A True Ministry - Remembering John the Baptist - John 10:40-42

3:00Place for us to learn what it means to have a true ministry by looking at a true minister. And that's what I want us to do today. You know, John comes highly acclaimed by Christ himself. In Matthew 11, 18, he says, Among those born of women, there is not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist. And John the Baptist certainly was a true minister in every sense of the word. So we will do well to remember him and do well to pattern our ministry to learn from him the pattern of true ministry that we can here at Emmanuel be engaged in what our Lord would consider a true ministry.

3:55So Sermon Outline is very simple. We're going to look at the place of true ministry, the purpose of true ministry, and the product of a true ministry. And we'll look at that and I'll summarize all that John has said for John the Baptist so far. So we'll be looking at a brief survey of what John the Apostle has already said about John the Baptist. A lot of John's in this. Hope I can keep them straight through the message. But well, let's look at the place. Of a true ministry. Look at verse 40. And he went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing. Sad words.

4:44He went away. They did not receive his exhortation. Look back. Jesus is engaging with the Jewish leadership there. He says, Yeah, I get it that you don't believe in me, but you're going to stone me. And they, in verse 31, they picked up stones again that they undoubtedly had carried into the temple with them. And Jesus said, Why are you stoning me? They say, We're stoning you for blasphemy. And then Jesus gives this appeal. In verse 37, he says, If I do not do the works of my Father, don't believe me. Have nothing to do with me. But if I do do them, though you do not believe me, believe the works. So Jesus makes this last appeal. Believe in the works that I am doing. Believe that they are legitimate. Start there and let them take you where they will take you. If you will start there and believe, then you may come to understand, that you will come to understand and know that the Father is in me. So it's this last ditch appeal. Pay attention to the miracles. That I have done in your presence. Pay attention. Consider it. Believe in those, you that you yourself have seen and you are aware of.

6:11Believe in those and follow where they lead. Ultimately, they will lead to an understanding and they would lead to faith and life. Well, they didn't. Verse 39 makes it clear they were seeking again to seize him, and he eluded their grasp. And he went away. So he leaves the temple. You can see a similar thought here would be expressed by Luke in chapter 13. Luke 13, verse 34. Jesus says, This, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it. Behold, your house is left to you desolate. And I say to you, you will not see me again until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. And you can imagine similar sentiments were going through Christ's heart as he left the temple. And where does he go? He goes back, he goes beyond the Jordan. Back to a place where John was first baptizing and he was staying there. Now, you can imagine what that's like going back to a place where I believe is where the reference here is back to where Jesus was actually baptized. There are a couple of different options for where that location is, and I have put that location down at Bethany beyond the Jordan, there just above the Dead Sea. There are some that place it above in the north.

8:06I think a good, good argument and most convincing argument is there in the south. Regardless, he goes back to that place. He goes back to that place where John was first baptizing. So there's going to be a bit of a nostalgia, right? Going back there, John the Apostle going back there. No wonder he remembers it, because this would have been a place where he spent a lot of time with his old mentor, late mentor, now gone, John the Baptist. So there would be some familiarity. Well, the book of John, the Gospel of John, starts there at Bethany beyond the Jordan. We've looked at this, and just by way of review, we have another geographical movement. So just to recall where Jesus has been in the Gospel, started down there in Bethany. Beyond the Jordan, he goes up there to Cana. You remember what happens in chapter 2? Cana goes to a wedding over there in Capernaum. And then he comes down at the end of chapter 2, he cleans the temple up. You remember that? And then in chapter 3, that famous conversation that he has with Nicodemus.

