“WHEN ANOTHER MINISTRY IS MORE SUCCESSFUL”
(Message 8 on Gospel of John 2021)
John 3:22-36
Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ
March 7, 2021
Sermon Link: https://youtu.be/JM_-uR0cqWA
INTRODUCTION:
1.) Everyone likes to have success, and that also includes in the ministry.
A.) Because of this even ministers, and churches can become jealous of those who are more successful in ministry.
B.) We envy churches with a higher attendance, more converts, a better music ministry, bigger youth groups, or whatever seems more successful when we look at others.
C.) Today as we open the word of God, the disciples of John the Baptist had a jealous resentment towards Jesus and his ministry.
I. AT THAT TIME THERE WERE TWO PARALLEL MINISTRIES.
1.) Jesus and his disciples were immersing in the Judean countryside. (3:22)
A.) In many ways Jesus and his disciples were carrying on a similar ministry to that of John the Baptist.
aa.) They were both ministering along the Jordan River preaching the Kingdom of God and baptizing.
ab.) At this point the account gets a bit interesting.
aba.) Notice the next phrase of our text:
2.) John was also baptizing. (3:23)
A.) “John was also baptizing at Aenon, near Salim. (3:23a.)”
aa.) Aenon is a name that means “The Springs and so the overflow from those springs (or Wadis) created a large amount of water.”
aaa.) Two or three places have been suggested where Aenon may have been but really, we are not certain.
.01) It seems to have been perhaps to the north of Jerusalem, and to the West of the Jordan River but beyond that we are not sure exactly where it was.
B.) There was a reason John was baptizing there.
ba.) “Because there was plenty of water there.” (3:23b.)
baa.) While meaning the same thing, I like the New American Standard which says there was “much water” there.
bab.) This is of significance because the literal translation of baptizing is without exception immersing.
.01) “Baptizing is a transliteration rather than a translation.
.011) What that means is translators gave an English spelling and pronunciation to a Greek word without translating it into our language.
C.) “and people were constantly coming to be baptized.” (3:23)
ca.) I want you to take note of this because John was carrying on a successful ministry.
caa.) In fact, both John and Jesus were carrying on successful and productive ministries.
.01) Scripture makes a point of telling us this was a regular and constant event.
.02) We do not often have baptisms but get excited when we do.
.021) The ministry of John was productive people were regularly coming to be immersed.
D.) “This was before John was put in prison.” (3:24)
da.) John perhaps gave this information to elaborate on a few details from Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
db.) The Synoptic Gospels suggest that John was put in prison immediately after the baptism and temptation of Jesus.
dba.) John’s Gospel shows us there was in fact a bit more time before John was arrested.
dbb.) His arrest would have been a few months after Jesus had begun his ministry.
dc.) This Judean ministry in John 3 was therefore earlier than the Galilean ministry the other writers speak of.
3.) Jealousy arose over the ministry of Jesus. (3:25-26)
A.) “An argument developed between some of John’s disciples, and a certain Jew.” (John 3:25a.)
aa.) We are not told who this Jew was, but only of their discussion.
B.) It was “Over the matter of ceremonial washing.” (3:25b.)
ba.) Certainly, there were ceremonial washings in the Jewish worship, but this was likely a discussion on baptism.
baa.) Some have even considered it might have been on whether the baptism of John or the baptism of Jesus was more effective and powerful, but really, we are not told the details.
bb.) What comes next is that John’s disciples went to report to John the Baptist how successful was the ministry of Jesus.
C.) John 3:26
ca.) “That man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan – the one you testified about” (3:26b.)
caa.) The question is, how do we take this statement?
cab.) We see the words, but not the emotion behind what was being said.
.01) It could be a statement in which they did not know Jesus so called him “That man”.
.02) It could also be a derogatory angry statement because Jesus was doing the same type of ministry as John the Baptist but with greater success.
.021) I think they were quite jealous and resentful of Jesus.
.022) “Well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” (3:26c.)
II. JOHN HAD NO JEALOUSY BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED THE DIVINITY OF THE MESSIAH AND KNEW IT WAS THE WILL OF GOD. (3:27-29)
1.) “A man can only receive what has been given him from above.” (3:27.)
A.) While John’s disciples were jealous and angry at the popularity of Jesus John does not have the same feelings.
B.) John is not jealous, he is not angry, he is not resentful of Jesus.
C.) John acknowledges that the popularity and growing ministry of Jesus is because it has been given to him by God.
ca.) What an attitude of humility, and acceptance of the will of God!
2.) John told them: “You yourselves can testify that I said I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him. (3:28)
A.) John had already told them he is not the Christ, but only to come before the Christ to lead people to the Christ.
B.) We saw that testimony back in John 1:20.
C.) Not only did John have a humble attitude towards Jesus and his ministry, but he was willing to step aside from the spotlight to make room for Jesus.
ca.) John’s disciples were jealous, and resentful of Jesus, but John knew this had always been the plan and will of God.
cb.) This knowledge together with a humble heart made John happy to make way for Christ.
D.) John gave them an illustration of a wedding to get his point across.
