years ago that pastors in Canada would be fined and put into prison, I wouldn’t have believed it. But their faith in Christ compelled them, and they were willing to go to prison.

Following Jesus is costly. We are, according to our sinful natures, self-promoters. We want to be first, we want to be recognised, we want to be honoured.

John knew that his whole ministry was to be Christ honouring. John knew that his whole life was to be Christ honouring, no matter what it cost. He willingly took up his cross and followed Jesus.

John believed in the Son and has everlasting life.

“But whoever does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Dear students, the choice is before you. What is the Holy Spirit leading you to do? Will you believe in the Son? Will you trust in Him, that He’s saved you from your sin? Will you decrease, so that He may increase? Will you? If you do not believe in Jesus, the wrath of God will abide on you eternally.

I encourage you, no matter what happens in your life, no matter where the Holy Spirit leads you, live a Christ honoring life. Amen.

Father in heaven, by Your Holy Spirit, may we have the mind of Christ Jesus, the mind seen in John. John willingly gave up fame and influence in order to be Christ honouring. Help us do the same, each and every day. Help us to love You and honour you in everything. Amen.