9:22And then at the end of chapter 3, he goes up to Selim and Anon and is baptizing where there's a lot of water. And for a brief period of time, John and Jesus are baptizing near the same waters. Of course, it's Jesus' disciples that are doing the baptizing, but there you have the disciples meeting. Then chapter 4, you remember, he must go through Samaria, and that's what we have in chapter 4, this record of him with the Samaritan woman. And then at the end, he goes back to Cana. So he comes a little circuit from Cana to Cana. You see that. And then chapter 5, he comes back down to Jerusalem, right? A festival, a feast was going on there. Not quite sure what, but down at Bethesda. You remember all that healing of the man, the portico, I mean, there at the pool of Bethesda. Chapter 6, he goes back up to the north up there, and you have the miracle, the feeding of the 5,000, the bread from heaven, the discourse, and the bread from heaven. Going over to Capernaum and his time there in the bread of life discourse in the synagogue there. Chapter seven, you remember, we come down to the Feast of Tabernacles, right? We spent a long time there at the Feast of Tabernacles. Chapter seven, probably chapter eight, and shortly thereafter, chapter nine. And then in chapter ten, the very end of chapter ten, we come back to where he began out there in Bethany beyond the Jordan. The place. You see that circuit from where he began, his public ministry, and now it seems his public ministry is really coming to a close. And from here on out, he's going to be dealing primarily with his disciples. There'll be a few public displays, but for the most part, it is what he is doing with his miracles is for his disciples. He's training his disciples. He's teaching his disciples these last few months, and he's about to depart. And he is preparing them for his departure. And so it's interesting to note that the majority of John's gospel is going to be written about that last few months. So that's where we are. The place of a true ministry. What can we say about this place? Well, Not much. There's not much we can say based on verse 40, but it was where it was out there. It was beyond the Jordan. But we can say a few things. It was not a grand place. It was not a cathedral. It was not an ornate palace. It was not an ornate temple.

12:23It was simple, a little bit rough, rugged. Retreat area, river, probably some campsites, etc. It's nice, probably, refreshment. It wasn't all that far away, but it was a place where people could get away. It was simple, but it was practical. I think some of God's greatest works are in the places that are simple and practical. I think that's a good thought for us to reflect upon. It wasn't in the great temples, but out in this place that we see people coming to Christ and believing in Him. Well, that's the purpose. I mean, that's the place. Now let's look at the purpose. I'm going to spend most of our time here. Look at the purpose of a true ministry. Look back at verse 41.

13:30Many came to him and were saying, While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true. So, what is the purpose of a true ministry? Well, to provide a true testimony. So, what everything John said about this man was true, dependable, honest, trustworthy, reliable, accurate. Well, it's true. You can bet your life on it. That kind of thing. Everything that John said about Jesus was true. That is the purpose of a true ministry: to testify to the Christ revealed in Scripture. That everything we do, that everything we are, everything that comes out of our mouth, by word and also everything that comes out of our life by deed, is to provide a true testimony to the Christ of Scripture. And that's to all that we meet and touch. And this is exactly what we see in John the Baptist. He provided a true testimony. Now, what all did John say about Jesus? What went into this true testimony? Well, John has given us John the Baptist's true testimony. And so, what I want to do is by a quick survey of the ministry of John the Baptist. Baptist revealed so far, and in total now, in John's Gospel, I want us to look at four fundamental features of a true testimony. If the purpose of a true ministry is to provide a true testimony, we need to come away with what does a true testimony look like. And so, I want to look at four fundamental features of a true testimony.

15:31Four fundamental features of a true testimony, as in the record that John the Apostle leaves us. Well, the first fundamental feature of a true testimony is that it proclaims the right message. A true ministry, a true testimony proclaims the right message. If you turn back in your Bibles to John chapter 1, we can look at what this right message looks like. Remember, beginning in chapter 1, I'll read to you verse 29 through 34. And we see John's testimony. The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, beginning in verse 29. Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is he on who, on behalf of whom I said after me, comes a man. Who is higher rank than I, for he existed before me. I did not recognize him, but so that he might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water. John testified, saying, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven and remained upon him. I did not recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon him, this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God. So, first evidence, first reality, or you see of John's first declaration out of John's mouth is that Jesus is the Lamb of God. Verse 29, and all that that imagery brings to mind: sacrifice, payment, covering for the sinner, a distinction between God and those who are His and those who are not, covering, distinction, redemption, payment, innocence, all of that comes together in this one word, the Lamb of God. And this is what John says: Behold, look at this.

17:50There he is, the Lamb of God. Second thing John declares here is that Jesus is the preeminent one. Look at verse 30. This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man who is higher than has a higher rank than I, for he existed before me. In other words, John's saying, Look, there's one coming after me. You can think about a motorcade, right? You see, the dignitary comes, he comes somewhere in the middle of the motorcade, right? There's that individual on the motorcycle, perhaps, leading the front of the whole motorcade, and then comes a dignitary, right? Well, that's what John's saying. After me is coming one who is greater than me, he is the preeminent one, he is to be preeminent in all things.

18:48Third declaration that John makes in this passage is that Jesus is the baptizer. John says, Look, I baptize with water. That's what I do. But there is one who comes, and he is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of God. He cleanses, He washes, He imparts His Spirit into the life of man. And that's the baptism we all need. Apart from His Spirit, we are dead. So, John is saying, Look, here he is, the Lamb of God, the preeminent one, the true baptizer, with the baptism that you need.

