The John that is in our passage this morning is not the same John that wrote this Gospel. The John that wrote this Gospel is the brother of James. Jesus called him a son of thunder. He was the one whom Jesus loved. But that’s not the John in our passage. The John in our passage is the one we call John the Baptist. John was a true witness for Jesus. Do you know how you can tell? You can tell because of what happened in verses 22-26 of our passage. John had enjoyed a thriving ministry for a while up until this point. You remember how he did it. He didn’t have a big marketing program. He didn’t have seeker-sensitive services. As a matter of fact he made it tough on people. He purposely set up away from town, so they had to make an attempt to come to him. And then when they got there, he didn’t hold back any punches. He even called the religious leaders a bunch of snakes. He called them a brood of vipers. But in spite of all that, he was attracting huge crowds. He had a thriving ministry. And then what happened? Then Jesus came to town with His disciples. John knew Jesus. He’d even baptized him and sent some of his disciples off with Him. He told the people that Jesus was the Lamb who would take away the sin of the world. And then Jesus went off to Jerusalem and things went on as usual for John. He’d done what he was supposed to do and now it was time to get back to his growing ministry. And it kept growing and it kept growing. To the point that he became famous throughout the land. He was well-known. He was respected as a prophet. So, why in the world did Jesus and His disciples come and set up right down the road from him? That’s what John’s disciples were asking. After this went on for a while, they came to John and told him about it. Like John didn’t already know. They said, “That guy that you told us about is horning in on your business.” “He’s right down the river doing the same thing you are.” “And you know what the bad thing is, John?” “Your people are going over to where He is.” “You’re losing your crowds.” As a matter of fact, they did what people tend to do in situations like that. They exaggerated. They said, “Everybody is going over to Him.” You see, they didn’t have the nature of a true witness. Because a true witness isn’t in it for himself. A true witness isn’t in it to build his own kingdom. He’s in it to build the kingdom of Christ. John was a true witness. When he saw what was going on, it didn’t make him jealous. When he saw his numbers go down, it didn’t make him angry or envious. When people came to him and tried to egg him on, he didn’t bite. He knew that the kingdom of God isn’t a competition. But that’s tough, isn’t it? It’s tough to be like that. It’s tough to put aside our competitive natures and empty ourselves of pride and jealousy and envy, isn’t it? So how can we be like that? How can we have the nature of a true witness like John did? The only way we can truly be like that is to know four things. We have to know our source. We have to know our role. We have to know our joy. And we have to know our goal. First, we have to know our source. Look at verse 27:
JOHN 3:27
As a true witness, John the Baptist knew his source. When those disciples came up to him and tried to prod him into competitive jealousy… he remembered where he came from. Have you ever met anybody who got real big and famous and forgot where they came from? John didn’t forget where he came from. But I’m not talking about his hometown. I’m not talking about his parents. I’m talking about where his ministry came from. When John’s disciples told him that he was losing his ministry to Jesus, what did he tell them? He told them that it wasn’t his to begin with. He told them that the only reason he had that ministry in the first place was that God had given it to him. What a tragedy it is to hear pastors talk about “my” church. Or to talk about “my” ministry. Or to talk about “my” people. Guess what? It isn’t mine. This isn’t my church. This isn’t my ministry. You aren’t my people. The minute I start thinking that way is the minute I’ve lost what it means to be a true witness. Because a true witness understands that it’s all God’s. He gave a ministry to John and expected him to be faithful in that ministry. And He gives me a ministry. And He gives you a ministry. If Jesus has saved you here this morning, He has given you a ministry. The Great Commission that we talk about so much in Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” When it says, “go ye therefore,” many times we think of setting up some special trip somewhere. We think of a missionary trip. But that’s not what the thinking is there. The thinking in the original is a continual, ongoing action. In other words, “As you are going.” If Jesus has saved you, He has given you a ministry. He’s called you to be a witness for Him. Not necessarily in a foreign field. Not necessarily behind a pulpit somewhere. But as you are going. As you are going about your daily business. As you do your job at work. As you are in school. As you meet with friends and neighbors. As you shop in the grocery store. As you go… you are a witness. You’re a witness because your source has called you there. If you believe that God is truly in control, then you have to understand that the things in your life happen for a reason. They happen so that you might bring honor and glory to Jesus in everything. They happen that you might be a witness for Him in everything. As a true witness, you know your source. You know the source of your circumstances. And you know the source of the witness that comes from those circumstances. No room for pride. No room for feelings of defeat or inadequacy. No room for jealousy. No room for discouragement. When you know your source, there’s only room for faithfulness. To be a true witness, you have to know your source. You also have to know your role. Look in verse 28:
JOHN 3:28
As a true witness, John the Baptist knew his role. How easy it would have been for John to go along with those disciples. How easy it would have been for him to go into a panic with them. “I can’t believe Jesus is doing that.” “Why doesn’t He just stay down in Nazarath where He belongs.” “why does He have to come here and take away my crowds?” “After all, I’ve worked hard to build up this reputation and these large crowds.” That would have been very easy for John to say, wouldn’t it? But he didn’t. He didn’t, because as a true witness, he knew his role. And his role wasn’t to point to himself. His role was to point to Jesus. When Paul came to speak to the church at Corinth, do you remember how he presented himself to them? Listen to his words in 1 Corinthians 2:1-4, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” Paul told them that he didn’t come to them as a great speaker. He didn’t come to them with great profound wisdom. He was determined to come to them like he was uneducated and unimpressive. And he did it on purpose. He purposely came to them displaying weakness and fear and trembling and plain, ordinary, unattractive speech. Why