WEBVTT 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:06.219 So as we said at the beginning of the service, we are in the season of Advent, which traditionally 00:00:06.219 --> 00:00:13.259 focuses on themes such as hope, joy, peace, love. 00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:18.760 And I think it's fair to say that this year, maybe more than any other year in recent memory, 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:21.719 those things have been in short supply. 00:00:22.500 --> 00:00:29.820 For most of us, I think discontentment reigns, seems to be our default setting. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.000 These days. 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:37.840 I think that's why the season of Advent is so extremely important and necessary and valuable. 00:00:38.060 --> 00:00:42.539 I feel like it's amazing timing that Advent comes along when it does. 00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:44.560 And I think I feel that most every year. 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:48.859 And in particular, I'm thankful this week for the example of John the Baptist. 00:00:48.859 --> 00:00:52.159 That's what we're going to be looking at this week in God's Word. 00:00:52.260 --> 00:00:56.280 We're going to be looking at John chapter 3, verses 22 to 30. 00:00:56.280 --> 00:01:00.359 And we're going to look at this account that often gets overlooked. 00:01:00.539 --> 00:01:03.500 It's surrounded by more famous, well-known accounts. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:09.560 But it's an extremely important account for showing us how to deal with discontentment. 00:01:09.960 --> 00:01:12.060 The story breaks down into two parts. 00:01:12.180 --> 00:01:14.579 We see, first of all, a possible rivalry. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:18.280 And then we see a powerful response. 00:01:18.960 --> 00:01:23.340 John's response is something that we need to pay attention to and emulate. 00:01:23.340 --> 00:01:30.980 It offers us a way to respond to discontentment and a key to understanding the nature of true contentment. 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:34.260 So let's pray and then we'll open God's Word together. 00:01:34.260 --> 00:01:39.920 Lord, we thank you for your Word and we thank you for your Holy Spirit. 00:01:40.340 --> 00:01:44.100 And we thank you for the way that your Spirit and your Word work together. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:49.260 Lord, that you're able to take these words and breathe life into them. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:56.100 They're living words and that they're able to come alive and speak to us in ways that we particularly need to hear, 00:01:56.160 --> 00:01:59.160 each one of us, right now at this moment in time, Lord. 00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:05.939 And I pray that you would do that so that we might ultimately come face to face with your living Word, Jesus Christ. 00:02:06.340 --> 00:02:08.180 And it's in his name that we pray. Amen. 00:02:09.740 --> 00:02:13.039 So first of all, we see a possible rivalry. 00:02:13.300 --> 00:02:15.900 Just a little context to get us started here. 00:02:16.519 --> 00:02:21.400 This is a period of time early in John's Gospel, early in Jesus's ministry, 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:28.280 where we actually see that it tells us in the text that this is before John the Baptist has been arrested. 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:34.699 And this is a period of time where the ministry of John the Baptist and the ministry of Jesus overlap. 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:37.479 It's a period of overlap in their ministries. 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:41.979 And so you have two groups of people, one led by Jesus and one led by John. 00:02:42.099 --> 00:02:49.520 And they're both baptizing people, same baptism, a baptism of repentance and preparation for the coming of the Lord. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:52.000 And they're in the same region. 00:02:52.740 --> 00:02:59.400 And so the only difference between these two groups, really, is that Jesus himself, it tells us later, 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:02.379 is not doing the baptizing, only his disciples are. 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:05.640 But otherwise, they're two groups doing basically the same ministry. 00:03:06.060 --> 00:03:07.840 And so it says in verse 25, 00:03:08.180 --> 00:03:13.020 Now, a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:18.340 Now, we don't know exactly what's going on here, but most likely people are asking this question. 00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:20.860 Hey, John's baptizing here. 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:22.640 Jesus is baptizing here. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:27.700 They're doing the same kind of baptism, but whose baptism is more legitimate? 00:03:28.580 --> 00:03:28.760 Right? 00:03:28.820 --> 00:03:32.660 Is there a baptism that is better than the other baptism? 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:35.400 And we want to know because we want to go to that baptism. 00:03:35.640 --> 00:03:40.060 And it could be that this debate was happening between followers of John and followers of Jesus. 00:03:40.060 --> 00:03:48.740 We know from historical record that there was a group that persisted for some time in the days of the early church 00:03:48.740 --> 00:03:55.379 that exalted John and rejected Jesus as Messiah. 00:03:55.539 --> 00:03:59.539 So we know that there were people who were very loyal followers of John the Baptist. 00:03:59.960 --> 00:04:03.219 And so John's disciples come to him in verse 26, and they say, 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:07.140 Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, 00:04:07.139 --> 00:04:11.639 and by the way, they apparently don't know Jesus's name at this point, which is noteworthy. 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:14.659 That's not the kind of thing that happens in a legend or a myth. 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:17.779 That's the kind of thing that actually happens in a historical record. 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:19.219 They don't know his name, but they say, 00:04:19.379 --> 00:04:24.620 that guy who was with you to whom you bore witness, look, he is baptizing and all are going to him. 