The Increasing Glory of Jesus Part 1 - John 3:22-30

2:18If you went into my garden, you would see I major in perennials. Weeds, that is, exactly. Perennial weeds. Exactly. Well, I want to talk to you this morning about a perennial weed in your life, that perennial sin of pride, that sin that shows itself in many ways, in many different stations in life. For instance, there is the manifestation of pride in our maybe our inner expressions. That is maybe an exalted feeling. Or an exalted view of yourself, or an exalted view. Now, a lot of people don't see these, but these are there. You see them. Maybe it's an exalted feeling of yourself due to the success that you've had, or maybe a good training in a certain area, or maybe the way you look. Maybe you really like the way you look, you know, and you get this inner, wow, got it today. Good hair day. Wow.

3:28Or maybe it's in your natural gifts or abilities or a spirit of importance. That's kind of a pride that manifests itself in you. It's somewhat secret. But then there's that pride that manifests itself in the love of human praise. It's that fondness to be noticed. That love of being first, that love of supremacy, just edging out the competition right next to you, just a little bit, right? Or maybe it's that love of human praise that you love to draw attention to yourself in conversation. All this is a form of pride, and it's perennial. It shows up in all different places and seasons of life. Sometimes that pride manifests itself as a jealous disposition, maybe a secret spirit of envy. That's shut up in your heart. Maybe it's an unpleasant sensation when you see other people and their great prosperity. And instead of rejoicing, there's a twinge of, I want that.

4:47Maybe it's a disposition to spread the faults or to major on the faults and failings of somebody rather than their gifts and talents that seem to outpace you. Well, pride manifests itself in many, many ways. And if there is one individual that might have a secret sense of pride or a love for human praise or a jealous disposition about others' success, might expect it to be John the Baptist because of the pinnacle of success that this individual was.

5:30But we, in our passage this morning, we're going to look at a man who exhibits absolutely no pride at all. Let's just walk through this. We'll start, just want to walk through this text and get to the sermon here in a minute. But I want you to see the setting, the setting. Verse 22: after these things, that is, after the events in the conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus and his disciples. Came into the land of Judea. They went out from Jerusalem into the surrounding countryside, and there he was spending some time with them and baptizing. Later, it's going to be clear that Jesus was baptizing through the agency of his disciples. He wasn't baptizing himself. John was also baptizing in Anon, near Selim. So there two are baptizing near each other, and because there was much water there, I think a strong indication of baptism by immersion. Won't make much of it because John isn't making much of it here. And the people were coming and being baptized, for John had not yet been thrown into prison. So there was a period of overlapping ministry. Jesus on the rise, John on the descent. Two great leaders, both baptizing. So that's the setting. Now look at a debate breaks out in verse 25. Therefore, there arose a discussion on the part of John's disciples with the Jew about purification. Purification being that ceremonial cleansing. There's a Jew, nondescript Jew, who he is, really doesn't matter because John doesn't major on it. The exact debate about purification or the content of the debate isn't even the main issue here. But it had to do with ceremonial washing. Maybe it had to do with the nature of purification.

7:31Or maybe it had to do how one is purified. We've got ceremonial washing going on here. Or maybe it was which baptism is more purifying? Jesus's or John's? Don't know. Don't know. But a debate arose. But that wasn't the main concern. That just brought out the main concern. Verse 26. Here's the main concern. And they came to John. These were his disciples. And they, John's disciples, 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. Now, that's a little bit of hyperbole because they've already said, because the text already says that some were coming to John to be baptized, but more clearly are going to Jesus to be baptized. So you sense in their statement, it's like, Rabbi John the Baptist, people are leaving you and they're going for Jesus. And they're concerned. They didn't like watching their rabbi take second place.

8:51Their concern is a mixture. It's a mixed drink of party spirit menstrual. Ministerial envy, maybe professional jealousy, and even hurt pride. Because if John is becoming lesser, John the Baptist is becoming lesser, then obviously so are his followers. And keep in mind, already Andrew and John the Apostle have left and are with Jesus. So you see this changing. The crowds are going elsewhere, and his disciples are concerned. That's the issue. Now, put yourself in the Baptist situation. How do you think you would feel?

