WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.099 It's found on page 888 in your pew Bible. 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:13.640 This morning we're concluding the sermon series we've done through this month 00:00:13.640 --> 00:00:16.179 during the season that is often called Advent. 00:00:16.660 --> 00:00:18.660 We've been looking at the figure of John the Baptist. 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:23.600 John the Baptist is the figure in the New Testament who introduces Jesus, 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:26.120 who prepares the way for His coming. 00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:32.439 And as we consider Jesus coming into the world, His incarnation at Christmas, 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:34.980 we've been listening to the words of John the Baptist. 00:00:35.120 --> 00:00:38.299 We've seen his role as the one who prepares the way for the Lord. 00:00:38.420 --> 00:00:40.299 We've looked at his message of repentance. 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:44.159 Last week we looked at his focus where he says, 00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:47.500 look, behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:50.040 And today we're going to look at John the Baptist's character, 00:00:51.040 --> 00:00:53.400 in particular his humility. 00:00:53.399 --> 00:01:00.859 You know, one of the themes of the Christmas story is the humility of Jesus Christ 00:01:00.859 --> 00:01:03.859 in coming into this world, becoming one of us, 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:08.219 coming to save and serve and rescue us. 00:01:09.659 --> 00:01:15.259 But John the Baptist also is a picture of humility in front of Jesus. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:20.859 And so that's what we're going to look at this morning in this story. 00:01:20.859 --> 00:01:23.679 So I'm going to read John chapter 3, beginning at verse 22. 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:27.920 Would you read along with me? 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:33.560 After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:37.539 and He remained there with them and was baptizing. 00:01:38.379 --> 00:01:41.239 John also was baptizing at Enon near Salim, 00:01:41.640 --> 00:01:43.319 because water was plentiful there, 00:01:43.420 --> 00:01:45.480 and people were coming and being baptized, 00:01:45.859 --> 00:01:48.000 for John had not yet been put in prison. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:53.900 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 00:01:55.079 --> 00:01:58.560 And they, that is, John's disciples, came to John and said to him, 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:01.739 Rabbi, he who is with you across the Jordan, 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:03.739 to whom you bore witness, look, 00:02:04.299 --> 00:02:07.180 he is baptizing, and all are going to him. 00:02:08.659 --> 00:02:11.259 John answered, a person cannot receive even one thing 00:02:11.259 --> 00:02:13.460 unless it is given him from heaven. 00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:16.980 You yourselves bear me witness that I said, 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:20.000 I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:23.080 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:25.800 The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears Him 00:02:25.800 --> 00:02:28.240 rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. 00:02:29.040 --> 00:02:31.200 Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete. 00:02:31.960 --> 00:02:35.960 He must increase, but I must decrease. 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:41.480 He who comes from above is above all. 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:45.640 He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:48.060 He who comes from heaven is above all. 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:51.000 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, 00:02:51.080 --> 00:02:52.840 yet no one receives his testimony. 00:02:53.700 --> 00:02:56.480 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:57.600 that God is true. 00:02:58.640 --> 00:03:01.120 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, 00:03:01.180 --> 00:03:03.020 for he gives the Spirit without measure. 00:03:03.020 --> 00:03:07.060 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 00:03:07.820 --> 00:03:10.100 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. 00:03:10.200 --> 00:03:12.719 Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:14.879 but the wrath of God remains on him. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:18.520 Now, when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:21.840 that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John, 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:24.980 although Jesus himself did not baptize but only his disciples, 00:03:25.620 --> 00:03:29.080 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:34.840 Well, what do we see in this story? 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:38.680 The Gospel of John was written in a time and place 00:03:38.680 --> 00:03:40.439 where most people couldn't read, 00:03:41.220 --> 00:03:43.860 but people frequently told and remembered stories. 00:03:43.980 --> 00:03:46.200 And one of the ways that people remembered stories 00:03:46.200 --> 00:03:47.520 without writing them down 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:50.240 was by using familiar patterns and structures. 00:03:50.920 --> 00:03:53.340 One of these commonly used patterns is called a chiasm. 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:54.960 That's sort of the technical term for it. 00:03:54.980 --> 00:03:56.240 You can also call it a sandwich. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:58.560 In a sandwich, you've got the bread on the outside 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:00.460 and the meat on the inside, right? 