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:26.240 Right? 00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:27.519 So they're upset by this. 00:04:28.479 --> 00:04:30.000 And they're essentially saying, 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:33.120 John, you're the one who baptized him. 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:36.560 You're the one who got him started in ministry. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:40.180 And now he's baptizing, doing the same thing that you're doing. 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:41.680 And now everybody's going to him. 00:04:42.019 --> 00:04:44.040 And you're losing followers to this guy. 00:04:44.100 --> 00:04:46.160 So they're indignant over this. 00:04:46.780 --> 00:04:49.560 And, you know, John's ministry is essentially being eclipsed. 00:04:50.519 --> 00:04:53.259 It's being surpassed by the ministry of Jesus. 00:04:53.420 --> 00:04:56.100 And his disciples are clearly envious and upset about this. 00:04:56.100 --> 00:04:59.200 And even though it doesn't say it in the text, 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:06.200 I have a hard time believing that John was not at least tempted to feel envy or resentment 00:05:06.200 --> 00:05:09.340 or to feel threatened by the fact that this is happening. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:11.780 If you know anything about John, he had worked so hard. 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:13.879 He had sacrificed so much. 00:05:14.300 --> 00:05:18.200 And for much of his life in early ministry, he had been treated as an outcast. 00:05:18.300 --> 00:05:19.879 He had lived in the wilderness. 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:24.019 He had taken vows that made his life even more difficult. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:26.639 And now he's finally growing in popularity. 00:05:26.860 --> 00:05:30.600 He's speaking out critically against the local government leaders. 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:32.939 And he's gaining a lot of notoriety for this. 00:05:33.159 --> 00:05:36.199 And it seems that right as his ministry is starting to succeed, 00:05:37.019 --> 00:05:42.060 this other guy comes along and overtakes him. 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:45.620 A guy who got started in ministry after he did. 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:50.139 And, you know, this kind of dynamic happens all the time in the church. 00:05:50.259 --> 00:05:52.620 I'm sad to say you've probably been around this. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:54.680 If you've been a Christian for any amount of time, 00:05:54.939 --> 00:06:00.040 pastors often, instead of befriending and seeing other pastors as allies, 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:03.319 they see them as threats, especially if they're successful. 00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:06.560 And churches often, if they're grouped in the same region, 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:09.860 often see the church down the road as the competition 00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:13.560 rather than as a collaborative partner in ministry. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:16.800 But even if you're not familiar with that dynamic, 00:06:17.459 --> 00:06:20.720 this kind of thing, unfortunately, or fortunately, 00:06:20.860 --> 00:06:21.920 depending on your perspective, 00:06:22.259 --> 00:06:24.660 this kind of thing is going to happen to you one way or another, 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:25.899 if it hasn't already. 00:06:26.540 --> 00:06:28.860 In other words, no matter how smart you are, 00:06:28.939 --> 00:06:30.699 no matter how much of a hard worker you are, 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:32.300 no matter how good you are, 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:33.759 no matter how impressive you are, 00:06:33.819 --> 00:06:35.300 no matter how successful you are, 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:39.519 sooner or later, someone is going to come along who will surpass you. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:43.819 Someone out there is going to be better than you. 00:06:44.419 --> 00:06:47.019 And it'll happen if it hasn't happened already. 00:06:47.579 --> 00:06:52.060 They're going to come along and they're going to be better professionally than you. 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:54.699 They're going to be better looking than you. 00:06:55.019 --> 00:06:57.399 They're going to be a better athlete than you. 00:06:58.039 --> 00:07:01.120 They're going to seem like a better parent than you. 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:03.240 It's going to happen one way or another. 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:04.699 And that can be devastating. 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:06.579 It can be devastating. 00:07:07.180 --> 00:07:09.879 And I think much of our discontentment, 00:07:09.960 --> 00:07:11.100 coming back to that theme, 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:15.259 much of our discontentment comes from the secret fear inside 00:07:15.259 --> 00:07:17.720 that we are not actually good enough. 00:07:19.100 --> 00:07:21.680 That secret fear that we don't measure up. 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:26.120 The secret fear of our own inadequacy, 00:07:26.400 --> 00:07:28.300 of our own unworthiness. 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:34.699 And I think that's one reason why it's so easy for us to feel threatened or envious, 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:38.600 to feel diminished by the success of other people. 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:43.620 I think we can often take that as confirmation of our own inadequacy. 00:07:47.840 --> 00:07:52.259 John's response here is not what we would think it would be. 00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:55.819 It's certainly not the way I would probably respond. 00:07:55.819 --> 00:08:00.300 John's response is incredibly relevant and instructive for us. 00:08:00.540 --> 00:08:05.300 And I think it teaches us something vital about contentment and the human heart. 