9:37What would you do? I mean, after enjoying years of headline success, now your ministry is being eclipsed by another. What would you do? I think many of us might feel a sense of loss, right? A sense of being forgotten, outpaced. And a very natural impulse would probably be to throw a little pity poverty, maybe, or assert ourselves. Well, yeah, well, let me tell you this. He doesn't do this, he can't do this, and I busy, let me, let me, and start asserting self. And that would be a very natural impulse.

10:26But John's answer to their concern begins. In verse 27, and it is anything but a pity party. It is the exact opposite. And by the end of this, you will see John's celebration in what's taking place. So, this morning, what we're going to be looking at in verses 27 through 30 is the answer or Jesus's response to this concern of the disciples. And keep in mind, this is the response of the man that Jesus says, Truly, I say to you, among those born of women, there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist. This is a man, this is someone to emulate. And his response is so instructive. And we can appreciate what's happening here. This is the point in John's life where he begins his descent. We can think of him as the fading glory of a bright star.

11:33And how one handles fading success tells you a lot about a person. And that's the moment we're at here with John the Baptist. We're seeing how he responds to this fading success. And it's beautiful, and it is brilliant, and it is so instructive to us. And as we go through this text, We're going to see a man that is totally devoted to Christ's glory. There is not a shred holding back. It is a man. What a wonderful forerunner.

12:13What a guy to raise the bar and standard of ministry, the forerunner. He is a man totally devoted to Christ's glory. And so I want you to see four characteristics of a person totally devoted to glorifying Jesus so that you will be one. Four characteristics. Let's just start working our way through this. A person totally devoted to glorifying Jesus has four qualities. And the first one is a person has a settled understanding of heaven's authority. A settled understanding of heaven's authority. Look back. Look back, if you will, at verse 27. A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. Now, this is a heavenly axiom. This is a universal principle of life. Look back at this. A man.

13:08And I believe John is certainly including himself. I think the emphasis upon himself. Look, I can receive nothing. And certainly, the principle is true for Jesus as well. He can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. But it's John saying, a man, I cannot receive anything. Unless it has been given to me from heaven. But look at, a man can receive nothing. Literally, a man cannot even receive one thing. That's the expression. Unless it has already been given to him from heaven. A man can receive nothing, not even one thing, unless it has been given, already been given to him from heaven. Universal principle of life. We have a police department, right? They oversee the affairs of the police, right? We have a state department that would oversee the affairs of the state, right? Well, the heavenly department is over everything and every little detail.

14:13But look at how this, the reality of this universal premise or principle really impacted John's view of his situation. John looked at heaven, looked at what he had received to heaven, and he didn't have any reason to compare himself to somebody else. He had a specific calling and a specific purpose, and it was given to him and couldn't be taken away from anybody else. He had no interest, and get this, John had no interest in exceeding his calling. To do so would go beyond what heaven had given him. He was perfectly content in the life. And calling that God had given him. Wow, that we would be like that. He understood heaven's authority and was joyfully resigned to it.

15:16And by being joyfully resigned to heaven's glory or heaven's authority, he increased the glory of Jesus. But this reality really freed John at this moment in his life to just celebrate it. I want to share how this reality should also impact us. I know everyone's looking around at the well, let's just take a timeout for just a second. Rain, the wind, a big part of it. What we'll do is we'll just keep going, okay? And trust that the Lord's got this in hand, right? Every little detail, we can receive nothing unless it's given to us. He's given us this moment. Let's go with this moment and enjoy this and try to focus up here and just interpret all that as God's saying amen. Okay? He's already said amen in his word, and so we'll just go with it. So please try to keep your attention up here, and we'll be fine.

