Sometimes in life, we need less of one thing and more of another.
If you’re giving your kids a bath, they may say, “Less hot water, more cold water.”
If you’re taking a shower, you might think, “Less cold water, more hot water.”
If you’re a supervisor, you may tell the other workers, “Less talk, more work.”
If you’re packing snacks for a road trip, you may think to yourself, “Less carrot sticks, more candy bars,” or the other way around.
In today’s passage, we hear about John the Baptizer again, and more of his thoughts on Jesus. Today, we’re going to learn about “Less of John, More of Jesus.”
Before we look at our passage today, let’s pray together and ask God to speak to us.
(prayer)
Ok, let’s dive into our passage today. As we do so, let’s notice three things present in this passage.
First, we see . . .
I. John’s disciples.
Look at verses 22-26:
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. 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.”
Ok, let’s kind of walk through this first section just to point out a few details.
In verse 22, John says, “after this.” We only need to go back to earlier in Chapter 3 to realize that John is referring to afterJesus’ conversation with Nicodemus about being born again.
So, after Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, He and His disciples went out to the countryside to baptize people.
Remember, baptism represents turning away from sin and submitting to God’s new way of life. That’s what Jesus was calling people to do: turn away from sin and follow God.
Now, if you skip ahead to John 4:2, which we’ll look at next time, you will see that it was probably not Jesus Himself who was baptizing, but His disciples who were baptizing under His authority and ministry.
In verse 23, we learn that John the Baptizer is still doing what he does: he’s baptizing people!
Notice this little phrase in verse 23; it says, “ . . . because there was plenty of water there.”
This information is simply a theological side-note. The wording in this passage reminds us that biblical baptism is by immersion (or dunking) into water.
John wouldn’t need “plenty of water” unless he was taking people all the way under the water.
Our doctrine of baptism is not based on our preferences. It’s based on our understanding of the evidence, practices, and commands of the Bible.
We also see a little comment in verse 24 from John the Apostle, the author of this book, to help the reader understand the timeline.
Many of the early readers of the Gospel of John knew that John the Baptizer was thrown into prison and eventually killed. So, John the Apostle lets them know that what was happening here was before that time.
In verse 25, we learn about a dispute between John the Baptizer’s disciples and an unspecified Jewish man concerning purification.
You may recall that I mentioned earlier in this sermon series that baptism was similar to Jewish purification, but it wasn’t exactly the same.
Likely, the disciples of John the Baptist would have thought that baptism was pretty important, so they got in an argument about it with this Jewish man.
Verse 26 is a bit strange in that we’re missing the connection between the argument with the Jewish man and what they actually say to John.
Here’s what I mean: In verse 26, John’s disciples said to John, “Rabbi, the one you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing—and everyone is going to him.”
Well, what does that have to do with the argument with the Jewish man? There’s a leap from an argument with a Jewish man to a report that Jesus is baptizing. We don’t have all the information, but perhaps this was only a portion of the conversation they shared with John.
Nevertheless, the disciples of John brought this information to him, likely because they were concerned about it.
Well, I wonder if John was concerned about it. Let’s find out.
Next, we see . . .
II. John’s response.
Look at what John said, starting in verse 27:
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.”
Wow, I wish I were as wise and smooth as John the Baptizer.
John said something very similar to what Nicodemus said.
Nicodemus said earlier in Chapter 3 that no one could do the work Jesus was doing unless he was from heaven.
Here, John said, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven.”
Basically, John was saying that the reason Jesus was having such success, the reason so many were being changed, the reason He ministered with such authority is that it was given to Him from heaven.
Remember, Jesus came directly from heaven. The authority that He had didn’t come from earth. Further, it wasn’t given to Him on earth. His authority came from heaven, and He received it in heaven.
John went on in verse 28 to remind his followers that he was not the Messiah.
His followers likely wanted him to retain influence. After all, they were following him.
Yet, John essentially said, “I already told you that my ministry is not about me. It’s about preparing the way for someone else. It’s about Jesus the Messiah.”
John then gave an illustration in verse 29 about a bride and groom, and the groom’s friend.
The groom’s friend should never make himself the center of attention. He’s there to support the groom. Likewise, he would not get upset if people celebrated the bride and groom. He’s there to lift up the groom. If the groom is happy, he’s happy.
