Don’t Lose Your Focus

John 3:25-27 (NIV) “An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John (The Baptist) and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.”

As we examine this text of scripture found in the John’s Gospel 3:22-36, I’ve come to understand that it is the the cliff note version of John The Baptist’s Life Story. It clearly outlines John’s purpose and mission in life, as defined by God, Almighty. This understanding allows for John to say focused on his calling. Thus not letting outsiders with ill intent to influence him nor become a distraction to him and his followers.

This section of scripture begins with Jesus taking His disciples on a field trip; John 3:22 “After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.”

We learn in John 4:1-2 the reason for the departure into the Judean countryside was for Jesus to continue with the training of His Disciples.

John 4:1 “When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware that He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, he departed form Judea to Galilee.

John 4:2 (although it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples)

Don’t Lose Your Focus

I. Senseless Arguments. II. Spiritual Answers III. Superior Authority

I.) Senseless Argument

John 3:25-26 “An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

As I studied this passage, I could not help but to think of where we are today in our political system: This tactic of allowing outsiders to interject chaos into our life or into the lives of your country; mission is as old as the beginning of time:

Satan in the garden Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden '?"

Job 1:6 “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.”

Zechariah 3:1 “Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.”

Nehemiah 4:1-3 “When Sanballat heard that we were building the wall of Jerusalem, he was very angry and upset. He started making fun of the Jews. 2 Sanballat talked with his friends and the army at Samaria and said, “What are these weak Jews doing? Do they think we will leave them alone? Do they think they will offer sacrifices? Maybe they think they can finish building in only one day. They cannot bring stones back to life from these piles of trash and dirt. These are just piles of ashes and dirt!””

Matthew 16:6 - Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Saints of God, I’m here to tell you that Satan not comes to kill, steal and destroy you, but he will use lessor tactics to distract you.

Distraction meaning: a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else, extreme agitation of the mind or emotions.

Letting others influence you while you are working or doing the will of God is just as bad as not doing the assigned task. . . I don’t have your undivided attention, deadlines are missed, the thoroughness needed to successfully complete the task is diminished.

I our text we find that John The Baptist was aptly equipped to handle the distraction. He reverted back to his mission and purpose in life - he looked at the owners manual.

Pulpit Commentary: John’s disciples appear to have taken up arms against some particular Jew, who was prepared either to question the right of Jesus to baptize, or the essential value of this ordinance.

This "Jew" was apparently maintaining a greater potency for the baptism of Jesus than John could claim for his, and was basing his view upon the testimony which John had already borne to Jesus.

The question arose among those who had been baptized by John, whether another had any right to administer such an ordinance?

Isaiah 40:3 “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”