16:24But this is an incredibly liberating outcome. Axiom of life. If you really believe heaven's authority and that you can receive absolutely nothing, not even one thing, unless it has been given to you from heaven, wow, that brings about total freedom. Think about it as it relates to the realm of human relationships. It liberates you to think: okay, nothing can be taken away, nothing can be given to me except what's given from heaven. Then that frees us to serve, it frees us to rejoice in the successes of others, and it frees us so that we don't have to compare ourselves to other people. That's freedom. But in the reality, it also frees us in the realm of earthly possessions. We're free to enjoy what God has given. And we are free to be content in all that He has given, no matter how much we think we ought to have, right? Or what someone else has. We're free to be thankful. We're free to be generous. We are free with earthly possessions.

17:43And as it relates to self-promotion, think about this. It's an understanding that even exaltation comes from the Lord. And that's what's going on here. Reminded by the words of Psalm 75:6, for not From the East, nor from the West. I got that wrong. Not from the East and not from the West, nor from the desert comes exaltation. But God is the judge. He puts down one and exalts another. And what God does, there is no reversing.

18:21So there's total freedom. There's this total freedom in human relationships and earthly possessions and self-promotion, but certainly as it relates to ministerial success. One commentator says this: Success, promotion, and growth of influence are all gifts which God keeps entirely in His own hands. If one faithful minister's popularity wanes while another's popularity and influence over men's hearts increase, the thing is of God, and we must submit to His appointment. You see, John didn't have to go through life proving something. Isn't that wonderful? And neither do we. In fact, it's a prison. Many of you know or have heard of Amelia Earhart. She was the first female aviator to make a solo trek across the Atlantic. She also thought she'd go around the world, right? And she didn't make it. She didn't make it.

19:26I came across an excerpt from the last letter that she. Gave to her husband before this last flight that she took. And she writes these words: Please know that I am quite aware of the hazards. Women must try to do things as men have tried. And when they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others. Wow. That is a prison. With all due respect, that is a prison to go through life. I can't be outdone. A woman can do whatever a man can do, and therefore I am going to go. I am concerned about what others think, and I'm going to go and I'm going to prove myself.

20:12That's what's happened in our country, by the way. We've had this feminist movement that tells our young ladies that you can do anything a man can do. Now go do it. And that's the message. It's not just that you can, you should, and you must, and you're not really a true woman unless you are. Friends, that is a prison. Prison, living, having to outdo and constantly prove yourself is a prison. It will cost you your life.

20:45Listen, there is such freedom in knowing that everything we have, everything we are, comes from God. My family, my parents that I grew up with, My wife, well, speaking about my parents, I got an email last night from my mom. 50 years ago, my father was in a car accident, and I was in utero. And the accident was so bad that he was pronounced dead on arrival. She prayed, and she had two prayers over the days that followed: that he would live and that I would be born normal.

21:36Well, she got the first one. My father lived. But everything we have comes from God, my family, my parents, my kids, my friends, my co-workers, the government that I live under, the church. All this is from God. My health, my wealth, or my lack of wealth, my time, all that is a gift established from God. Even the trials, the difficulties, the perplexities, and all of life's interruptions, they come from God. Wonderful, what a wonderful reality that I can receive nothing, not even one thing, unless it has been given to me by heaven. That means what I do have is from heaven.

22:31And this totally frees me to be happy and excited to run the race that God has given me. That was the way John the Baptist saw his situation. So a person totally devoted to glorifying Jesus has a settled understanding of heaven's authority. And second, he has a steady resolve to serve Earth's Messiah. A steady resolve to serve Earth's Messiah. Look back at verse 28. You yourselves are my witnesses. I said that I am not the Christ, but I have been sent ahead of him. So here, John tells us what he was not, and he tells us what he was.