3.) The bride belongs to the bridegroom. (3:29a.)
A.) The best man is off to the side of the groom, who along with the bride are on centre stage.
aa.) As the bride marches down the aisle what does the best man do?
aaa.) The best man allows the groom to go to his bride, as they join their arms to become husband and wife.
aab.) It is not the best man but the groom who will marry the bride.
aac.) I am not sure the fullness of John’s knowledge concerning Jesus, but John recognized he was the best man, and not the groom.
.01) The church would not be the bride of John the Baptist; the church would be the Bride of Jesus Christ.
.02) John knew and now acknowledged that he was the best man who would make way for the groom, which is Christ.
B.) “The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.” (3:29b)
ba.)This verse may confuse us because in our culture it is the bride who comes and is waited for; whereas in that culture the waiting and expectation was for the coming of the groom.
bb.) When Jesus came and began to minister, he was coming to fulfill his role as the groom.
bc.) John’s role as best man was coming to completion and would soon end.
C.) John said, “That joy is mine, and it is now complete.” (3:29d.)
ca.) Because the bridegroom had come the best man had great joy.
cb.) He had this joy because he had fulfilled his role which was now complete.
cba.) John was not filled with envy and resentment, but joy that Jesus was becoming number one.
III. THERE HAD TO BE THE DIMINISHING OF THE MESSENGER. (John 3:30-36)
1.) He must become greater; I must become less. (John 3:30)
A.) “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth.” (3:30a.)
B.) John the Baptist explains the greatness of the difference between his ministry and the ministry of Jesus.
ba.) John 3:30
bb.) When Jesus spoke, it was a message from above.
bba.) Everything that Jesus brought was directly from heaven and was the very voice and heart of God.
bbb.) John did not want them to miss his point, so he repeats it a second time in this same verse.
bc.) In comparison, John was from the earth.
bca.) While he spoke of the kingdom of God and directed man to the Messiah, John was still a man.
.01) By nature of his being anything he said or taught, or the ministry he carried out was inferior to that which has come from heaven.
C.) The one from God revealed to man the things of God.
ca.) “He testifies to what he has seen and heard,” (3:32a.)
caa.) John’s was merely a testimony through the influence of the Holy Spirit of God.
cab.) I certainly do not want to undermine the testimony of John through the Holy Spirit.
.01) What John gave was a valid and true testimony.
cb.) At the same time, John points out that the ministry and words of Jesus are far superior because they are directly from God himself.
cba.) John was merely a spokesman empowered by the Holy Spirit.
cbb.) Jesus came as God in the flesh; Jesus was here as God in a physical human body.
cb.) “But no one accepts his testimony.” (3:32b.)
cba.) Even though Jesus was the very voice and person of God, people were not ready to hear or listen to his testimony.
.01) To be honest even today most people are not ready to hear the voice of Word of God.
cbb.) That was the reason for the ministry of John, to prepare the way for the Lord.
cc.) “The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.” (3:33)
cca.) While many would not accept that Jesus is the Christ, nor willing to hear his words, John did believe and proclaimed these things to others.
ccb.) John proceeded to declare he had to become less, and Jesus had to become greater.
cd.) “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God” (3:34a.)
cda.) John was the messenger; Jesus was God in the flesh.
ce.) “For God gives the Spirit without limit.” (3:34b.)
cea.) While John was given the Holy Spirit from the time of his birth, he only had a measure of the Holy Spirit of God.
ceb.) Likewise, today we have the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit of God but that is only a measure of the Holy Spirit not the entirety of the person of God.
cec.) Jesus had the Holy Spirit of God without measure.
.01) As God incarnate, Jesus had not a measure but the fullness of God within him.
cf.) “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.” (3:35)
cg.) When Jesus left this world and ascended into the heavens, he declared having all authority in heaven and on earth.
cga.) Here near the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, John made the exact same proclamation of our Lord that Jesus would make over three years after that.
.01) John’s knowledge of these things motivated him to decrease so that Jesus could be exalted higher.
.02) While the disciples of John were angry and jealous of Jesus and his popularity, John rejoiced that the transfer of popularity was taking place.
CONCLUSION:
1.) “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,” (3:36a.)
A.) As we close this passage of Scripture, John reminded his disciples that John was not the important one to consider.
B.) As we had seen last week Jesus came to bring eternal life in the presence of God.
ba.) John realized it was not about him.
baa.) The only thing that mattered was coming to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
2.) “but whoever rejects the son will not see life” (3:36b.)
A.) If you reject the Son, you will not see life.
aa.) The word reject is translated in other versions as “who does not believe the Son”, or “does not obey the Son.”
3.) “for God’s wrath remains on him.”
A.) As we said last week it is not that God will place his wrath on you, but that by sin we chose to go under the wrath of God.
B.) It is our own sin that condemned us to hell, and placed us under the wrath of God.
bb.) The act of God was to send Jesus to take us from the wrath of God into the mercy and grace of God’s forgiveness.
bc.) If you are outside of Christ today will you make the choice to remain under the wrath of God, or will you make the choice to come to Christ?
