John 3:22-36
Jesus is Greater!
In our last sermon from John 3 we concluded the nighttime visit of the Pharisee Nicodemus with Jesus.
Nicodemus came seeking to know more about Jesus – He left learning more about the requirements to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus told Nicodemus he must be “born again” – that is spiritually re-born, born from above.
When they die, all those who are separated from God’s blessing – dead in their sins – will face righteous judgment before the God and Savior they denied in life.
Who is it that must be born again? All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Therefore - Since we were all already dead in our sins – we must all be born again - if we would enter the kingdom of God rather than bear His wrath and judgment to the Lake of Fire.
But how? How can we be born again?
Jesus spoke to Nicodemus one of the most amazing truths God has ever revealed to mankind-
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a) Jesus died on the cross.
The Word of God, who was God, who became flesh – allowed himself to be offered on the alter of the cross as a sacrifice –
As a payment to God the Father to satisfy the debit of sin – a propitiation – that covers the debt for all those who receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior by God’s grace, through faith.
A payment sufficient for all sin – available to all people – but only applied to those who receive it by faith.
A faith that is evidenced by repentance – turning away and loathing our prior sins –
And marked by a commitment to fellowship and faithfulness to follow Jesus as our Lord.
Therefore – “The gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23b
In today’s passage the scene shifts from the nighttime academic setting with Nicodemus to follow Jesus and His disciples who have departed Jerusalem, dropped into the Jordan River Valley and are making their way north, back to the region of Galilee.
As they go, Jesus continues to teach about the Kingdom of God and people continue to come, hear His teaching, believe, and be Baptized as evidence of their new life as a follower of Jesus.
As the ministry of Jesus increased – all others must rightly step aside – even better – sit beneath – the teaching of the Master.
Some would understand this. Some would struggle with this. Some would refuse to do so.
But friends, I hope today you see that Jesus is Greater, He alone is Worthy!
Submitting to Jesus requires us to turn down the volume and dim the brightness of our own pride.
Only then will we be able to hear His teaching and see Him for who He is.
The Big Idea: True spiritual maturity is not about building us up to be the star of our own lives but finding our ultimate joy in willingly stepping into the background so Christ Jesus can take center stage in our lives and our ministries.
We are at our best – when we see Jesus as being far greater than us!
1. The Trap of Comparative Ministry (v. 22–26)
22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized— 24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison.25 Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.26 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.”
Looking at where Jesus spent time – you will see that He occasionally went into the cities but spent most of His time “out and about.”
Smaller towns and country sides were where He did much of His ministry.
As it was, Jesus and His disciples found themselves in the region where John the Baptist was proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven at hand, the Christ come, and baptizing people telling them to repent.
Aenon near Salim: The name translates as “Springs near peace”
The region is northeast of Jerusalem in the Jordan Valley. A region known for many natural springs.
John was still active in ministry
Just because Jesus had come – did not mean that John was finished. In fact, it meant his ministry had even more authority as John pointed people to Jesus!
The Conflict:
Questions regarding purification- We are not told exactly what the dispute was about.
Likely it was a question concerning the meaning and purpose of baptism versus the Jewish laws and customs related to ceremonial washings.
The response should have been the laws and customs were related to “ceremonial” cleanliness before the Lord where Baptism is related to “spiritual” cleanliness before the Lord.
It appears the discussion may have also included the disclosure that another rabbi was in the same area and people were being baptized.
Regardless, John’s disciples became aware of this and were offended on behalf of their own teacher. Being jealous and protective of their teacher’s legacy.
Notice their language: "He who was with you... behold, He is baptizing… and all are coming to Him."
Question: How many of you felt protective, or defensive of the Legacy of Ministry related to Pastor Dennis when I was called to this church?
Question: How many of you are jealous of other, larger, churches?
Do you look at their up-to-date buildings, paved parking lots, large congregations and well-funded ministries and covet their “success”?
These kinds of feelings come naturally because we live in a culture entirely consumed by analytics, comparisons, and "success" based on external factors.
In the economy of the world, our success is constantly measured by whether our worth, value or influence is increasing compared to those around us.
I am reminded of the wisdom of our Lord from Mark 8:36 “For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
The world around us, the flesh we walk in, declares to us, and craves the glory of self.
And measures our progress by comparing ourselves to one another.
This toxic desire to compare doesn't stop at the church doors.
It easily creeps into our ministries, our serving teams, and our personal spiritual lives.
**Sarcastically…
“Why, just look at what “I” have accomplished here at Pine Grove!”
“Surely God is blessing you because of ME!”
IF EVER this were to be spoken sincerely by me or anyone who stands behind the pulpit – IT WILL BE A SURE INDICATION the one who speaks this way is not sitting beneath the Lord looking upward to Him!
Mankind’s pride and ego cause us to seek ownership over the work of God.
When our focus shifts from “HIS” Message to “MY” Ministry –
We inevitably begin to view other believers through the lens of competition, - Rather than in kingdom cooperation.
QUESTION: What part of the body is most important?