00:08:06.099 --> 00:08:09.639 And so we've looked at the possible rivalry between John and Jesus. 00:08:09.779 --> 00:08:13.019 Now let's look at John's response, this powerful response. 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:14.959 John says in verse 27, 00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:15.920 says John answered, 00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:20.800 A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:24.379 In other words, this success is evidence of God's blessing. 00:08:24.379 --> 00:08:25.420 And then he goes on to say, 00:08:25.779 --> 00:08:28.899 You yourselves bear me witness that I said I am not the Christ, 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:31.060 but I have been sent before him. 00:08:31.259 --> 00:08:36.559 And then he uses a very important metaphor that's very central in Scripture 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:41.399 for talking about the relationship between God's Messiah and his people. 00:08:41.539 --> 00:08:42.679 John says in verse 29, 00:08:42.679 --> 00:09:01.120 He's saying he's the friend of the bridegroom, not the bridegroom. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:04.240 And then he says the very important verse, verse 30, 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:07.399 He must increase, but I must decrease. 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:10.039 In other words, John is saying, 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:14.560 this is exactly what is supposed to be happening, right? 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:17.759 This is exactly what God's plan has been all along. 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:21.019 All of these people, all of the people that used to follow me, 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:25.600 they're all now going to Jesus because that's what God wants them to do. 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:28.080 That's been the plan all along. 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:32.480 And so he's saying, when you see these people going to Jesus, 00:09:32.660 --> 00:09:34.960 that's the bride going to the bridegroom. 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:37.460 The bride shouldn't go to the best man. 00:09:37.540 --> 00:09:40.120 The bride always goes to the bridegroom. 00:09:40.420 --> 00:09:42.820 And so John is saying, you need to be very clear about this. 00:09:43.180 --> 00:09:44.220 I'm not the bridegroom. 00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:45.120 I'm the best man. 00:09:46.020 --> 00:09:51.080 And the job of the best man is to stand by the side of the groom 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:53.220 and to hear him speak. 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:54.040 It's about him. 00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:55.020 It's not about me. 00:09:55.019 --> 00:09:59.539 My job is to celebrate the love between the bride and the groom. 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:03.319 And then comes the core principle that I want to focus on. 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:08.620 John says, he must increase and I must decrease. 00:10:09.439 --> 00:10:15.840 And in one sense, John is talking specifically about Jesus's ministry increasing 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:19.220 as opposed to his ministry, which now needs to decrease. 00:10:19.220 --> 00:10:25.060 But there's another sense in which this describes the entire aim of salvation history. 00:10:25.700 --> 00:10:31.620 All the way back in Genesis chapter 12, when God promises to give Abram many descendants, 00:10:32.060 --> 00:10:37.420 he also says that one of those descendants is going to be the one through whom all of the 00:10:37.420 --> 00:10:39.480 nations of the earth will be blessed. 00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:41.940 He must increase. 00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:48.980 In places like Psalm 2, God warns all of those in power, all of the greatest kings and queens 00:10:48.980 --> 00:10:55.920 throughout history, that one day God's anointed ruler is going to come along and he will eclipse 00:10:55.920 --> 00:10:57.440 their authority. 00:10:57.900 --> 00:10:59.760 He must increase. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:06.679 In Isaiah chapter 9, a great passage that we often read at Christmastime, verses 6 and 7, 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:13.720 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders, 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:20.340 and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:25.059 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. 00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:27.600 He must increase. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:30.420 It's written all the way through the story of Scripture. 00:11:31.779 --> 00:11:38.940 God's plan from the beginning, God's entire plan to put this world right hinges on this 00:11:38.940 --> 00:11:39.279 mandate. 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:50.180 Jesus must increase and everything else, including us, must decrease in deference to him. 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:56.779 I use this illustration a lot because it really helps me in the way I think about these things. 00:11:56.779 --> 00:12:00.839 If you think about the way the solar system works, the only reason it works is because 00:12:00.839 --> 00:12:07.980 there's a common center, the sun, around which everything else orbits. 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:14.639 Because all of the planets orbit around the same center, they're able to move together in 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.620 perfect harmony. 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:19.259 And the solar system is this dance of beauty and precision. 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:23.259 But without that common center, everything would be chaos. 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:27.700 Planets would be slamming into each other or spinning off into the void of space. 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:35.120 And in the same way, our lives, all of our lives, are meant to orbit around the same center, 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:37.559 which is Jesus Christ, God's son. 