23:14Notice the key distinction: I am not the Christ. Not earth-shattering. From day one of his ministry, John made it clear that he was not Earth's Messiah. John wasn't called to be Earth's Messiah, and neither are you and I. So let us increase his glory because that's not us. That's who John said, I am not. He said he was not. But second, look at what he said he was. Key distinction is, I'm not the Christ. His key role was, I serve the Christ. So from day one of John's ministry, he also made it clear that his role was to serve Earth's Messiah. He's not Earth's Messiah, but he came and he was sent ahead of Earth's Messiah to serve him. And this task was given to him from heaven and uniquely given to him from heaven. We're not called to come before Jesus, but we are called to come after him. As John said, he was sent. John the Baptist said he was sent.

24:27Same word is used in John chapter 21 as Jesus describing sending out his disciples and all who would come after him. Same word, apostello, where we get apostle from. So a person totally devoted to glorifying Jesus has a settled understanding of heaven's authority. Second, so a person totally devoted to glorifying Jesus has a settled understanding of heaven's authority, has a steady resolve to serve Earth's Messiah, and number three, has a supreme delight in fulfilling his or her calling. John saw his role as a gift from heaven. He saw it as a great privilege, and this is evident in the analogy that he uses. In verse 29, you look back there, John mentions three key individuals in a Jewish wedding. There's the bride, there's the bridegroom, and the friend of the bridegroom. The bridegroom is Jesus. The Bible is the crowds of people, the believers, true believers. The friend of the bridegroom is John the Baptist. So he's making this analogy. The crowds are the bride that Jesus came for. Jesus is the bridegroom. John the Baptist is the friend of the bridegroom. Now you have to understand a little bit something about the friend of the bridegroom. He was only an assistant. He was not the main showpiece in a marriage or in the marriage celebration. The assistant or the friend of the bridegroom acted for the bridegroom. He made the arrangements for the wedding. He played the lead role in the marriage preparations. So you can think of this from the time of the betrothal, which would have been a year previous to the actual wedding celebration itself. He acted as the liaison between the bride and the bridegroom, and he arranged the wedding. He even took out invitations and presided over the wedding feast. Okay, so I think about this. We have somewhat of an equivalent today in the best man, but he doesn't do anything today like this friend of the bridegroom did in days of old. I guess he's more of a token. I guess, at least in our culture, I guess the women decided, you know what, let us plan the wedding. You know, guys, you know, you can appreciate that.

26:54A bunch of guys planning weddings, you know, well, we can have it in a garage, you know, right? Just move the boxes aside and we'll just go right on. It won't cost us nothing, you know? So I don't know. But anyway, I would digress. But the point is, for a time, and in some ways, this friend of the bridegroom was the main event. Things pertaining to the wedding passed through him. He was the key figure. And on the day of the wedding, the bridegroom would stay at the place of the wedding and the marriage feast, and he would stay there while the bridegroom went to get his bride. And the friend would stand watching and waiting until the moment he heard the sound of the procession with the bride and the groom coming, and then he would send the signal to everyone else: okay, they're coming, the time is ready, the moment is now, places everybody, that kind of thing. He would get ready to erupt in celebration the whole wedding party to receive the bride and the groom. And all eyes were upon him until that moment. And then all of a sudden, things change.

28:17At the moment he hears, he alerts. And from that point on, the focal point was the bride and the groom. His Job was to bring the bride and groom together. He was to make sure the celebration went smoothly and then fade off the scene. But that was really the turning point. The moment he heard, that became the decreasing moment. And two things were absolutely unthinkable. Two things absolutely unthinkable in this custom of the wedding. Number one, it was unthinkable that the friend of the bridegroom would be the center of attention. As the bride and groom came, it's unthinkable that this friend would try to be the center of attention. We can see that now. I mean, just think, we've got several weddings happening this summer, right? You could imagine the best man over there. Here comes the bride and the groom, and here's the, you know, the best man over there, you know, trying to steal the show. You know, it would be pretty silly, right? Well, that's just how foolish one looks when they want to make church all about themselves. They're like a bridegroom trying to steal, I mean, like a best man trying to steal the show from the groom and the bride.

