More of He, Less of Me

More of He, Less of Me

John 3:22-36

 

Illus. More of Less…

 

      This morning, we turn to John chapter 3:22-26, where the attention will turn again to John the Baptist who shares what he needs more of and less of in his life. The words given specifically are found in John 3:30, where John, when being questioned about Jesus, makes the famous statement, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John says, essentially, that he needed “More of He, and less of me.”

      While this was John’s proclamation and posture, the posture of many seems to be the opposite, “more of me, less of He.” The reality is that the Scriptures have much to say about this way of living. We are called to a life of humility, not pride. Pride is a word and subject seen in the Bible, and a word that is always referred to negatively.

 

James 4:6, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

 

Word there for “proud” is showing oneself above, preeminent, overestimating oneself, their means, and merits. Other words translated “pride” in the New Testament depict one who trusts in their own power, their own way, and puts their trust in empty things.

 

James 4:10, Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

 

1 Peter 5:5(b)-6, God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time…

 

Humility is required for “more of He, and less of me” living…As we study John 3:22-36 this morning, we, John the Baptist, live out a posture of humble living not just situationally, but faithfully and consistently.

 

Read: John 3:22-30

 

Verse 22 begins with the statement “after these things,” which is in reference to the conversation Jesus had with a man named Nicodemus in the beginning of chapter 3. It is there that we were given the details of their conversation, which centered on what is necessary for saving belief. Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to see the kingdom, a person must be born again, meaning they take on a new identity in Christ, and He becomes Lord of their life. There is a laying down of one’s life, believing in Christ for salvation.

            The content of that conversation came after we were first introduced to Jesus as fully God and fully man in John 1, after we were given the details of his miracles, and also his first followers. At the end of chapter 2, there was a distinction drawn between those who believed Jesus was a man who was from God, and those who believed Jesus was God.

            Another testimony given, in John chapter 1, was from John the Baptist. John the Baptist knew who Jesus was and declared that Jesus was the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. When Jesus came on the scene, John the Baptist pointed people to Him. John knew that he was put on earth to point people to Jesus, to prepare the way for Jesus, and John the Baptist did just that.

            So after first hearing John’s testimony of who he knew Jesus to be, then a section on the surrendered life and belief that is required to follow Jesus truly, the attention is turned back on John the Baptist, and we see how that surrender is lived out in his life. 

            From the responses of John the Baptist to Jesus, I want to look at four important responses in our lives that will help us to be those who are known for “More of He, Less of Me” living. Specifically, we look at our opportunity to trust God when it comes to provision, positions, perspective, and proclamations.

 

1. Accept God’s Decisions When It Comes to Provision

 

• From verse 22 we learn that Jesus and his disciples were out baptizing in the Judean countryside (though we know from John 4:2 that Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but rather, His disciples).

 

• In verse 23 we learn that John the Baptist and his disciples were also out baptizing people. This is what John the Baptist was known for. He baptized as an outward sign of repentance and turning to God.

 

• Verses 22 and 23 depict the reality that Jesus and His disciples were baptizing in one area, John the Baptist and his disciples are baptizing in another.

 

• The fact that these two groups were doing the same thing in different places stirs up a dispute, or an argument (NIV).

 

John 3:25, Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.

 

• We don’t know who the man was exactly, and we don’t know what the argument was exactly, other than the fact that it was about “purification.” Now we don’t know what was said exactly, so any assertion is pure speculation. But we can speculate…

 

Illus. Could it be?

 

• What we know for certain is that the dispute caused John’s disciples to go to him and reveal what seems to be a bit of a rivalry between the ministry of Jesus and his disciples, and ministry of John the Baptist and his disciples.

 

John 3:26, 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 the people are coming to Him.”

 

• In the NIV translation, John’s disciples say, “That man who was with you on the other side, the one you testified about – look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him!”

 

• He is the One you testified about, but now everyone is turning to Him!

 

• Notice the word “everyone,” or “all.” ALL the people are going to Him!