did he do that? Was it because that was all he was capable of? Of course not. Paul was one of the most brilliant men of his day. His speeches in Acts are some of the most eloquent in the Bible. He had a tremendous education and oratory skills. So why did he come to Corinth like that? The next verse tells us: “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” Paul knew his role. His role wasn’t to show how brilliant he was. His role was to show how powerful Jesus is. John knew his role. His role wasn’t to show what a big crowd he could build. His role was to point people to Jesus. Do you know what your role is? If you are a true witness, your role is to point people to Jesus. It’s not to make things comfortable for you. It’s not to make things better for you. It’s not to have your needs met. Your role is to point people to Jesus. Your role is to say, “It’s not about me. It’s about Jesus.” To be a true witness, you have to know your role. You have to know your source, you have to know your role, and you have to know your joy. Look with me at verse 29:
JOHN 3:29
As a true witness, John the Baptist knew his joy. What filled John’s heart with joy? Was it looking out over the Judean countryside to see all the people who came to hear him? Was it hearing his disciples brag about all the numbers he’d baptized? Was it hearing about how famous he’d become? No—none of that seemed to matter to John the Baptist. Those things were just a consequence of his faithfulness. He knew that he was responsible to be faithful in the task that God had called him to. And he knew that God was responsible for the results. That’s why all the results of his witness weren’t what filled his heart with joy. They weren’t what filled his heart with joy because he understood that it wasn’t about him. It was about Jesus. When he explained it to his disciples, he used the illustration of a wedding. Now, we don’t really get this, because our weddings are different than theirs were. The closest thing we have to a “friend of the bridegroom” is the best man. My cousin was my best man and he spent most of his time cracking jokes and flirting with Miranda and one of her bridesmaids. That’s not what John was comparing himself to. You see, in a Judean wedding, the friend of the bridegroom had a lot of responsibilities. But his number 1 responsibility was to begin the wedding ceremony. And do you know how he did it? He did it by bringing the bride to the groom and placing her hand in his. That was what John did. Throughout the New Testament, the church is referred to as the bride of Christ. When you are saved, you are placed into this wonderful thing called the church. And when that happens, you are now the bride of Christ. John was the witness that brought the bride to the bridegroom. He took her by the hand… walked her into His presence… and placed her hand into His. And once in the hand of Jesus, He never lets it go. That was John’s joy. He placed the bride’s hand into the hand of the Bridegroom and backed off into the shadows. And as he did, he joyfully joined in the celebration of the wedding supper. What a picture. Is that the picture that comes to your mind as you witness? If you are a true witness for Jesus Christ, you have no greater joy in life than when you have the opportunity to place someone’s hand in the hand of Jesus. Your joy isn’t in the things you do. It isn’t in the money you make. It isn’t in the friends you have. It isn’t in the family you’ve raised. Those things are all temporary. But salvation is eternal. The bride of Christ is eternal. There is no divorce between Jesus the bridegroom and His bride. It is forever. So when a true witness places a hand in the hand of Jesus, how can your joy not be fulfilled? If you’re a true witness, you know your joy. You know your source, your role and your joy. Finally, you know your goal. Look at verse 30:
JOHN 3:30
As a true witness, John the Baptist knew his goal. His goal was not to build a bigger ministry. His goal was not to hold on to what he had at all costs. His goal was not to make a name for himself. His goal was not to be famous and honored throughout the land. No, his goal sounds strange to us. Because it’s contrary to everything we know as Americans. Because we as Americans are always thinking about progress and promotion and growth. The corporate world teaches us that we have to have a mission statement. And from that mission statement, we have to develop and promote a corporate vision. And then from that vision, we have to set goals. They have to be measurable and attainable and realistic. And then we have to work everyday to accomplish those goals. All for the purpose of growing and progressing and getting bigger and better. It’s one thing for that to be taught and practiced in the corporate world. But the exact same model is being used in the church today too. Don’t get me wrong—having a mission statement is great. The Bible has given us one. It’s called the Great Commission. Having a vision and having goals are great. But what is the end of those goals? Is it to get big? Is it to be known? Is it to be the talk of the town? That wasn’t John’s goal. John’s goal was to decrease. It was to make less of himself. It was to have people quit looking at him. John’s goal was to take the focus off of himself and place it squarely on Jesus Christ. He was a true witness. And as a true witness, everything that he did was done to move people’s eyes away from him and move them to Jesus. He didn’t try to take the bride’s hand for himself. He placed it in Jesus’ hand. He didn’t try to make people hear him. He rejoiced in hearing Jesus’ voice. As a true witness, his goal was to increase Jesus. What is your goal this morning? Well Jim, my goal is to get this promotion I’ve been working toward. My goal is to get these bills paid off. My goal is to get things taken care of so I can retire. My goal is to… what? Is it to increase? If it is, then you need to reassess your goals this morning. If Jesus has saved you, He’s given you one job. That’s to be a witness for Him. How can you do that if all you’re doing is trying to increase yourself? Philippians 2:7-8 says that Jesus, “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Just a few verses before that, Paul commands us to have that same mindset—to have the mind of Christ. Do you have that kind of mind this morning? Have you allowed the Lord to empty you of pride and jealousy and envy this morning? Have you allowed Him to empty you of selfishness and stubbornness and sin this morning? If not, then today is the day for you do allow Jesus to increase in your life. Today is the day for you to become a true witness for Christ. Decrease your concern over what other people think about you. Decrease your fear of repercussion. Decrease your selfish desire for your personal comfort. You must decrease. And when you do, then Jesus will increase. He will be magnified. He will be glorified. And He will use you like you can never imagine. Will you decrease so that Jesus might be increased this morning?