29:40But the second thing that was even more unthinkable was that the friend of the bridegroom would try to seduce and marry the bride. There were cultures where that was illegal, even in Mesopotamia and the ancient. Near East, that there were laws that if you were going to play the role of the friend of the bridegroom and making the arrangements, you're the one with a lot of contact. It was illegal for you to marry or seduce the bride. Heavy, heavy issue. And I'm going to digress. Forgive me if I go a little bit late today. It's raining anyway.

30:26But I want to, if I were to take you into the picture of what pure evil is, based on this text, you know what I would describe pure evil as? A dark, evil groomsman. That's what I think is the picture of the adversary. The one who isn't truly a friend of the groom, but desires the affection and attention of the bride. That is pure evil. It's not this wicked monster. It's this beautifully decked-out. I don't know, I can't wink or whatever, but anyway, that's the picture of evil we see in Scripture. That's the adversary. And we've got to be careful of, number one, being seduced ourselves, but also desiring the attention of the bride, trying to make church all about us. And this isn't. Just about ministers. This is about everyone who steps foot into the church. God has given you a task, given you a place of service, a place to edify and build up his bride, and to see a union between Christ and His bride. It is not for you to command attention. Beware of this spirit of the dark groom within us that seeks to take what belongs to him.

32:06But John, John, with this cultural illustration in mind, I just want to walk through verse 29. John saw himself as a loving friend. The Greek word is philosophy and it's really the word translated a loving friend. John saw himself as a loving friend. And there are two characteristics here that I think jumps out. And by the way, let us let that title be us. Let us think of ourselves and aspire to be a true loving friend to Christ.

32:43But two principles here I think jump out of this. Number one, a loving friend knows that the bride belongs to Jesus. One clear element of a loving friend. Look at verse 29. He who has the bride is the bridegroom. Period. But the second, a loving friend's supreme delight is in fulfilling his service to Jesus, his or her service to Jesus. A loving friend's supreme delight is fulfilling his or her role to Jesus. Look at verse 29. But the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Now think back to that analogy. And this is what John is saying. He's standing in place. He's waiting for the wedding procession. He's listening for the groom and the bride. And just picture the scene. And imagine he's standing there, he's waiting.

33:48And imagine the joy and excitement when the friend starts to see the faintest sounds of the wedding procession as it makes its way to the marriage, the location of the feast. First, it might be a rustle off in the distance, then maybe some faint sounds of some voices. But at some point, as that procession draws near, he's like, this is it. And that's his voice. This is it. You can imagine the joy, the surge of joy and excitement. This has been a year in the planet. Planning or more. And now it's all coming down to this event. This is the moment. That's the joy. It's here. All right, place it. It's coming. And here he comes.

34:46And what does he do? He rejoices greatly. Just picture that moment, that surge of excitement, that joy. That's the moment for which he rejoices greatly. It's a moment he's been waiting for. And I want you to understand John's joy and what he's saying to his disciples. Look back at the last phrase of verse 29. I'll just read the whole thing. He who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who is standing and listening for him or hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So, and this is what I want you to see: this last, so this joy of mine has been made full. There's a demonstrative pronoun there. And what he's saying is, this one, this kind of joy, is now completely mine. He's watching the crowds flock to Jesus.

35:47And John the Baptist is saying to his disciples, This is what I have been waiting for. This is the moment. So the sight that Jesus Disturbed John's disciples really pleased him. And this is how John responded to his fading popularity. This is what I've been waiting for. He must increase, I must decrease. It's a sincere humility. We'll go to look at that next. You know, already, I'll just back up and just say in John 1:35. You remember again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples and he looked, and as Jesus looked at Jesus and he walked as he walked and said, Behold, the Lamb of God. And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. He's already done this. He's already heard his voice. And John the Apostle and Andrew, he said, Look, behold, the Lamb of God. Follow him. That was John's joy. In fact, I believe John the Baptist was smiling when he said those words to John and Andrew. But a person truly devoted to glorifying Jesus has a settled understanding of heaven's authority, a steady resolve to serve Earth's Messiah, a supreme delight in fulfilling his or her calling, and forth, a sincere humility. Verse 30. He must. Increase, but I must decrease. He must. This is a matter of decree. This is a matter of settled disposition of God Himself, a word of God's settled desire concerning the Christ. He must grow, He must increase, but me, I must diminish. It's one of the most profound statements in all of human history.

