Adding And Subtracting

Adding and Subtracting

John 3:22–30 (ESV)

“He must increase, but I must decrease”

The third chapter of John is best known for Nicodemus and John 3:16

But this chapter also records an incident that is very important to the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus

I. The Context

1. Verse 22 begins a new section

22After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized

2. The situation is ripe for conflict

a. Two groups baptizing in close proximity

b. The John the Baptist group and the Jesus group

c. vs 25 – “a discussion arose” (dispute - question – argument)

3. The nature of the dispute is not described in detail, but it seems to relate to the idea water baptism (purification rites)

a. The Jews practiced ritual washings, but John introduced something radically new with the act of baptizing (immersing) Jews

b. Jews were familiar with ritual washings and Gentiles had to go through a ritual washing in order to convert to Judaism

c. But no Jew had ever been baptized before

d. John burst upon the scene calling upon Jews to repent and submit to a type of washing once reserved for Gentile converts

e. Jesus begins a ministry of baptizing that quickly draws multitudes of people

f. John 3:25 tells us that questions arose about the form of washing – the validity of the form – the meaning of the form – the result of the form

4. There was confusion over baptism 2,000 years ago – there is still confusion today

a. Do you have to be baptized to be saved?

b. Does baptism wash away your sin?

c. Does the form of baptism matter?

d. Was John’s baptism the same as Christian baptism?

5. These are important questions, but they divert us from the real issue at hand

a. vs 26 suggests that the real issue was not theology but jealousy –

They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness - look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him." (vs. 26)

b. John’s disciples and supporters were jealous that Jesus was beginning to draw larger crowds than John

II. The Controversy

1. The disciples of John the Baptist were putting John in the position of competing with Jesus

2. The disciples of John wanted to make the conversation about him

a. YOU were here first

b. YOU baptized him

c. “He” was with YOU – by implication “YOUR disciple”

d. The crowds were coming to YOU

e. It’s not fair

f. “DO SOMETHING!”

3. It is often the case in life that we become jealous and envious of those who appear to be doing better than we are

a. True in the spiritual realm as well

b. Pastors do it – the “numbers game”

c. Among churches there is often the atmosphere of competition rather than celebration concerning spiritual victories

III. The Correction

1. When John the Baptist was made aware of the dispute, he lifted the conversation to a higher level

2. READ: vv 27-29

27John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.'

29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

3. Notice four things that John invokes to end the controversy

a. The sovereignty of God (vs. 27) – God gives the increase – we have no bragging rights (1 Cor 3:1-9)

b. Accepting yourself (vs.28)

1) John knew who he was and what he had been called to do (Jn. 13:3-4)

2) Refusing to think more highly of himself than he should, he was content to be the best self he could be (see Romans 12:3)

3) John was simply a voice in the wilderness giving witness to the One who would come after him

4) His was a “secondary” ministry

5) He was sent before the Messiah to “Prepare the way”

6) John found fulfillment in being and doing what God wanted him to be and do

TRANSTION: (God is sovereign – self-awareness . . .)

c. Giving Jesus the place of honor (vs. 29)

1) John used the analogy of a wedding

2) Jesus is the bridegroom – he likens himself to “best man”

3) The best man shares the joy of the bridegroom -

4) But the bridegroom gets the “bride”