What’s wrong with arguing over ministry importance?
John 3:22-36
Introduction
- The gospel of John screams of the faith that we should have in Christ
-- It is the clearest example of living life FOR the one who redeemed you and I
- Re: The prophet Isaiah already laid out our condition for the OT reader
-- Isaiah 64:6-7, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins.”
- IMP: God is not going to force you to accept His gift of salvation
-- We may give others an invitation … but God demands REPENTANCE
-- This is why in context, we see that John 3:16 is more than just “feel good”
- This is why, in context, v16 is SO convicting … it shows us who we are
-- In it we see where we’ve failed and God MUST rescue us; there’s no other way
- Today we will see more of the testimony of JTB; and how it relates to us today
- Read John 3:22-36 / Pray
∆ Point 1 – Down by the river …
- The story now turns back to John the Baptist’s ministry
-- The final section of John 3 relates to his committed testimony about Christ
-- But also, to how the events of these chapters was seen through the eyes of John
- At the river side, where people are repenting and God is being exalted …
-- People begin to get silly …
-- We see Jesus teaching, and baptizing (v22)
-- And also, John is teaching and baptizing a short distance away (v23)
-- And on cue … “we” insert our doctrines and preferences and miss God! (v25)
- However, there is something critical to see … look at the focus of John:
-- John is still proclaiming Christ; his ministry is still focused on Jesus
-- It is not about himself or what he can get … but on the promised Messiah
- APP: What a great lesson for all churches
-- If the church would focus on Christ, I believe our competition would cease
-- This is a tremendous example of how we separate ourselves (not the devil)
-- We cause these divisions in the faith … and we allow them to continue
- Caveat: Now, if it is a false teaching that needs to be corrected immediately
-- However, in these verses they are both preaching the same thing!
- What an opportunity to see ourselves in the Bible here
-- Challenge: Do we argue about the simplest things and miss the main thing?
- TRANS: Let’s continue the story …
∆ Point 2 – What is the argument about?
- We see that John does not really discuss JTB’s imprisonment (v24)
-- This could be for several reasons, but primarily it doesn’t add to this story
-- It’s just a nod to the timeline that this is before he is arrested
- However, the argument between the people is very real and prob. heated
-- See, they would’ve been very concerned about ceremonial washing here
- HUGE: More focused on what it takes to “be” clean than “who” cleanses
-- It is the whole “works are greater than faith” argument … in living color!
- Their religious structure of the day would’ve stressed all the rules/regulation
-- They would’ve heard every story of what one must do to be clean
-- And here, they totally miss the NEW covenant being established before them
-- They are not focused on the ceremonial stuff; but on God’s renewal in Christ
- It’s important to note that this ministry competition is not endorsed by Jesus
-- It is also not encouraged by JTB – it’s not about who is “more popular”
-- However, the comment from the crowd is exactly based in that silliness
- They even refer to JTB as “Rabbi” … and then begin to complain:
-- “Look, they are going over to THAT ministry who does THOSE things …”
- IMP: If ever we should take note about competing churches, it’s here
-- Even JTB does not play into this nonsense and we should not do it either
- TRANS: John’s answer to their whining is, in a word, superb: (v27-30)
∆ Point 3 – John’s Response
- John understands his own worthiness in the presence of a holy God
-- His humbleness is not an act, but a realization of who Jesus is to Him
-- He is more than the promised Messiah … but Jesus is His Lord; His everything
- No one can receive what God hasn’t given them … we must depend on God
-- John could not have even survived had God not provided for him
-- Re: he lives in the wilderness with no possessions and no status to lean on
-- APP: We could take a real lesson from John in how we act towards each other
- The church is the bridge groom, we are the ones promised to the Messiah
-- John describes himself as a friend of the bride groom (v29)
-- It is a joyous occasion for John to finally see the One he has preached about
-- In his heart, he is ready to see, hear, and experience all that Christ has for him
- His joy, the fullness of his heart, is made complete because of Jesus
-- Not because of what he receives in popularity in ministry – but because of Him
∆ Photo – Quote from Spurgeon
- In the OT, Jehovah is presented as the husband of Israel
-- Now in the NT, the Messiah becomes the bridge groom of the church
-- In our ministry, we must be careful to always point others to CHRIST, not us
- This is the focal point of v30 … we must understand who we are in light of Him
-- Us, apart from Him, are nothing and will always fall short of God
-- But with Him (because of who He is), we have everything to please God
- What John does is stress to his group his joy that the groom has arrived
-- His testimony is about Christ and Christ’s work … just as ours should be as well
- TRANS: So what is John’s testimony about Jesus?
∆ Point 4 – What Jesus brings …
- John then continues to testify about Christ, and all that Jesus has done (v31-36)
-- Jesus is the one who comes from above, and He is superior to ALL on Earth
-- You and I come from the Earth, and we are subject to the one from above
- However, even in his testimony, very few respond to the Messiah promised
-- Re: God has been silent for 400 years since the end of the OT
-- Malachi 4:5-6, “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” (Then, 400 yrs of silence…)
- In these closing comments, we see (and affirm) some incredible truths:
• Jesus comes from above, he is sent from God (v31, v34)
• Jesus is above all, he has all things in his hand (v31, 35)
• Jesus speaks things he has seen and heard from the Father (v31, 34)
• Jesus gives truth to those who receive him (v33)
• Jesus gives the Spirit to those who trust in Him (v34)
• Jesus is loved by the Father for he is the Son (v35)
• Jesus can communicate life which is everlasting (v36)
∆ Big Idea
- Our focus must always be on what Christ offers, and what Christ has done
-- We never see JTB fall into the desire to be recognized – which we cannot either
-- In v36, we see the most pivotal statement of John’s testimony … great lesson!
-- Re: Sunday: we are “already” condemned without Christ’s work applied to us
- Will we focus on what Christ has done; or still desire our own recognition?
-- It really is a challenge that each of us has to choose … and then follow for life!
- Pray
