Introduction
What marks people out as being great?
Power, wealth, Courage, humility, success.
We see this morning that John was a great man. He was humble, he had great joy and he was courageous enough to give a message of justice and judgement that was certainly not palatable to his hearers and eventually it cost him his life.
1. Jealousy v22-28
Is there anything more ugly than petty jealousy?
John the Baptist had not yet been thrown into prison. The Messiah that he was pointing forward to had come. Nevertheless, John continued his ministry. No early retirement for John. No “my work is complete lets take it easy”. John continues preaching, teaching and baptising. He does this near Salim because there was a lot of water there! John practiced full immersion baptism. John the Baptist was a Baptist!
Many were still coming to John to be baptised. However Jesus was just up the road and via his disciples was baptising as well. This was not a problem for John. However as so often happens with great men, it was a problem for his followers. People were flocking in far greater numbers to Jesus than to John. John’s followers were waning. His numbers were disappearing. He was getting less ‘successful’ in the eyes of some of his followers. Not all of his followers were like this of course, but there was an element.
V25 – there arose an argument between some of John’s disciples and a Jew about purification. An argument over whether the baptism of Jesus or John was more pure. This is the straw the breaks the camels back for John’s followers and they are the ones with the argumentative spirit. It is they who are arguing having a party spirit. John’s disciples are offended because of the attention that Jesus is getting is more than John. Oh dear!
In a spirit of self-justification and smugness they go to John – they don’t even mention Jesus’ name! V26! They then make reference to the fact the John testified about Jesus – not with a sense of well done John – but in fact quite the opposite. Then the worst news for John – “He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” In other words they are saying John – He has stolen your thunder by baptizing and if this carries on we won’t have any left they will have all gone to Jesus.
Petty, pathetic jealousy – and so often we are no different.
What is jealousy = a feeling of unhappiness and anger because someone has something or someone that you want.
Feeling unhappy and angry is not attractive is it?
When was the last time you felt jealous?
What makes us jealous? – sadly we can have church jealousy. The church down the road have more people attending on a Sunday morning. Good! Lets not have church jealousy. What about us here? What can we learn from John and Jesus and the situation that confronts John? How does this apply to us? The followers of John were attempting to drive a wedge between John and Jesus. That was the plan of our deceiver. What would he want to do here? Drive a wedge between Anthony and myself. What is the easiest way to do this? Have some people in the congregation try to drive a wedge between us. The devil will use any means to stop us from keeping our eyes fixed upon the Saviour. One of the things that the devil wants us to do is to look inwardly and look at the problems we have. Our numbers are few – so what! Ah if only David preached more than our numbers would increase. Ah say others if only Anthony preached more than our numbers would increase. War breaks out – who should preach the most! Not war between Anthony and myself but between those with a party spirit. It has happened in churches up and down the land for centuries. “our allegiance is for the new man not the old.” “the new man is nice but the old was so much better ….”. Times of change in church practice are often times when jealousy rises. “He didn’t do it like that”. In my previous church I was once criticised for being too similar to someone else! Sometimes you just can’t win! We have to guard against petty jealousy and keep our attention on the Lord not the Lords people.
How did John avoid jealousy? – v27 & 28 gives us the answer. Here once again we see how great a man John was. Here is an opportunity to keep his remaining followers. To keep his fame and the attention that this brings. What does he do? How does he answer. V27 – John is saying here that no man has a right to claim any honour or any task unless God has given it to him. Once a task and honour has been given it remains given. In the same way if a task is not given then it remains not given. John had been giving the task of preparing the way. God gave it to him. He had not come to be the Messiah. That task was given to another. V28 he goes on to explain his task – v28 – John says, “remember I told you that I wasn’t the Christ. I told you that clearly. I told you clearly who I am. I am the one who is sent before Him.”
John knows who he is. He knows who he is not. He knows his role. He knows his place. John is humble. He has humility. Here was a chance to exalt himself but he exalts another. John avoids jealousy because he is humble.