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:03.719 And in a story that's structured as a chiasm, 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:06.560 you have a correspondence between the beginning and the end, 00:04:06.980 --> 00:04:08.100 the outside parts, 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:11.120 but the most important point is found in the middle. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:14.740 And I believe that we see this pattern here in this chapter. 00:04:14.920 --> 00:04:17.160 I've laid out the pattern for you in the bulletin. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:18.639 If you turn to the center of the bulletin, 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:21.780 there's a little chart in there that lays it out. 00:04:21.779 --> 00:04:23.759 And so I want to lead us through this passage today 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:27.519 from the outside in and finally to get to the heart of the passage, 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:29.779 which is verse 30, where John the Baptist says, 00:04:30.139 --> 00:04:32.699 he must increase and I must decrease. 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:36.359 And that's where we'll see his humility, 00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:40.519 and that's what we'll consider as our main point of our message today. 00:04:40.619 --> 00:04:44.419 But as you can see, the passage begins and ends with storyline, 00:04:44.859 --> 00:04:46.279 right, with people doing things. 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:48.319 And then in the middle, there are two speeches. 00:04:49.179 --> 00:04:56.079 So first, let's look at the story briefly in verses 22 to 26, 00:04:56.159 --> 00:04:58.199 and then chapter 4, 1 through 3. 00:04:58.259 --> 00:04:59.500 Notice how the story begins. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:02.039 Jesus and his disciples, they go out into the countryside. 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:03.419 He stays there for a while. 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:04.279 He's baptizing. 00:05:04.379 --> 00:05:05.799 Now, that's an interesting detail, 00:05:06.119 --> 00:05:11.719 because so far, the only person we've seen baptizing is John the Baptist, right? 00:05:11.779 --> 00:05:14.239 That's why he's called John the Baptist or the baptizer. 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:18.460 And now we hear that Jesus and his disciples are doing the same thing. 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:25.280 And verses 23 and 24 clarifies this is before John was put in prison, right? 00:05:25.340 --> 00:05:26.860 John is also baptizing people. 00:05:27.259 --> 00:05:28.939 He's in a place where there's plenty of water. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:32.319 That's a favorite verse of Baptist churches, by the way. 00:05:32.400 --> 00:05:34.000 There's plenty of water, right? 00:05:34.060 --> 00:05:35.060 He wasn't just sprinkling. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:36.019 He was probably dunking. 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:37.540 Anyway, that's a side point. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:40.920 That's not essential to what baptism is. 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:45.020 But anyway, I can't resist that. 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:48.780 Anyway, so John is leading a movement where people are getting baptized, 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:51.860 and Jesus is leading a movement where people are getting baptized as well. 00:05:51.939 --> 00:05:55.300 Now, verse 25, things start getting a little hairy. 00:05:56.240 --> 00:06:02.439 Some of John's disciples get into a discussion or perhaps a debate about purification. 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:08.780 So perhaps they were talking about John's baptism compared to other Jewish purification rituals. 00:06:08.779 --> 00:06:13.579 John doesn't tell us the details of their conversation, but what comes out of it is verse 26. 00:06:13.679 --> 00:06:15.579 John's disciples come to John and say, 00:06:16.659 --> 00:06:19.739 Look, Jesus is baptizing too. 00:06:20.699 --> 00:06:22.139 And now everybody's going to him. 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:30.039 Now, notice how these same details are picked up at the end of this story in chapter 4, verse 1 to 3. 00:06:30.579 --> 00:06:30.819 Right? 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:32.759 Verse 22, Jesus went into Judea. 00:06:33.099 --> 00:06:34.839 Chapter 4, verse 3, he left Judea. 00:06:34.919 --> 00:06:35.919 Those are sort of the bookends. 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:37.660 Again, go one step in. 00:06:37.720 --> 00:06:38.560 Jesus is baptizing. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:43.000 Actually, chapter 4, verse 2 clarifies, Jesus himself didn't baptize. 00:06:43.080 --> 00:06:46.780 It was his disciples who actually did the baptizing. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:47.620 I mean, think about it. 00:06:47.640 --> 00:06:52.460 If Jesus himself had baptized, everyone back then would have wanted him to baptize you. 00:06:53.020 --> 00:06:53.300 Right? 00:06:54.020 --> 00:06:58.520 I mean, why would I let one of Jesus' disciples baptize me if Jesus himself would do it? 00:06:58.920 --> 00:07:00.280 So Jesus stays out of that. 00:07:00.400 --> 00:07:01.580 He's like, That's not the point. 00:07:01.579 --> 00:07:06.039 That's not the primary reason I'm here, to personally baptize people. 00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:10.240 He's here to proclaim the kingdom of God and fulfill the mission God has given him. 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:15.399 So, you know, if you're a follower of Christ, you should get baptized. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:18.439 But you know, the person who baptizes you is not that important. 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:20.539 That's much less important. 00:07:21.479 --> 00:07:24.259 And then verse 26 comes back in chapter 4, verse 1, 00:07:24.919 --> 00:07:29.000 the same point about Jesus was baptizing more disciples than John. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:34.980 Now, that's really the issue that starts off this passage. 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:35.980 Right? 00:07:36.060 --> 00:07:37.240 John's been leading this movement. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:38.879 He's a voice crying out in the wilderness. 00:07:39.300 --> 00:07:44.279 People are coming to him, listening to his preaching, getting baptized in the Jordan River. 00:07:44.420 --> 00:07:49.860 But now John's disciples are worried because they've got competitors. 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:52.259 Right? 00:07:52.259 --> 00:07:57.659 On the one side, there's the Jew in verse 25 who's stirring up a commotion with John's disciples 00:07:57.659 --> 00:08:00.060 and publicly debating with them about purification. 00:08:02.259 --> 00:08:08.259 And on the other side, more and more people are going to Jesus and his disciples and being baptized by them. 00:08:08.920 --> 00:08:11.620 And so John's disciples are thinking, Oh, we've got two competitors. 00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:15.939 We've got the traditionalists on one side, and we've got this upstart Jesus on the other side. 00:08:16.199 --> 00:08:17.759 And he's outperforming us. 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:21.199 And that's the concern they're expressing in verse 26. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:27.719 They say, John, you gave your stamp of approval to this Jesus, and now he's taking all your business. 00:08:29.779 --> 00:08:31.399 You can't be happy about that. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:33.519 You can't just let him do that. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:35.340 You've got to stand up for yourself. 00:08:35.439 --> 00:08:36.700 You've got to do something about this. 00:08:36.779 --> 00:08:38.059 It's not fair. 00:08:38.059 --> 00:08:38.099 It's not fair. 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:41.959 Have you ever felt that way? 00:08:43.359 --> 00:08:45.319 It's not fair. 00:08:47.099 --> 00:08:49.079 When I was five years old, my sister was born. 00:08:51.719 --> 00:08:53.379 Previously, I had been an only child. 00:08:54.819 --> 00:08:56.319 I had even prayed for a sister. 00:08:56.439 --> 00:08:57.399 I think I prayed for a brother. 00:08:57.619 --> 00:09:00.519 But regardless, I felt it was an answer to prayer when I got a sister. 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:08.000 And then after she was born, I became wickedly jealous because I was furious at this new creature 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:13.639 who had suddenly become the center of attention, and I no longer was. 00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:20.340 Envy, jealousy, comparison, competitiveness, they're deeply ingrained in human nature, 00:09:20.439 --> 00:09:22.319 even from the youngest age. 00:09:23.079 --> 00:09:25.259 In our house, we call it the green-eyed monster. 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:32.759 But, you know, this isn't just a problem that younger, immature children have sometimes. 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:48.059 Envy, jealousy, it takes its root in all of us, even in…and we can dress it up in all kinds of ways. 00:09:49.799 --> 00:09:55.179 I remember a few years ago when there was a new church that was being planted in downtown New Haven. 00:09:55.259 --> 00:10:00.620 Now, that's happened at least four times in the last ten years or so, just so you know. 00:10:00.939 --> 00:10:02.759 Two of the church plants have since died. 00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:06.200 Two of the church plants have survived and are thriving. 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:10.059 You know, when you're part of a church that's been around for a while, 00:10:10.819 --> 00:10:13.819 there's a temptation to get cynical about the upstarts. 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:16.559 Who do they think they are? 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:20.039 Do they really think they can reach New Haven better than we do? 00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:23.700 Why don't they ever ask our opinion about things before they start their own thing? 00:10:23.700 --> 00:10:28.740 Or maybe we just sit back and fold our arms and say, let's see how this one goes. 00:10:32.340 --> 00:10:35.340 J.C. Ryle wrote this in his commentary on verse 26. 00:10:35.460 --> 00:10:35.800 He wrote, 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:57.120 Josh Moody put it this way. 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:57.519 He wrote, 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:02.560 Jealousy is often the reason for carefully worded disagreements between people in ministry, 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:06.779 how damaging it is to our witness to Christ. 00:11:06.779 --> 00:11:17.019 But what we'll see here in verses 27 to 30 as we move toward the heart of the passage is that John the Baptist doesn't follow his disciples down that path. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:24.159 He doesn't follow them down the path of jealousy and complaining and self-pity and scorn. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:30.019 Instead, he chooses a path of humility and joy. 00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:36.419 So, let's look at John's answer, verses 27 to 30. 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:41.480 Verse 27, John begins by stating a very broad principle. 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:49.819 A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven, that is from God. 00:11:49.820 --> 00:11:56.100 It starts with a very broad principle about all human beings and God. 00:11:57.620 --> 00:12:00.360 The Apostle Paul makes the same point, 1 Corinthians 4, 7. 00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:00.780 He says, 00:12:00.900 --> 00:12:03.000 What do you have that you didn't receive? 00:12:04.800 --> 00:12:09.760 And if then you have received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 00:12:10.340 --> 00:12:12.560 Everything we have, we have received from God. 00:12:13.920 --> 00:12:14.780 The psalmist said, 00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:20.379 That's where John begins. 