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:41.959 And without that common center, we have chaos. 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:47.679 And that's how Christians make sense of all of the brokenness and the darkness and the evil 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:49.439 in the world right now. 00:12:49.439 --> 00:12:55.679 When we look at things like violence or alienation between people, when we see injustice, when we 00:12:55.679 --> 00:13:02.959 see the horrors and the atrocities of war or oppression or exploitation, when we see sickness 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:11.600 like this most recent pandemic, when we see disasters, when we see poverty, when we see racism, all of 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:17.200 these things are the chaos that results from the fact that the world no longer shares the common 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:17.620 center. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:22.060 Jesus is no longer at the center of the world that he made. 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:26.920 He has been decreased in the minds and the hearts of his people. 00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:29.320 And God says the only answer is to reverse that. 00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:33.900 He must increase above everything else. 00:13:35.420 --> 00:13:40.680 All right, so the only thing that can restore this world or make my life work is for Jesus 00:13:40.680 --> 00:13:48.360 to become the center, is for him to increase and for me and my pride and my petty agendas 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:52.820 and my priorities for all of that to decrease in response. 00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:58.500 So we see that John understands this. 00:13:59.280 --> 00:14:01.640 This is why John responds the way he does. 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:03.920 He says, this is what is supposed to happen. 00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:05.800 And I know my place in the story. 00:14:06.560 --> 00:14:11.940 But now we want to ask, what does this mean for us as we live in this time and in this place? 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:13.460 And it has a couple of implications. 00:14:13.680 --> 00:14:19.900 First of all, if you're a Christian, this is quite simply the core of all Christian ministry. 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:25.360 A couple of years ago, my family and I were blessed enough to be able to take a sabbatical. 00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:30.919 And one of the things that we got to do was to go see the Eisenheim altarpiece in person. 00:14:31.079 --> 00:14:33.199 It was painted by Matthias Grunewald. 00:14:33.819 --> 00:14:40.579 And one of the panels of this extraordinary altarpiece, one of the panels depicts John the Baptist. 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:44.220 It's one of my favorite parts of this work of art. 00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:48.259 And in this depiction of John the Baptist, he's standing. 00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:52.440 And with his left hand, he's holding a book, presumably the scriptures. 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.200 And they're open. 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:55.899 And with his right hand, he's pointing. 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:58.399 And he's pointing to Jesus. 00:14:59.680 --> 00:15:00.879 And it's beautiful. 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:05.540 And I remember when I was there, I stood there looking for a very long time, 00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:08.940 just contemplating the meaning of that panel. 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:12.720 There's Latin writing just over John's right arm. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:18.000 And in Latin, it quotes this verse, he must increase, but I must decrease. 00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:25.320 And, you know, there's no greater summary of Christian ministry anywhere, in my opinion. 00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:28.019 That's our entire job description. 00:15:28.180 --> 00:15:35.500 Anyone who's a pastor in full-time ministry, ministry leaders, Christians who are called to ministry, 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:39.740 really every Christian and all of the ministry we're called to. 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.539 That's the heart of it. 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:47.019 And I think this is something that we as the church need to be reminded of on a daily basis 00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:52.320 because we live in a culture that celebrates celebrity and status and influence. 00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:57.039 And naturally, those priorities are going to seep and make their way into the church. 00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:02.039 And so our constant temptation is going to be to do the opposite of what John the Baptist does. 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:08.719 I think we're always tempted to try to increase our own status and to increase our own influence, 00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:14.379 even if it means diminishing the role of Jesus in our life and ministry. 00:16:15.319 --> 00:16:20.539 You know, recently, a well-known pastor was actually fired over various moral failures, 00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:30.000 and people have accused him of doing just that, of seeking his own increase as a celebrity among celebrities while diminishing Jesus. 00:16:30.699 --> 00:16:33.019 And a lot of articles came out about this. 00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:35.819 And, you know, one article I read stood out to me. 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:38.559 It was written by a non-religious person. 00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:44.339 And yet this writer points beyond this specific pastor in the specific situation, 00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:50.519 and he points to an issue that he sees among Christians in general in our society. 