John then went on to say, “So this joy of mine is complete.”
I love that! When Jesus was successful, John’s joy was complete.
Is your joy complete when Jesus is praised? Is your joy complete when Jesus is celebrated!
Is your joy complete when Jesus is proclaimed?
Is your joy complete when others follow Jesus?
The Apostle Paul said something similar elsewhere when he said in Philippians 1:18, “What does it matter? Only that in every way . . . Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”
Our rejoicing should be found in Jesus, in following Him, and in proclaiming Him.
John the Baptizer then said these important words in verse 30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John’s ministry and time on earth were wrapping up. His influence would start to fade. He was decreasing, while Jesus was increasing.
There’s something important for us to catch here: Jesus came to the earth to do a specific task.
He came to suffer death so that we might receive life.
He came to be condemned so that we might be freed.
As John’s ministry was fading, Jesus’ was building up to that moment when He would be crucified and then rise to new life.
John was decreasing, and Jesus was increasing.
Jesus’ work on the cross was part of the increasing ministry of Jesus to which John referred.
However, there’s also a practical application here for our lives.
What is your life all about? What is your goal in life? What is your focus in life?
Friends, if you want your life to truly be special, make it about Jesus. Let yourself decrease so Jesus can increase in your life.
Many of you serve in ministry in different ways in this church, and I’m so grateful for the way you serve the church.
Listen, may your ministry never be about you; may it be about Jesus. It’s the same for me. May my ministry never be about me; may it be about Jesus.
May we decrease, and may Jesus increase.
Finally, let’s see . . .
III. John’s commentary.
Now, the John I’m speaking about is John the Apostle. We’re switching from John the Baptizer to John the Apostle.
Starting in verse 31, we have this language that is very much like the way John the Apostle speaks in this book.
By the way, there are no quotation marks in ancient Greek, so we have to be careful when discerning where someone’s speech ends and another’s picks up.
Here, I believe that John the Apostle is giving some commentary about what John the Baptizer said. John is commenting on John.
Let’s see what John has to say. Look at verse 31 and following:
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.
Earlier, John the Baptizer pointed to the greatness of Jesus. Here in these verses, John the Apostle is doing the same thing; he’s pointing to the greatness of Jesus.
John pointed again to the reality that Jesus is from heaven.
He pointed again to the reality that Jesus is above all.
He pointed out that Jesus didn’t pass on what someone else told Him. Rather, Jesus saw and heard these things Himself.
He pointed out that Jesus has the Holy Spirit without measure, meaning that He has unlimited Holy Spirit filling.
He pointed out that Jesus is loved by God the Father, and He has received all things from the Father.
John the Apostle wanted to add to what John the Baptizer said to make sure that his readers knew how wonderful Jesus is. John wanted his readers to follow Jesus. John wanted his readers to give their lives to Jesus.
In fact, John pointed out once again the consequences of us rejecting Jesus.
In verse 36, John said, “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.”
You may recall from earlier in the chapter that Jesus did not come to condemn us; He came to save us.
Our sins condemn us. If we reject Jesus, the Son of God, we will not see life. Instead, that condemnation, the wrath of God, remains on us.
John took the time to leave these comments so that we would know how great Jesus is.
Let this bottom line summarize what we are learning today:
Bottom Line: Jesus must increase in all things.
Jesus must increase in your heart. Jesus must increase in your mind. Jesus must increase in your thoughts. Jesus must increase in your relationships. Jesus must increase in everything in your life.
When it came to John the Baptizer, he decreased, and Jesus increased.
What about your life?
What about our church? Is Jesus increasing in our church? Is Jesus increasing in our ministry and mission? Are we doing our part to see that Jesus is increasing in our community?
Jesus must increase, and everything else must decrease.
Challenge yourself this week in this one way:
Weekly Challenge: Seek to increase Jesus in your life.
How can you show more Jesus?
How can you share more Jesus?
How can you increase your love for Jesus?
How can you live more for Jesus?
Challenge yourself this week to do so.
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
Response Song – He Will Hold Me Fast
(Announcements – Richard Jones)
(Giving emphasis)
(Benediction)
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