John 3:22- 35 “ True greatness”
True greatness for some is thrust upon them (Monarchy) for others its pursued & they make a success in a particular field whether sport entertainment business and so on . You’ve received or the accolades, you have a vast portfolio , you have a major influence on others around you and others around can see it and submit to your greatness. (X- factor- Simon Cowell ) Others think true greatness is when you have left an indelible mark on the course of history never to be forgotten for instance in the field of literature - William Shakespeare, science - Charles Darwin, the political arena with Winston Churchill the sphere of Religion and Mother Teresa.
“But the cost of true greatness is humble, selfless, sacrificial service. The Christian who desires to be great and first in the kingdom is the one who is willing to serve in the hard place, the demanding place, the place where he is not appreciated and may even be persecuted. Knowing that time is short and eternity is long, he is willing to spend and be spent. He is willing to work for excellence without becoming proud, to withstand criticism without becoming bitter, to be misjudged without becoming defensive, and to withstand suffering without succumbing to self-pity.” (The MacArthur NT Commentary, MT. 16-23. Chicago: Moody, 1988. 243).
Jesus changes the mindset of true greatness on it head (Luke 9:48) As the disciple argue about who is the greatest amongst them t Jesus explains that “ For he who is least amongst you all, he is the greatest.”
And John the Baptist of course embodies for us that true Christian greatness as he said to his own complexed disciples these words (30) “He must become greater & I must become less.” They wanted to exalt Him and themselves, he wanted to exalt Jesus Christ alone. And that’s why of this man, Jesus would say Matt: 11:11. Among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist (real off contenders of greatness)
1. True greatness is not found in a petty spirit or empire building V22 -26
Context: Jesus and his disciples have come out of Jerusalem and have gone out into the Judean countryside (22) here his disciples began baptising people. This was John the Baptist territory because in a similar location there is John the Baptist & his disciples (23) who were baptising individuals also (23) The location appears to be well suited to baptisms as a good supply of water and a constant flow of people wishing to be baptised (23) . (This wasn’t a believers baptism - but a baptism of repentance) .
(25) An argument breaks out amongst Johns disciples and a Jew about ceremonial washing and in the meantime out of the corner of their eyes they are seeing that Jesus disciples are also baptising people , and Johns disciples are deeply concerned and so they go to see their Rabbi (teacher)John . That man who was withyou on the other side of the Jordan – the one you testified about, he’s baptising & (26) everyone is going to him.
So they are losing out, there not becoming our followers but somebody else’s, there not part of our little kingdom but somebody else’s. Remember earlier they had lost two disciples (1:37) Andrew and another now masses of people were being baptised by that same group of people. A petty party spirit has manifested itself in these disciples of John, their little empire building mentality is under threat, should they not be filled with Joy because others are being baptised ?
Application: . A petty spirit the Church is forever squabbling with others(25) pointing fingers at others (26) , sometimes justified if heretical of course. We endeavour to maintain our little empire of Christianity, sometimes it grows other times its just surviving. But with a petty spirit we begin to strangle one another, our time together becomes a chore, it becomes a duty and not a delight . We look at others and forever complain , the malady of petty spirit, because our kingdom is under threat. We seek to justify our spirits outworking with good intentions but its deceived by a petty spirit.
• I know only too well from personal experience this malady (petty spirit), it is a symptom God’s people must avoid for its not assign of true greatness but of our fallen nature. .
Empire building Johns disciples were under threat, they were losing disciples, So often we are endeavouring to maintain our own little corner of Christianity, in the process we can become blinkered to the increase of true Christianity outside our own group. As a result we lose the joy of rejoicing seeing multitudes coming to Christ all other the world, because we are blinkered upon our own little kingdom. we become critical of other forms of Christianity and manipulative and controlling . May God deliver us from empire building . Let us be disciples sending one another out into the whole world making disciples of others in the process.
2. True greatness is found when we submit ourselves too the sovereign will of God V27 – 30.
(Submission is seen as a weakness but to the Christian it’s a strength, submission to the will of God & a pattern found n our Saviour and all true disciples)
John was a great and eminent man of God, a fore runner to Jesus, with a hugely successful ministry with hundreds being baptised daily in the river Jordan, with his own band of disciples. Jesus said of John the Baptist Matt: 11:11. Among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist, Jesus bestows greatness upon John not because of his exploits but because he was a man called of God to be the forerunner of Jesus a man who submitted his whole life to the sovereign will of God.
We saw earlier that John never accepted the flattering titles given towards him by the delegation from Jerusalem (19 -23) ( whether he was Messiah, Elijah & the prophet) he declined such titles, each time he simply said “no” he merely humbly stated he was a voice calling out in the wilderness (23).
John’s whole life ministry never pointed to himself but pointed to Christ, (1: 26-27 , 29 -30, 36, 3:27 -30,) his preaching ministry continually pointed to the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world and his continually refrain to others was that (Jesus) (30) must become greater; I must become lesser . John knew that Jesus had come from above and that he was from the earth and that Jesus was above all (3:31).
He saw his purpose in the will of God and submitted himself too it , he didn’t seek grandeur, he humbled himself, he became obedient to the will of God (Phil 2:1-5) reminds us of Jesus.