 

• This was an exaggeration, not “everyone” was going to Jesus, but to John’s disciples it sure seemed like it.

 

• There seems to be a comparison going on, a competition in their minds.

 

• THAT man who you testified about, now everyone is going over to Him.

 

• Look at what is happening, look at what they have, look at their following, they have everyone over there and we have nobody…

 

John 3:27, John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven.”

 

• John will go on to remind his disciples of just who Jesus is, but prior to doing so, he wanted them to know that God was in charge, and what is happening over in the Judean countryside is a work of the Lord.

 

• He not only makes that statement, but he takes it a step further…  “a person cannot receive even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven.”

 

• The disciples are looking at what they have, who they have, and then looking down the road to the Judean wilderness and comparing what they have to that.

 

• John makes it clear; I am not even going to go there.

 

• God is sovereign, what another has, or has received, have been given from heaven.

 

• This is an important perspective in the life of a Christian, certain people are afforded certain provisions, and it was God’s decision.

 

• This should free us from the discussion of how a person ended up with this, that, or the other.

 

• This should help us escape the trap of envy.

 

• Envy is a word defined as “a feeling of discontent of covetousness with regard to another’s advantages, success, or possessions.” When envy is used in Scripture, it is often used in an interchangeable way with the word “jealousy.”

 

• Jealousy is defined at “resentment against or opposition toward a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage.”

 

Galatians 5:26, Let’s not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

 

1 Peter 2:1, Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander…

 

Proverbs 14:30, A heart at peace gives life to the body,

    but envy rots the bones.

 

Illus. Store Owners…

 

• Exodus 20:17 tells us not to covet our neighbors house, wife, servants, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to them!

 

Illus. Examples.

 

Romans 12:15, Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

 

Envy was also the driving motive behind the persecution of the early church.

 

1 Timothy 6:6-8, But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

 

• When Paul wrote the word “contentment” it is a word that describes a mind contented with its lot in life.

 

• Our English definition is “satisfied with what one is or has…”

 

• How can this be? By trusting that God has given me what I have, and He has given others what they have…It is not my job to worry about that.

 

• John invites God into the situation. He needed more of God’s thoughts about the ministry, he needed more of God’s perspective on the matter…And so do we!

 

Illus. Evaluation.

 

Illus. How is this possible?

 

Illus. Pray Daily.

 

John 3:28, You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’

 

• After pointing his disciples to God’s decisions in provision, he points them to his position and mission.

 

1. Align Your Positions with His Mission

 

• John was well aware of who he was, and who he was not.

 

• In chapter one, John had already made his position and mission clear.

 

• In John 1:20 he said it plainly, “I am not the Christ.”

 

• Then he asked, then who are you? Are you Elijah? Are you the prophet? “I am not,” and “no.”

 

John 1:22-23, Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one calling out in the wilderness, ‘Make the way of the Lord straight,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

 

• They don’t stop then, they dig in “Then ‘Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?’“

 

• “I am the voice.” I’m not the Savior, He is. I’m just the voice. I’m the voice of one crying in the wilderness.

 

Isaiah 40:3, The voice of one calling out, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

 

• Isaiah 40 is a picture or road workers clearing the path, clearing the way. Lifting up valleys and making hills low, clearing a path for the return of the Lord.

 

• John said, “I am the voice, calling out in the desert, I am helping to straighten the path, to prepare the way for the Lord, I am not the Lord.”

 

Illus. He’s the man!

 

• John went on to say (John 1:27) , I am not even worthy to untie the strap of His sandal.

 

• John was content in who he was, he aligned his position with God’s mission.

 

• John had a purpose, to prepare the way for Jesus, now Jesus was on the scene, John was deferring and pointing to Jesus, now people were going to place he was pointing…That’s a great thing!

 

• What it meant to John what that less people to John’s pointing, because they could go and see the real thing, they could visit Jesus personally.