Cross-References:
Galatians 5:25–26: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another."
Application:
The moment we start counting heads, comparing buildings or measuring our success in ministry by external factors, we have stopped serving Christ and started serving our own reputation.
May it never be.
2. The Sovereign Gift of Stewardship (v. 27–28)
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’
John’s reply introduces a powerful look at God's absolute sovereignty.
If my ministry, if your ministry or someone else's is growing and bearing fruit – it is because God willed it and provided the increase!
The inverse is true as well – If our ministries are running even or even if it were to decrease, God ordained that too.
Granted – we are heavily invested in our labors, and accountable for our failures -
But God is able to increase and decrease as He wills according to His divine purpose and plan.
True contentment begins when we realize we are stewards, managers of God's gifts-
Cross-References:
James 1:17: "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above..."
1 Corinthians 4:7: "What do you have that you did not receive? -And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?"
Application:
While we are on the topic - A church that is built up in numbers by those who come to be entertained by the morning service is not a healthy, maturing, or growing church.
As I stated when I was first called to pastor at Pine Grove Community Church –
People always wanted to be where Jesus was. God led them to be where Jesus was.
Question: How many of you are not quite sure WHY or HOW you came to be at this church today?
For “Whatever” reason you just felt like stopping by and now here you are.
Friends I suggest to you that you are here - because God led you here.
And if we want to see this church continue to grow – then Jesus needs to be here. God will send the people.
Now, to be clear – none of that takes away your responsibility and mine to invite people to this “Rockin little church!”
Being invitational to bring people to meet Jesus is very much a biblical principle as we saw earlier in the book of John.
3. The Joy of the Best Man (v. 29–30)
(John continued to reason with his disciples)
29 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.
So, this joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
John uses the Illustration of the bridegroom and the bridegroom’s friend.
He who has the bride is the bridegroom –
Scripture uses the Bride/Bridegroom reference to demonstrate the relationship of the church to our Savior.
As the husband is the head of the household – Christ Jesus is the head of the church.
As the bride is to honor and respect her husband – the church is to honor and respect our Lord.
John’s illustration is in the context of the wedding ceremony –
The bridegroom’s “best man” was a trusted and loyal friend who was given many responsibilities leading up to the ceremony –
But once the bridegroom stepped forward to claim his bride –
All attention was righty on the bridegroom – the “best-man” stepped into the background.
And rejoiced for the bridegroom’s time had come!
This understanding sets up verse 30 perfectly as John’s primary focal point.
Vs 30 "He must increase, but I must decrease"
John defines his joy not by HIS visibility, not by HIS increase –
But by seeing the visibility and the increase in the awareness of Christ Jesus and that people were turning to follow HIM!
In the popular 2018 song by the Christian band Casting Crowns, “Only Jesus” the chorus declares:
I don't want to leave a legacyI don't care if they remember meOnly JesusAnd I, I've only got one life to liveI'll let every second point to HimOnly Jesus
There is a foundational truth to the True Christian Faith:
Cross-References:
WHO matters most?
Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..."
WHAT matters most?
Philippians 3:7–8: But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
Application:
Not that I love math… but consider the Beauty of Holy Subtraction:
All God’s additions in my life by been by His grace!
Therefore, our daily discipleship should be a process of subtraction andsubstitution leading to multiplication.
Praying that by His grace – through my life – others might come to see the value in knowing Jesus as the solution for sin.
4. The Supremacy of the One from Above (v. 31–35)
(John concludes his instruction)
John 3:31 “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
The apex of learning, knowledge, understanding, comprehension and application that mankind can achieve is but a speck when compared to the greatness of God.
Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
How arrogant a conclusion for man to declare there is no God.
Romans 1:18-20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
But God – in His sovereignty – chose to give us even more – His special revelation – the Word of God – The Holy Scriptures – so that those who seek God might know more of their Creator.
And in His word – find the knowledge of our Christ, Redeemer, and Lord.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
And man rejected the Word.
John 3:32 What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receivesHis testimony.
Jesus brought the light of God’s truth into the world – to illuminate the wrong, expose the wickedness – and to reveal the righteous path.
John 3:19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
But not all mankind rejected Him…
John 3:33-34 He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.
As we read in John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
And as John concludes-
John 3:35-36 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
The word of God contains many clear passages such as this.
Believe, or do not believe.
Not believing in the truth DOES NOT MAKE THE TRUTH UNTRUE.
-OR- you can set aside your pride, your ego – your self-centered, self-righteous desire to be all you can be by the might of your own hand…
And see that this same God is offering salvation from His wrath – for doing nothing more than believing the truth... to be true.
IN CLOSING-
In his pride – mankind seeks to be great.
So declares the Word of God-
Greater than the Prophets & Angels
Greater Than Our Specific Challenges
Greater Than World Religions and Philosophies
Greater in all things
Worthy is HE that we should acknowledge, submit, and follow Him.
In the words of the Apostle Paul spoke in the authority of the Holy Spirit-
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
(Romans 11:36)