38:02That's for all of us. Look, we are the image-bearers of God. We are not God. We are the example, not the essence. We are the reflection, not the reality. And so, because of that, he must increase, and we must decrease. And John did not utter these words out of envy or out of self-pity, but out of pure, overflowing joy. It is good that we must decrease. It is so wonderful that he must increase. And as he increases, we can increasingly reflect his glory and not our own. And that's a good thing. You see, John the Baptist knew that his only task had been to bring the bride and Bridegroom together. And when that was done, he was not only willing, but gladly faded out of the center of the picture. He not only willingly, but gladly faded out.

39:15You see, he did not want in any way to rival Jesus. Not in the least. He was no evil groomsman. He didn't desire Christ's place. He didn't desire the bride. He was a true, loving friend. He didn't want to rival Jesus at all. Oh, God, would you give us ministers like this again? God, would you give such men and women to this body right here at Emmanuel Baptist Church? That is my prayer. And oh, God, I pray that you would make Emmanuel a church of this kind of ministers. Talk about a church firing on all cylinders. That's what I want to see here. It's a power that the world cannot reckon with.

40:10Oh, that God would give us ministers who are pleased to decrease before the increasing glory of the majesty and the beauty of the bridegroom Christ. Now, how? How do we do that? How do we get? Cultivate this mindset. I'm going to, real quickly, just tell you two things that if you will hear and take it to heart and remember and daily apply, you will cultivate this same kind of sincere humility that John the Baptist had. First of all, you need to recognize what must happen and why.

40:51First, recognize this: He must increase, He must always be growing in glory. Why? Because this is a must-be from heaven. Isaiah 9:6 says this: For unto us a child will be born, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest on his shoulders, and his name will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, eternal father, prince of peace. There will be no end to the increase of his government or of peace. On the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness, from then and on forevermore, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. There will be no increase. There will be no decrease. There will always be an increase to his government, scope, and depth.

41:43Second thing that must happen: we must be decreasing. And the answer is very simple. Why? Why? We are not all-powerful. We are not all-wise. We are not able to carry the well-being of the world and the universe upon our shoulders. The government is His. We are not the Savior of souls, nor can do so. We are not even the sanctifiers of souls, but Jesus is. So He must increase. He must have a larger place in the hearts of people, in the hearts of our friends, our loved ones, and those who come under our ministry. He must have an increasing place in their lives, and we must have a decreasing place.

42:37So, the second principle, first you need to know what must happen and why. And the second thing is: let your joy be in the person and the role that Jesus has placed you in, in the person of Jesus, and the role that He has placed you in. You see, the more you are occupied with Christ and the tasks that He has given, the less you will be occupied with yourself. Listen, sincere humility is not the product of personal ambition. It is a byproduct of being Jesus-focused.

43:18The more you try to be humble, the less humility you're going to obtain. But the more you are taken with the beauty and glory of Jesus, the more you will. Be humble. Well, I'm going to close. There's a lot more to say. But Jesus basically, or John basically told his disciples three things. Number one, he told them that no man can receive anything more than what God has given him. Second, he told them that he never expected anything less than decreasing. And third, we will do well. I think we will all do well. That it is not to ourselves that we must attach people, but to Jesus Christ.

44:12If you do not know Jesus today, the first thing you need to do in bringing glory to him is recognize that he put you here not to squander your life, but that your life would be given to him, that he would use your life for noble purposes. And what you need to do is repent. You need to turn, and you need to receive Christ for who he is. And this is what John means by believing. Believe. Turn away from the direction you're going. Embrace him and receive him. Let's pray. Heavenly Father. We do give you thanks for everything, for your goodness and your mercy.

45:07Be with us now as we go. In Jesus' name, amen.