• Are we submitting our wills, our lives, to the will of God, are we being obedient to him to his call upon our lives, are we saying your will be done, rather than my will be done. God has a perfect plan for our lives, He has prepared God works for us in advance to walk in (Eph 2:10).
a. John states to his disciples that everything is from God and that he serves Gods purposes all that he has received and accomplished is from God ( heaven) (27) and so it is was with Jesus . (28) He reminds them of his testimony that he is not the Christ but only the one sent ahead (28) . Here we see a man who is content with his role, with his position in life, he is happy, in fact he is filled with Joy as he sees the Bridegroom Christ.
Application Are you content in life with your position ~ have you accepted the position of others also , that God has granted them? Many individuals are seeking greatness over others , personal gain , fulfilment, healing always thinking that in the future things will be different rather that accepting the gift of the present.
John goes on to tell his disciples to accept this situation because a man can only receive what has been given by God. God desires us not to seek our own greatness above others but to humbly serve him in the present in what God has given us to do, and then you truly will be great. Matt 11:11 I tell you the truth Among those born of a women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
b. (29) John uses a parable to unpack his role to his disciples, he gives them a wedding scene, the bridegroom (Jesus ) the bride is (his church) the friend of the bridegroom, (John) the friend attends to the bridegroom s needs, he listens to him, it’s not his day, it’s the bridegrooms, but is filled with Joy as the occasion commences. (OT pic: Isa 62: 4-5, Je 2:2, Hos 2:16-20 Israel the bride of the Lord : NT 2 Cor 11:2, Eph 5:25-27; Rev 21:2,9: 22:17. The Church the bride of the Lord ) The joy of the best man, that Joy is mine says John.
(29) John sees the big picture he sees his role in the purposes of God, while others are critical he is filled with Joy that his God given ministry has been fulfilled and completed and so rather than being critical about our roles in life seek out your God ordained purposes & make Him Great and be filled with Joy.
c) (30) He must become greater I must become less In this statement we again seeing the Christian triat of humble submission to the will of God. This is Gods will for his life......This is Gods ordained purposed , John desires to become less & less as Jesus becomes more. John Joyfully submits himself to the will of God as he points to the one who is greater, this is true greatness!
3. True greatness magnifies the Lord Jesus Christ 31 - 35
• These verses appear to be a reflective explanation of the evangelist himself in regard John the Baptist becoming less & Jesus becoming greater. He’s placing a magnifying Glass upon the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word incarnate, he is explaining why he must become greater!
a) Heaven/ Earth (31) Jesus is from above/ John is from the earth: He explains Jesus is above (Jhn3:3) all, he comes from above (31) not from the earth like himself , who speak earthly things, He speaks heavenly things, John could only take people so far, he called people to repent and be baptised but he couldn’t provide regeneration from above by the water & Spirit (5) that Jesus promised. John was baptised with water, but he was told from above that Jesus could baptise with the Holy Spirit (1:32-34) But one thing is for sure John always magnified Jesus the Son of God.
b) Testimony (32 - 33) Despite His greatness of this one , John restates the negative reception that Jesus received in regard to his testimony (3:32) ( John 1:10,11) and the evaluation of Jesus himself (3:11). (33) Positively those who accept him (John 1:12) see the truth and know He is from God and speaks the Word of God. Negative & positive consequences (36)
c) (34) His mission the Spirit without limit: Throughout redemptive history God sent His prophets filled with a measure of the Spirit to bring the Word of God to His people, but this was always in part. Now in the fullness of time God sent his Son born of women and He speaks the Word of God unlike the prophets He is filled with the Spirit without measure! (35) The Father loves the Son has placed everything in his hands, the Son loves the Father and is obedient to fulfil His Fathers will, our redemption is all l because of the loving relationship of the Godhead Father Son & Holy Spirit . The Son is the Fathers envoy to show us the true extent of His Love for us!
Magnifying God: Sunday by Sunday as we come to worship & hear His Word we are magnifying God. It’s my specific calling as a preacher to magnify Jesus, to reveal His Glory, in His Word! To show you the heart of God, that you might go away from filled with the Glory of God. That he might be magnified in your own heart and mind, that you might be filled with a passion for God. That you will share Him with others magnifying the Lord Jesus in all His Glory!
But let’s never forget we also magnify the Lord Jesus through our lives, day after day before others.
Closing Story: Bill was a drunk, converted at a city mission. Before his conversion he had gained a reputation as a tramp and alcoholic for whom there was no hope. But when he was converted everything changed. He became the most caring person at the mission. He spent all his days there doing whatever needed to be done. There was never anything he was asked to do that he considered beneath him. Whether it was cleaning up vomit left by some alcoholic or scrubbing toilets used by men who left them filthy, Bill did it all with a heart of gratitude. He could be counted on to feed any man who wandered in off the streets , and care for his needs when he was unable to care for himself.
One evening after the mission director delivered his evangelistic message to the usual crowd of solemn men with drooped heads, one of them came down to the alter and kneeled to pray, crying out to God to help him change. The repentant drunk kept shouting, “O God make me like Bill! Make me like Bill! Make me like Bill!” The director of the mission leaned over and said, “Wouldn’t it be better if you pray , Make me like Jesus?” After thinking about it for a few seconds, the man looked up and asked, “Is he like Bill?”
Friends this is the spirit of true greatness its found in those who avoid a petty spirit, who don’t seek glory for themselves but Jesus , who humbly submit their lives to the will of God, and who through word & deed magnify the Lord Jesus in all things Amen