To avoid jealousy we must have humility –
It was John Riskin who said, "I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own power, or hesitation in speaking his opinion. But really great men have a ... feeling that the greatness is not in them but through them; that they could not do or be anything else than God made them." Andrew Murray said, "The humble man feels no jealousy or envy. He can praise God when others are preferred and blessed before him. He can bear to hear others praised while he is forgotten because ... he has received the spirit of Jesus, who pleased not Himself, and who sought not His own honour. Therefore, in putting on the Lord Jesus Christ he has put on the heart of compassion, kindness, meekness, longsuffering, and humility." M.R. De Haan used to say, "Humility is something we should constantly pray for, yet never thank God that we have."
"They that know God will be humble," John Flavel has said, ’ and they that know themselves cannot be proud."
Hudson Taylor was scheduled to speak at a Large Presbyterian church in Melbourne, Australia. The moderator of the service introduced the missionary in eloquent and glowing terms. He told the large congregation all that Taylor had accomplished in China, and then presented him as "our illustrious guest." Taylor stood quietly for a moment, and then opened his message by saying, "Dear friends, I am the little servant of an illustrious Master."
How do we avoid jealousy? – humility, humility, humility!
Did you hear about the minister who said he had a wonderful sermon on humility but was waiting for a large crowd before preaching it?
Humility puts others first. Humility has no party spirit. Humility puts other peoples needs first.
What happens when there is no humility? – Jealousy. What happens when there is jealousy? Arguments and disaster.
In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn’t a technology problem like radar malfunction--or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.
DL Moody once said “be humble or stumble.”
John’s followers may have had hearts and minds full of jealousy, but John didn’t . His heart and mind was full of joy.
2. Joy v29-30
John shows his humility by having real joy in another. John uses an illustration from wedding customs – v29. John illustrates what he has been saying by telling his followers that the bride belongs to the bridegroom not the best man. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom and the church, His followers, are the bride. John is the best man. He is telling his followers here that if they are truly following God then the Lord Jesus should be the object of their love. The bride must be brought to the Groom. The people must be brought to Jesus. That is the role that John has had. He has sought to bring the people to Jesus. The best man in a wedding is the best friend of the bridegroom. He rejoices at his voice. John as the best man rejoices at the voice of Jesus Christ. His voice gives John great joy. John rejoices in the fact that he has brought the bride to Christ. He has fulfilled his duty – that fulfilment gives him tremendous joy.
You have a DIY job to do. You know that it has to be done. You do the job to the best of your ability. When the job is done you have real, deep satisfaction that you have completed the job and completed it well.
John has this great satisfaction of a job well done and completed. The fact that John’s followers were leaving him in droves to follow Jesus confirmed the fact that John’s job was done. What great joy that gave him. The joy is fulfilled.
V30 – As his job as the fanfare has now finished it is time to stop playing the fanfare.
Shrek and Shrek 2 are cartoons about a green Ogre who marries a Princess. Shrek and his new bride are summoned to the Kings palace so that the King can meet his new son-in-law. As an Ogre, Shrek is rightly nervous about meeting the King. As they start to get out of the carriage outside the Palace, a fanfare is being played. The fanfare stops as the Princess arrives. However, one trumpeter keeps playing and in fact starts playing the theme tune to Hawaii 5 O!
The fanfare introduces royalty. When the King appears then the fanfare stops.
John is the fanfare. Now that the King of Kings has arrived the fanfare or the herald stops.
John now has real joy.
What is joy? – Happiness is an emotion, but joy is an attitude. Emotions come and go, but attitudes come and grow.
Real joy is an inward contentment that is deep and consistent and that produces happiness. Happiness is concerned with external circumstances; joy is inward and is there despite circumstances.
In Acts 16 we have the account of Paul and Silas being imprisoned in Philippi. They could not preach. Their circumstances were awful. What was their response to these external circumstances? At midnight they were praying and singing hymns to God. We would be so unhappy because of our circumstances, despite their circumstances Paul and Silas showed that they had real joy. Inward peace. A peace that passes all understanding.