 

• What this meant to John, in terms of what His disciples were seeing, was that more people were going up the road from him, but John said this as a fulfillment of his mission.

 

• God has given John a mission, and his position on that mission remained intact even when it meant he had a smaller role, a change how many were responding to him.

 

• John continues by giving an illustration…

 

John 3:29-30, He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

• The illustration given is of a wedding. In the illustration you have the bride, the groom, and the friend of the groom.

 

• The friend of the groom is an ancient equivalent to the “best man.”

 

• In those days, the best man played an important role in Jewish weddings. It was his role to make arrangements, announces the union, would serve as a messenger between families when it came to the marriage contract.

 

• In those days, marriages began with a betrothal. The father of the groom and the bride’s father made arrangement for the bride’s hand in marriage.

 

• After the arrangements, the groom and his father would return home. The groom would then prepare a place for his bride. There was no contact between the groom and the bride during this time. A friend of the groom acted as a go-between, informing the bridegroom and the bride’s family about his arrival. This prepared the bride for the groom.

 

• Once the groom gave word to his friend, once he heard the grooms voice, it was time to go and get the bride, the bride would be waiting and the friend of the groom would announce the arrival of the groom.

 

• “Behold, the groom! Come out to meet him!” (Parable of Ten Virgins, Mt. 25:6)

 

• The friend of the groom would do many things, but he was not the groom! He was not the focus of attention.

 

• Once the groom arrived, the groom’s friend would fade into the background!

 

• We too, are called to be the friend of the groom! We are not the groom, Jesus is!

 

John 3:30, “He must increase, I must decrease!”

 

• When John said, He “must” the word must means must, it is necessary, it is right and proper, or it is needful.

 

• Increase is a word that means to grow, or to become greater.

 

• I must “decrease,” which means to decrease in rank, authority, or popularity…In other words, John says it not about me, it is about He!

 

• When we surrender our lives to Christ, this is also the posture required of you and me.

 

• In our positions, decisions, mission, we defer to Him! I am the friend of the groom, I am not the groom!

 

Illus. Hearing His voice.

 

• It is important to align our positions with Jesus’ mission. That HE is in charge, not ME. Once I get going I don’t get to start changing things, rather, there is a call, a role, a mission that He is giving me and in that role, He must increase, I must decrease.

Illus. Changing.

 

III.  Place His Perspective Above All

 

• For some, verse 31 represents a shift of sorts.

 

• Some believe that it is still John the Baptist speaking, while others content that there were no quotation marks in the original Koine Greek texts, and content that this final section of the chapter was written by John the Apostle, rather than spoken by John the Baptist.

 

• Regardless of which John gave us the final verses of the chapter, the truths they supply are important for a more of He, less of me” life…

 

John 3:31, He who comes from above is above all; the one who is only from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

 

• The perspective here is clear…Jesus is above all. The word “above” mean placed higher, more than, or over.

 

Colossians 1:16-17, By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

 

• Jesus is above all, these are the facts, this is the reality, but what about when it comes to our lives personally. Who is in the drivers seat?

 

Illus. Who’s in the lead?

 

Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor 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.

 

• In our lives we need to make sure He remains above all.

 

• John, whether it be the apostle, or the Baptist tells us that Jesus is the one who came from heaven, He was, and is, God.

 

 

1. Attach Your Proclamations to Life In Him

 

John 3:32-36, He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. (NIV)

 

• When Jesus spoke, He spoke as the One who had direct knowledge of heaven and eternal life.

 

• This was John’s proclamation. Both of them.

 

• If you had the opportunity to talk to them, you would hear about Jesus. You would learn about Him; you would know more about Him!

 

Colossians 3:17,  Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

 

Illus. You mind.

 

 

 

Ephesians 4:29, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

 

• We need more of He in our speech, in our actions, in our decisions.

 

• What is going to benefit them? Pointing them to salvation.

 

• He must increase; we must decrease.

 

Illus. Daily.

 

Illus. Safety in Surrender.

 

John 3:22-36