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:58.940 It's what he calls the, with a twist of Christianity, trend that he sees in the church in the United States. 00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:00.720 And here's what he says, quote, 00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:07.400 I'm not religious, so it's not my place to dictate to Christians what they should and should not believe. 00:17:07.860 --> 00:17:10.360 Still, if someone has a faith worth following, 00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:15.299 I feel that their beliefs should make me feel uncomfortable for not doing so. 00:17:15.679 --> 00:17:16.500 And then he says this, 00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:23.459 If they share 90% of my lifestyle and values, then there's nothing especially inspiring about them. 00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:27.419 And then he goes on to call out people on the right and the left. 00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:28.679 He talks about, quote, 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:37.240 right-wing business-oriented evangelicals who offer capitalist self-enrichment and hubristic jingoism with a twist of Christianity. 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:39.400 And then he talks about, quote, 00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:46.980 progressive Christians who promote the usual left-wing causes and ideas about what should be done with our bodies with a twist of Christianity. 00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:48.680 And then here's the clincher. 00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:49.220 He says, 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:55.400 So, if Christianity is such an inessential add-on, why become a Christian? 00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:00.160 Instead of making me want to become more like them, 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:04.500 it looks very much as if they want to become more like me. 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.500 Right? 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:11.880 This guy's not a Christian, but in this sense, he has nailed it. 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.579 The world is watching. 00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:18.240 The world is watching, whether you know it or not. 00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:27.059 And when we as Christians care so much about our own status that we are willing to minimize or compromise our faith, 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:30.619 what we communicate is that none of this really matters. 00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:36.039 It has nothing to offer that can't be found anywhere else. 00:18:36.159 --> 00:18:41.059 What we tell the watching world is that Jesus is nothing more than an inessential add-on. 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:48.079 And when we do that, not only do we lose integrity, 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:55.259 but we're robbing people of the only hope of ever finding true contentment. 00:18:56.139 --> 00:18:57.199 And that's criminal. 00:18:58.679 --> 00:19:02.399 And this leads us to the second implication of this passage here in John 3. 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:06.919 The truth is, the only hope any of us has of ever finding true contentment 00:19:06.919 --> 00:19:10.799 is for Jesus to increase in our own hearts. 00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:13.599 That's the only way we'll ever find true contentment. 00:19:13.679 --> 00:19:14.119 Any of us. 00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:20.959 The reason that we feel so threatened and so diminished by the success of others 00:19:20.959 --> 00:19:24.439 and the reason that some of us struggle so much with envy 00:19:24.439 --> 00:19:28.139 is because we live under a constant barrage of voices. 00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:31.539 Whether intentionally or unintentionally, 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:35.219 many of these voices tell us in one way or another that we're not good enough. 00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:40.160 John's own disciples, without meaning to, 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:44.220 highlighted his inadequacy when they voiced their concerns. 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:48.940 They're highlighting the fact that John is less popular than this other guy. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:50.420 Never mind the fact that it's Jesus. 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:53.740 But all of us have experienced this. 00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:57.079 And we have lots of people like these disciples that don't mean to do it, 00:19:57.120 --> 00:19:57.940 but they do it anyway. 00:19:58.059 --> 00:20:00.500 They speak into our lives with the best of intentions, 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:02.519 but what they communicate is, 00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:03.600 you're not good enough. 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:07.619 So it could come from a parent or a teacher or a coach. 00:20:07.939 --> 00:20:09.240 It comes from celebrities. 00:20:09.459 --> 00:20:10.519 It comes from politicians. 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:12.019 It comes from media. 00:20:12.199 --> 00:20:13.439 It comes from advertisers. 00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:18.159 In fact, the entire advertising industry is aimed at convincing you 00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:20.899 that you're not good enough or your life isn't good enough 00:20:20.899 --> 00:20:23.919 until you get this product that they're selling. 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:25.000 That's the point of advertising. 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:26.539 Right? 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:32.299 So all of these voices speak to our worth in one way or another. 00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:34.519 And we all have these voices in us. 