The famous cricketer, footballer and Missionary CT Studd once travelled to China on a large ship. The Captain of the ship was a man who loved to attack Christianity and studied the bible so that he could argue with the missionaries who often travelled on his ship. When the Captain learned that the famous Studd was on board the Captain found Studd and started ripping into a vicious argument with him. Instead of arguing, Studd put his arm around the Captain and said “But my friend, I have a peace that passes all understanding and a joy that nothing can take away.” The Captain eventually, grudgingly replied “You lucky dog” and walked away. Before the end of the voyage, the Captain knew that peace and joy for himself as he became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
What gave John joy? – the Lord Jesus Christ. Leading others to Him.
What gives us joy? – The Lord Jesus Christ. Leading others to Him.
Do you have that inward peace?
Do you have that real joy in your heart that is there despite the outward circumstances?
John needed that joy in his heart because the last thing we see is justice.
3. Justice v31-36
It is a remarkable thing that this chapter of John is most famous because of v16 – that God so loved the world. We highlight that and rejoice in that.
Have you ever considered how the chapter ends?
Have you ever thought of this last great message from John the Baptist. The chapter ends with justice. The wrath of God is the last thing mentioned. Justice will prevail. Justice will be done, justice will be seen to be done.
There are cases in this country where there appears to be rough justice. The Birmingham 6, the Guildford 4, probably the Renault 5!
John himself was a recipient of rough justice. He was beheaded by Herod the Tetrarch. Herod had previously been a bit of a fan of John’s. However, as long as the message didn’t affect him personally that was ok. Once John told Herod that “It is not lawful for you to have your brothers wife” then Herod’s enthusiasm for John waned. Eventually John was arrested, imprisoned and executed. He did not deserve this judgement.
John is telling us here that we deserve Gods judgement. In verse 31 John is telling us that Jesus has authority because of who He is. He is the voice of God. He is above all. In v32+33 John is telling us that we should accept the testimony of Jesus. Not many do but that it is the testimony of God and that it is the Father who has given us the Son. God resists those that resist Him. John sums it all up perfectly for us in v36.
It is quite simple. If you believe in the Son then you have everlasting life (heaven). If you do not then the wrath of God is on you. You will face Gods justice. That is justified because you have rejected the Son that He loves.
What is this wrath?
CS Lewis once went to hear a young parson deliver a sermon. Very much in earnest the young man ended his message like this: “and now my friends, if you do not believe these truths there may be grave eschatological consequences.” Lewis later talked to the young preacher and asked him, “Did you mean that they would be in danger of hell if they did not believe those truths?” “Why yes” replied the preacher. “Then why in the world didn’t you say so?” Lewis replied.
God’s wrath, his judgement is hell. It is just and it is the justice that we will all face if we do no believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is not politically correct to speak of hell. If you were in a building that was on fire and you were unaware of the fact then you would want me to warn you!
What is hell like?
Calvary.
Conclusion
DL Moody once told this great illustration that I am sure you have heard before. It should be told at least 4 times a year!
A father and his daughter were walking through the prairies of Canada when they saw that the prairie was on fire. With the wind fanning the flames the father knew that before long the fire would catch them up. There was no way to outrun the flames. The father knew that there was only one way of escape from certain death. He bend down and quickly lit a match and started another fire. There was now fire behind them and fire in front of them. When the fire was approaching from behind the man and his daughter simply stepped onto the ground that had already burned. The flames in front of them had already burned the grass. The grass couldn’t burn again. The fire had already done its worst. They were standing on safe ground. It was the only safe place to stand. They were standing where the fire had already been.
Are you afraid of God’s judgement? If you have trusted Christ as your Saviour, you can never come under His wrath. When we depend on Christ we are safe. We are where the grass has already been burnt. Calvary is the only safe place to escape the wrath of God, because it is the only place where the wrath has already come. Jesus took that wrath so that you don’t have to. Come to Him this morning.