19:41And then he says, His fourth declaration is that Jesus is the Son of God. In verse 34, I myself have seen, I know this, I have seen him. I have testified. Here is my solemn and settled witness. He is the Son of God. That's who he is. And may we at Emmanuel never forget this. Forget these declarations. Forget that this is the message we have to proclaim. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And he'll take away your sin. Jesus is the preeminent one. He is to be preeminent in everything. He is preeminent in everything. And we are to give him preeminence in every aspect of our lives. And he is the baptizer. He is the one who gives what we need the most, that precious gift of his very own spirit. Let me tell you something. No matter how difficult life may get, if you have the spirit of God, you've got it outnumbered. You've got it so overpowered. But even the best. Circumstances without the Spirit of God is not worth living.

21:05But any circumstances with the circumstances, you can experience the joy of life. And the fourth thing: Jesus is the Son of God. He is that one that stands in unique relationship, and all things have been given into His hand, and they're not coming away from Him. So, here you have the right message. First feature of a true testimony is that it proclaims the right message. Second fundamental feature of a true testimony is that it encourages the right response, encourages the right response. Now, if you look back a little bit earlier in chapter 1, we can see what this right response to who Jesus is that we are to encourage. In verse 19, if you remember, there is a delegation sent to ask John, Who are you?

22:17And they said, Are you the Christ? No. Are you Elijah? No. Are you the prophet? No. Then who are you? That we may give an account, that we may say to those who sent. This. Who are you? And John says in verse 23, I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord. Make room for the Lord. Welcome the Lord. Remove the barriers that would separate you from Him. He is coming. Remove those obstacles. Remove those barriers. Make the road level right straight into your heart.

23:05Get rid of that which is offensive. Welcome Him. Give Him a warm reception. In other words, make room for Him. Make room for Christ in your life. That's John's whole message. In light of the fact that Jesus is the Lamb of God, the preeminent One, the true baptizer, and the Son of God, what are you to do? Make room for Him. Make room for Him. Make room for Him in your affections. Make room for Him in your mind. Make room for Him in your routine. Make room. That's John. That's the right exhortation. When it all boils down, make room for Christ. Make room for Him. That's.

24:03That's a feature of a true testimony. It's not only just the right message, but it's encouraging the right response to that message. And listen, if you do not make room for Christ in your life, you will never know life here or later. If you do not welcome him now, you will have no part with him later because you've already settled that you do not want. So welcome him. And may we at Emmanuel encourage the right response in everything we do.

24:45Third fundamental feature of a true testimony is that it comes from the right heart. Not only does it proclaim the right message and encourage the right response, it comes out of or comes from the right heart. And if you look, if you flip over to chapter 3, beginning in verse 27, we get to hear, or get a window into the characteristics of a heart of a true minister. Again, this is John the Baptist. Remember, in verse 37, or I'm sorry, verse 27, verse 27. 27. I want to look real briefly at four characteristics of the heart of a true minister. Four characteristics. First of all, verse 27.

25:46A right heart understands heaven's authority. Look at verse 27. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. Now, there's a universal principle of life. You can receive nothing, and literally, not even one single thing, unless it has been given to you from heaven. And so, John understands this. And this is in that context where you have both Jesus' disciples are baptizing, and John is baptizing, and more people are going to Jesus. And John's disciples get a little bit jealous for John the Baptist's sake. So they come and they talk to him. And John says, Look, a man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. See, John didn't have to compare himself to others. He had something that was uniquely given to him from God. He had a purpose. He had a calling, and it was given to him from heaven. And he had no interest in trying to exceed that calling or go outside or wish he had another calling. He was perfectly content in life, perfectly content in the calling that God had placed him in. You see, this knowledge of heaven's authority is so freeing. You have what you have right now because it has been given to you from heaven. You don't need more.

27:28Don't desire less. Be thankful. Understand it's heaven that gives. And this is the basis for true rest. Resting your soul in an understanding of heaven's authority. John is not rattled at all, like his disciples were, because he understood heaven's authority. And that's the right heart. That's the right heart of a true minister. Second characteristic of a heart of a true minister is that a true minister resolves to serve Earth's Messiah. That's the resolution of soul, resolution of heart. Look back at verse 28.