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:36.879 You know, just before we recorded this, 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:41.399 we had a 45-minute just sort of explosion with our kids, 00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.839 with a major temper tantrum. 00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:44.940 And ever since that happened, 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.859 I've had this voice in my head saying, 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.899 you're not a good enough parent. 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.680 You're not patient enough. 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:51.079 You're not loving enough. 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:51.639 Right? 00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:54.880 These voices are constantly with us. 00:20:55.280 --> 00:20:55.960 And so, you know, 00:20:56.020 --> 00:21:00.500 our culture says that the answer is to tune out all of the external voices 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:04.460 and to look within and to, you know, 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:08.720 find that inner voice and to listen to and follow that voice, 00:21:08.780 --> 00:21:10.040 that that will lead us to the truth. 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:11.640 And, you know, 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:13.640 that's all well and good if you're a Disney princess. 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:17.000 But any actual flesh and blood human being who's taken that advice 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:19.120 realizes it is horrible advice. 00:21:19.520 --> 00:21:23.640 Listening to the voice within does not lead me to greater contentment. 00:21:24.300 --> 00:21:26.860 I don't know what your voice within is like, 00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:28.200 but I think for many of us, 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:30.640 that voice can be relentlessly critical. 00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:34.360 It can be far worse than any external voice. 00:21:34.540 --> 00:21:38.060 It's a voice that often focuses only on our flaws, 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.320 only in our mistakes. 00:21:39.580 --> 00:21:41.860 It's a voice that rehearses conversations 00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:43.479 when we're trying to go to sleep at night. 00:21:43.659 --> 00:21:46.279 It's our voice that whispers about worst case scenarios 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:48.719 that might happen tomorrow or the next day. 00:21:48.939 --> 00:21:51.579 It's a voice that fills us sometimes with dread 00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:54.719 or hopelessness or anxiety or despair. 00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:57.679 It's the same voice that leads us to overeat. 00:21:58.099 --> 00:22:00.039 It's the voice that whispers to us 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:01.879 that we should just drink ourselves numb. 00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:04.519 It's the same voice that whispers 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:06.959 that we should maybe leave our spouse 00:22:06.959 --> 00:22:09.479 because maybe there's someone better out there 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:12.519 who's more suited to meeting our needs. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:15.400 It's the voice that leads us to compare ourselves 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:17.700 to other people and their lives 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:19.279 that seem better in every way. 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:21.579 It's the voice that leads us to fantasize 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:23.259 about living a different life. 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:26.079 That's not the voice of contentment. 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:29.240 So none of these voices, 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:33.019 whether they be external voices or internal voices, 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:34.839 will ever lead us to contentment. 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:38.699 I think they're actually the source 00:22:38.699 --> 00:22:41.119 of most of our discontentment, if not all of it. 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:44.619 We need a voice we can trust. 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:47.439 We need a voice we can trust. 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.319 Look at this. 00:22:49.399 --> 00:22:51.879 This is an incredibly important passage. 00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:54.759 In verses 29 and 30, here's what John says. 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:59.220 He says, as Jesus increases and he decreases, 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:02.420 and as he hears the voice of Jesus, 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:06.099 he rejoices and his joy is complete. 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:08.240 So what he's saying there is very important. 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:11.500 As the voice of Jesus becomes louder 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:14.539 and all other voices fade away, 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:16.240 my joy increases. 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:19.140 My contentment increases. 00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:21.500 My joy is made complete. 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:23.039 You say, well, why would that be? 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:26.599 Because as John says in verse 31, 00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:30.039 Jesus is the only one who has come from above. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:35.019 He alone has the authority to speak into our lives. 00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:37.440 What he says is not just subjective, 00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:39.559 it's objectively true. 