8.13.17 ~ John 3:22-36, “John Less, Jesus More.”

Last week we finished up the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus,

recorded in John 3:1-21. Today we’ll study how John the Baptist’s ministry gives way to the public ministry of Jesus.
Read John 3:22-24... We now leave the events of Christ “cleansing the temple and His instruction to Nicodemus about being born-again [of the Spirit, from above].

Jesus leaves Jerusalem to spend time with His disciples and begin His public preaching ministry, which leads to many being baptized, after hearing and being convicted in their hearts of their need to repent and believe (Matthew 4:17) “From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

True Christian baptism didn’t take place until after Christ had died and then rose again from the grave. One of the clearest instructions about water baptism is found in Romans 6:3-11, where our dying with Christ (being immersed) and then given new life in Him (being raised), is clearly illustrated.

So, we are told (John 3:22) that Jesus left Jerusalem to go to Judea “where He spent some time [a considerable amount of time] with them [His disciples], and baptized (Jesus never personally baptized anyone: John 4:2, “in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples).

During this time, John went north to Samaria where he was baptizing at a place called Aenon [meaning springs] (verse 23) “because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized.”

Although Jesus’ ministry was increasing, many were still coming to John to be baptized. Notice 3:24 (This was before John the Baptist was put in prison.). Why did John record that? Perhaps because the Synoptics (Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14; Luke 3:19-20) begin their narrative of Jesus’ public ministry after John had been arrested and placed in prison.

When John the apostle wrote his gospel, the Synoptics had already been circulating for many years, so in order to not cause confusion, John clarifies that Jesus actually began His ministry while John the Baptist was still alive, free and baptizing in Samaria.
Read John 3:25-30... During the time that Jesus was preaching and John was baptizing, there came about a discussion between John’s disciples and some particular Jew about purification. Note: Remember the large stone water jars in John 2:6, at the wedding in Cana, they were used for ceremonial washing [purification], and this was an important practice for orthodox Jews.

But it seems here, the concern of John’s disciples is much deeper than any discussion about purification; they are upset that many people are going to Jesus

(3:26), “that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan - the one you testified about - well, He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him."

They don’t even mention Jesus’ name, but complain that He was causing a decrease in John’s following, as if Jesus and John were competitors.

How did John’s disciples totally misunderstand the importance of John’s ministry, which was always to direct attention to the Messiah (see John 1:19-31).

John was not offended by his own decreasing popularity, this is what he expected to happen (see John 3:27-28). John made it very clear that he was the forerunner of the Messiah, as one “crying out in the wilderness, ‘the Lord is here!’” To see the attention going to Jesus brought great joy to John.

This is a great reminder that any ministry that does not focus primarily on Christ as the object of its worship and reverence, is way out of balance. This was and still is a definite problem in the “church,” as sometimes prominent pastors, leaders, authors and musicians in the church become very popular, and they may forget that they are not to be the object or focus of attention, but God and His Word are to be worshipped.

When people follow popular individuals in the church, instead of Christ, who is the head of the church, bad things happen, cults and false doctrines emerge and gain popularity, e.g., the seeker church movement, the emergent church, the word of faith and prosperity gospel movements with a wide cast of characters: Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyers, Benny Hinn, Paula White, TD Jakes, Beth Moore, Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Fred Price, etc., etc.

It is bad enough that there are so many false teachers who deceive large numbers of so-called believers; but there are also those genuine Christian pastors and leaders who gain so much attention that Jesus is, sometimes, shamefully eclipsed by their popularity.

Paul put it this way (1Corinthians 1:12), “One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ,” (see 1Corinthians 3:4-8, 11).

John never wavered in his subservient role to Christ. In 3:29 John images himself as a friend [best man] of the bridegroom [Christ]. Before the wedding, the best man has many responsibilities concerning the details of the wedding, perhaps even bringing the bride to the bridegroom so the ceremony can begin; but once bride and groom are brought together, the best man’s work is done and the attention now moves to the bridegroom.

There was never competition between John and Jesus, in fact, proclaiming His coming, and directing the crowds to Him, was John’s greatest joy.

In 3:30 John expresses genuine humility saying, “He [Jesus] must become greater; I must become less.” John got Israel’s attention by proclaiming their sinfulness and their need to repent and seek forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Read John 3:31-34... John the Baptist contrasts the heavenly origin of Jesus, with his own earthly origin. John was a man sent by God, Jesus is God incarnate (Colossians 1:19), “God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him [for], “In Christ came the Light and Life of God (cf. John 1:4); and in fact (John 1:14), God lived among us in the body of Jesus, full of grace and truth, in order (John 1:18) to show us the Father, that we might believe His Son and be saved.

The majority of people in this world (John 3:32), will reject Christ, as John noted in the beginning of this gospel (see John 1:9-11).

Unbelievers, either by direct disobedience or purposed negligence, reject the testimony of Jesus Christ and the revelation of God, therefore (Romans 1:18-20), “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--His eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

Although the majority of people reject Jesus’ message, there are many (John 3:33) who accept it, believing that God is speaking eternal truth through the Word of God (John 17:17), “Your Word is truth.”

Jesus was one with the Father (John 10:30). See John 5:21-27. God the Father spoke from heaven (Matthew 17:5) saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" No wonder Jesus proclaims (John 14:6), "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. And then, expressing total oneness in authority, power and personhood, Jesus says (John 14:9), “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

The prophets of old were empowered and inspired by the Holy Spirit; John the Baptist was (Luke 1:15), “filled with the Holy Sprit while he was still in his mother’s womb,” but Jesus Christ was fully God, Immanuel [God with us] (Colossians 2:9), “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” Read John 3:35-36... Because of the Father’s great love for His Son, He has given all authority to Christ in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

John has fulfilled his sovereign mission, to proclaim and present God’s Son (see Matthew 11:1-19). Not long after this John was arrested and then beheaded by Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee (see Matthew 14:3-11).

John declares (John 3:36) that there are only two choices for men, women and children of age - believe in and obey Jesus (receiving eternal salvation), or deny Him, rejecting the gospel of Christ (receiving eternal condemnation).

The ultimate truth and reality is that God sent His Son to save us, but if we willfully refuse God’s gift of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ, unwilling to repent, believe and follow Christ, we will experience an eternity of pain and torment in the lake of fire, forever shut out from God’s love, kindness, provision, pleasure and presence.
1John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

As Christians, our two-fold purpose is to live a life for Christ and to tell others abut Him, so they might believe, repent and be saved, now and forever, for (1Timothy 2:3-6), “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time.”

Pastor Mike <’(((><