28:20You yourselves are my witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent ahead of him. I am in that motorcade. I'm on the motorcycle in the fire. Front, I'm announcing that was my role, that is my place, and I am happy with the unique task that God has given me to serve. You know, we're not all called to go before Jesus, like John the Baptist was, right? No, we're not. That was his unique gift. However, each of us have a unique calling. We're not called to go before Jesus, but we are called to come after him, proclaiming the same message that John proclaimed.

29:08Whatever capacity God has given in any motorcade, there's those that go before, right? There's that dignitary, and then there are those inevitably that come behind. We are part of that that have come after, but we are all part of the same resolve. We resolve to serve Earth's Messiah in whatever capacity that He has given us. That is the heart of a true minister. We see it here so vividly in the life of John. Third characteristic of a heart of a true minister is that a heart of a true minister delights to fulfill his calling. A true ministry delights to fulfill its calling. Look at verse 29: he who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend. Of the bridegroom, whom stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So, this joy of mine has been made full. So, John communicates his delight in his calling by way of analogy, and he uses that of the bridal imagery: he who has the bride, who's the bride? The crowds. Who is the bridegroom? Jesus. And who is the friend of the bridegroom? John. And so he stands there and he's watching the crowds go to Jesus. And instead of being indignant or upset, he is rejoicing. Because this is what I came for, right?

30:48I rejoice in the relationship that's taken place. This is why I came, was to see the people of the earth discover and find their Messiah. And the relationship is with is between them. I fade out. And I love this. He doesn't say this with the slightest bit of envy, but joy. This comes out of a Joy, right? He says, this is the kind of joy that I am now experiencing. We have a wedding coming up, right? Okay, I'm going to think for a moment.

31:45I want to put you on the spot. It's just two weeks in a row I've done this. Sorry. At ease, everybody? Sure. But think about it. Got a wedding coming up. Kevin, how in the world would you feel if your best man tried to seduce your bride? That's what many a pastor does. That's what many a church leader is doing. And let me tell you something. Sometimes I turn on TV and I rarely, I have to be at a hotel or something, but I come across, I see some of these evangelists, so-called evangelists, they're not evangelists at all. They're not heralds of good news.

32:39But I hear their message, and it gravitates to money. And they are good. They are masters. They know, they take 98% truth, and then they take a couple little points, and they turn the whole thing to where it gets money in their pocket. Let me tell you something. When I see that, my heart is. Sinks because they have absolutely no idea what awaits them. Fools. They have set their minds, they have set their heart on the bride.

33:18It is about as scandalous, about as awful as anything you can imagine. I tremble for them, for the judgment that awaits them. I tremble for any minister, for anybody who seeks the relationship with the bride. That does not come out of a heart of a true minister. No. The sight that disturbed John's disciples pleased John. He says, No, no, no, I'm not after the bride at all. I am so happy to see the two together. That's the heart of a true ministry.

34:12Fourth characteristic of a true minister is that a true minister decreases before the Lord. They decrease before the Lord. Look at verse, where am I? 30. He must increase, but I must decrease. He must increase. And that's not just a statement of humility. It's a divine necessity. I must decrease. He must increase. Why is this? Well, I can tell you: look, we are not all wise, are we? Some of us might be smarter than others. We're not all powerful.

35:14Many of you had to sleep last night. We are not able to carry the government on our shoulders. We're not able to save the lost. We're not able to save anybody. We're not able to sanctify anybody, right? We're only instruments, only tools. The relationship is with the Good Shepherd, and how we rejoice when the Good Shepherd is joined to a lost soul on earth. We must decrease. And John doesn't utter these words out of envy, but out of pure overjoy. We must decrease. Isn't that great?

36:00That means he is increasing. His government is increasing. Our job is to see the bride and bridegroom together. And when John, when he saw the bride and the bridegroom together, and he saw his task was nearing its end, he not only willingly but joyfully faded out of the center of the picture. He had no interest in rivaling Jesus. And neither should any true ministers, right? Fourth characteristic, fourth characteristic of a right heart, of a true minister, is that it magnifies the right person. It magnifies the right person. We see this in verses 31 through 36. You see, the purpose of a true ministry is to magnify the name of Jesus. I mean, when John the Baptist said that he must increase and I must decrease, he was, in effect, saying to everyone, including John the Apostle, and others that he dearly loved, he was basically saying, you know what? You must follow him, not me. You must give your best attention to him, not me.

37:30You must let him become larger in significance to you than me. You are to grow in your likeness of him, not me. That's what a true minister seeks. Now, John is certainly, John the Baptist was certainly wanting them to remember his testimony. I want you to remember my testimony. You need to follow him. Give your best attention to him. Increase in his likeness. All that. Let him be large in your significance, in your daily routine. You see, ministries decrease.