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:43.019 What he says about you is objectively true 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:47.059 in a way that no other voice has the authority to claim. 00:23:47.899 --> 00:23:49.119 But there's another reason, 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:50.319 and it's right here in our passage. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:53.720 All of the voices around you, 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:55.339 outside you and inside you, 00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:57.480 may tell you that for one reason or another, 00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.460 that you're nothing, 00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:00.299 that you'll never measure up, 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:01.819 that you're never gonna be good enough, 00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:04.379 that there are people that are way better than you out there. 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:06.139 They're gonna tell you in all these ways 00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:06.980 that you're not enough. 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:09.740 And your own inner voice may echo those lies. 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:11.519 But when Jesus looks at you, 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:15.059 when Jesus looks at you, 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:21.480 he is filled with the same love and delight 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:24.000 that you see in a groom 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:27.620 when he beholds his bride for the first time 00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.880 on their wedding day. 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:34.000 That's how Jesus feels when he looks at you. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.460 And you say, 00:24:36.560 --> 00:24:37.480 well, how do we know that? 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:40.480 Does he really see me? 00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:43.500 Does he really know what goes on in my heart? 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:46.600 Has he really seen the ways I've failed today? 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:49.839 As I said, 00:24:49.919 --> 00:24:51.159 the Eisenheim altarpiece 00:24:51.159 --> 00:24:53.939 has a panel of John the Baptist pointing to Jesus. 00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:55.099 What I failed to mention 00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:57.899 is that this is the crucifixion panel. 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:01.000 John is pointing to Jesus 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:05.159 as he hangs naked and suffering on the cross. 00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:07.839 And what we see here is that 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:11.359 this is what it means for Jesus to increase. 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:14.459 He's not lifted up as a celebrity. 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:17.200 He's lifted up as a criminal. 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:20.180 He's lifted up to die on a cross, 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:22.940 which is the worst form of execution 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:25.240 devised at that point in history. 00:25:26.360 --> 00:25:26.980 And you say, 00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:28.660 well, why would Jesus do something like this? 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:30.340 And the answer is simple. 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.100 Love. 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.740 That's why he did it. 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.880 Love for his father in heaven 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:38.480 and a desire to do his will alone. 00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:40.819 Love for you. 00:25:42.360 --> 00:25:43.140 Love that says, 00:25:43.140 --> 00:25:44.560 I will do whatever it takes 00:25:44.560 --> 00:25:46.759 so that we can be together. 00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:49.820 I will take the punishment 00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:51.700 for all of the ways that you failed, 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.800 all of your sin. 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:55.660 I will take all of that on myself. 00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:57.320 I will give my life 00:25:57.320 --> 00:26:00.440 to pay the atoning price for all of that 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:04.080 so I can set you free from that sin, 00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:06.420 set you free to become a new human being 00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:08.580 so that I can free you 00:26:08.580 --> 00:26:10.160 from the finality of death, 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:12.380 so that I can restore you, 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:14.120 so that you can join me 00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:15.860 as my bride, 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:16.940 as my, 00:26:17.840 --> 00:26:19.500 that you can be one with me 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.860 in the new world 00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:22.759 that God is building through me. 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:26.660 And so when Jesus speaks to you, 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:28.900 when he speaks to you 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.779 through the Holy Spirit, 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.519 when he speaks to you 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.319 through the scriptures, 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:34.539 that is the voice 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:36.259 of true love 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:38.079 speaking into your life, 00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:38.799 right? 