38:17And Jesus increases. Why? Four reasons. I'm in two of the fours today, I guess. I don't know. And this is what John lays out in verse 31. His rank is superior to ours. Look at that. 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. So he's saying, yes, we must decrease, and he must increase because his rank is superior to ours. Then he goes on in verses 32 to 34 to say, his words are superior to ours.

38:53What he has seen and heard of that he testifies. See, his testimony is that of personal experience. What he has seen, what he has heard, and no one receives his testimony. He who has received his testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. You see, his words are God's words. Our words are not God's words, unless we're quoting him. His testimony is God's testimony, his words are God's words, for whom God has sent, for he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

39:43Third reason why ministries must decrease and his name increase is that his relationship with the Father is superior to ours. Look at verse 35. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands, and he's not taking it back out of his hands. All things belong to him. And fourth reason why he must increase and we must decrease is that his mission is greater than ours. Look at verse 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. And what a noble mission.

40:31To have a name that when people believe in it, the wrath of God is removed. Listen, none of us have that kind of name, right? His mission is so superior. You can believe all you want in John the Baptist, but it's not going to bring eternal life. You can believe all you want in any man, any religious leader, any woman, any relationship, any person whatsoever, any institution on planet Earth, and you can believe in it to the highest degree, but it will not give you life.

41:09Only Jesus links us to eternal life because He Himself is life. His mission is greater than ours, and because of that, earthly ministries must decrease, but His name increase. Well, going back to John chapter 10, verse 41, the purpose of a true ministry. Many came to him and were saying, Well, John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man is true. You see, the purpose of a ministry is to provide a true testimony to the Christ of Scripture.

42:02Then the question is, why? Do you love that question? Why? You should ask it a lot. Ask scripture the question why a lot because the answer is always so profound. Why? Why does God want true ministries? Why does he want there to be a place for true ministry? Why is there a purpose for true ministry? Why? Because God has a desired outcome. There is a product that God is looking for from a true ministry. You see the Ps? Place, purpose. There's a product. God uses a true ministry to produce a product that He is after. Look back at verse 42. Many believed in Him there.

42:57Many believed. Many believed because of John the Baptist. Including John the Apostle believed because of John the Baptist. I mean, the outcome is something that only God can do. Believe. And this is remarkable that true faith occurred when it didn't occur in the face of so many miracles. They heard the testimony of John and all that he said about Christ and the words of John, though John didn't do any miracle, yet faith is produced. Faith is brought about.

43:49I read it earlier. But just you see the fulfillment of Luke's purpose, right? In verse 13 of Luke 1, I read it earlier. But the angel said to Zacharias, Do not be afraid. Elizabeth will bear you a son. You will have joy and gladness, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while in his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.

44:24That's him. This is what he did. And this is the final analysis on John the Baptist's life. What a glorious one. What a glorious epitaph. Everything that this guy said about Jesus was true. Everything his life said, whether in word or in deed, everything he said about Jesus was true. How would you like that to be written at the top of your head? Everything this person said was true. Well, I hope that's what we will have here at Emmanuel. I hope that will be the epitaph for Emmanuel Baptist Church. Everything that we proclaimed about the Christ of Scripture, whether in word or deed, was true. And as a result of that, people came. The bride and bridegroom came together. And that's the product. People recognizing, hearing, following in relationship with Jesus.

45:37You know, I often think of a church as like a launching pad. You see the rocket go up, you see all the scaffolding kind of fall down, and in many cases, that scaffolding's gone. Right? But then the launch takes place. I think to a large degree that you can think of the church as a launching pad for relationships with Christ. Why do we come together? Ministry may, whether our associations are going to pass and fade, and even denominations come and go, but what remains is that relationship with Christ.

46:16And that is what we're about. We want to see people hearing their Savior's voice, loving Him more deeply, following Him more sincerely. And why is this? Because we know he is the good shepherd. That's what John 10 is all about. We believe him. He is the good shepherd. Well, as we close, I do have a video. Do you have that with the sheep? Do you not have it? It's okay if you don't, that's okay. As we reflect, I had a short little, you know, we're pretty far removed from the world of shepherding. But if I could catch one visual image, and it's that of sheep from all over hearing their master's voice and coming to him.

47:30And you got it. Well, as we close, we'll just reflect in prayer upon this imagery, and then we'll have a short time of silent prayer in silence, and I'll just get up here and close the service.