00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.859 That is the voice 00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:40.559 of the one 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:42.039 who loves you the most. 00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:43.660 There is no one out there 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:45.200 who loves you more than him. 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:48.460 When his voice increases, 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:51.880 all other voices fade away. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.259 They can't hold a candle 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.920 to the power 00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:55.720 and the authority 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.600 and the love 00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:57.880 of the voice of Jesus. 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:01.880 So a question for us 00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:03.500 to ponder this Advent season, 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:04.559 something that I've been thinking 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.799 a lot about in my own life, 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.700 which voices 00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:09.180 are you listening to these days? 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:11.340 Which voices 00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:12.980 are you paying attention to? 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:16.299 Which voices 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:18.180 do you look at, 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:19.119 do you listen to, 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.919 and give permission 00:27:20.919 --> 00:27:22.500 to define your worth? 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:24.299 Who are you allowing 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.339 to tell you 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:26.079 what you're worth 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:27.399 in this life 00:27:27.399 --> 00:27:28.619 and in this world? 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:31.399 Here's the thing 00:27:31.399 --> 00:27:32.200 I want to leave you with. 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:34.599 True contentment 00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:36.759 is only possible 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:38.799 if the voice 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:40.359 that you listen to most 00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:41.859 comes from the one 00:27:41.859 --> 00:27:42.960 who loves you the most. 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.680 True contentment 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.539 is only possible 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.960 if the voice 00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:49.460 that you listen to most 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:51.019 comes from the one 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:52.440 who loves you the most. 00:27:53.320 --> 00:27:54.060 Let's pray. 00:27:55.600 --> 00:27:56.660 Lord, we thank you 00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:58.620 for your word. 00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:02.799 There are so many voices 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.960 that are clamoring 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.759 for our attention 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.560 and our loyalty. 00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:08.400 Lord, in the power 00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:09.220 of your Holy Spirit, 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.700 for all those 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.720 listening right now, 00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:13.640 I pray that you would 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:15.000 silence those voices 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:16.620 and that you would 00:28:16.620 --> 00:28:18.240 amplify the voice 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.780 of Jesus 00:28:18.780 --> 00:28:19.660 in our hearts 00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:21.780 so that it drowns 00:28:21.780 --> 00:28:22.800 everything else out 00:28:22.800 --> 00:28:25.240 so that the only voice 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.940 that we hear 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:26.940 is the voice 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.340 of the one 00:28:27.340 --> 00:28:28.360 who loves us enough 00:28:28.360 --> 00:28:29.040 to give himself 00:28:29.040 --> 00:28:29.680 for us. 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.660 Lord, I pray 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.980 that in response 00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.740 to that love, 00:28:33.840 --> 00:28:34.420 we might have 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:34.960 the courage 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.720 and the fortitude 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.900 to give ourselves 00:28:36.900 --> 00:28:37.740 fully to him. 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.759 And I pray this, 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:39.960 Lord, 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.740 not only because 00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.680 it is the best thing 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.440 that could possibly 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:43.200 happen to us, 00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:44.100 but because it 00:28:44.100 --> 00:28:45.200 will glorify you. 00:28:46.340 --> 00:28:47.220 And I pray this 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:47.740 in your Son's 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.220 holy name. 00:28:48.560 --> 00:28:48.840 Amen.