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:28.539 That's where humility begins, is with this general sense of who we are as human beings before our creator God. 00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:32.019 God is God. 00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:33.639 I, we are not. 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:38.600 Our skills, our possessions, our abilities, our successes, they're all gifts. 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:43.019 All that we are and all that we have, we've received from God. 00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:51.539 Now, this kind of humility shouldn't make us passive, as if we should just sit back and do nothing. 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:53.439 John the Baptist was not passive here. 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:55.419 He saw a good opportunity and took it. 00:12:55.959 --> 00:13:00.639 He found a place where there was plenty of water, and he had plenty of people coming to him to be baptized. 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:09.600 But at the same time, he could freely admit that he wasn't in control of the outcome of his ministry. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:18.139 And he wasn't trying to be in control of something that was ultimately out of his hands and ultimately not his responsibility. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:22.500 He was willing to say, 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.560 God gave this to me in the first place. 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:26.600 He gave it to me. 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:27.899 He can take it away. 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:29.220 He can make it bigger. 00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:30.659 He can make it smaller. 00:13:31.040 --> 00:13:33.399 It's not mine to say. 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:36.860 And it's not mine to complain. 00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:42.259 John Calvin began his book, The Institutes, with a chapter entitled, 00:13:42.419 --> 00:13:46.360 The Knowledge of God and That of Ourselves Are Connected. 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.039 He says, 00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:53.559 In knowing God, each of us also knows himself. 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:59.399 We understand who we really are when we see who God really is. 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:02.879 And Calvin goes on to say, he says, 00:14:02.959 --> 00:14:07.840 It's not just enough to acknowledge that there's a God out there who's worthy of our worship. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:09.779 Oh, yeah, God exists. 00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:10.459 He's there. 00:14:11.340 --> 00:14:11.779 But he says, 00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:15.840 No, we must be persuaded that he is the fountain of every good. 00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:19.279 That we must seek nothing elsewhere than in him. 00:14:20.419 --> 00:14:22.319 That no drop will be found, 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:27.680 either of wisdom and light or of righteousness or power or genuine truth, 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:31.260 which does not flow from him and of which he is not the cause. 00:14:32.220 --> 00:14:35.900 Thus we may learn to await and seek all these things from him 00:14:35.900 --> 00:14:39.640 and thankfully to ascribe them once received to him. 00:14:41.780 --> 00:14:43.379 So that's where humility begins, 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:49.300 of knowing who we are as human beings before the God who made us. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.920 But then John gets more specific. 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:54.539 He doesn't just talk about people and God in general. 00:14:54.699 --> 00:14:58.339 He talks about himself in light of Jesus. 00:14:59.839 --> 00:15:00.439 He says, 00:15:00.599 --> 00:15:03.159 Let me tell you who I am and also who I'm not. 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:09.199 And who I am is defined by who Jesus is. 00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:11.279 So verse 28. 00:15:12.059 --> 00:15:14.620 In verse 28 and verse 29, he makes a contrast. 00:15:14.839 --> 00:15:15.120 He says, 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:16.879 Here's who I'm not and here's who I am. 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:18.599 Verse 28, he says, 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:20.060 I am not the Christ. 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:21.180 I'm not the Messiah. 00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:23.600 I'm not the Savior of the world. 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:25.100 I'm not the King of glory. 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:29.040 I have been sent before him. 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:30.960 John's saying, 00:15:31.060 --> 00:15:32.580 I'm the herald preparing the way, 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:35.480 announcing the king's arrival like the police motorcycle 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:39.659 that goes ahead of the presidential motorcade, 00:15:39.820 --> 00:15:40.800 clearing the streets, 00:15:41.300 --> 00:15:41.540 saying, 00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:44.960 Make way for the one who is coming. 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:48.139 In verse 29, he uses another image. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:48.480 He says, 00:15:48.560 --> 00:15:49.639 I'm not the bridegroom. 00:15:50.420 --> 00:15:51.400 I'm his friend. 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:53.840 I'm not the guy who's getting married here. 00:15:53.900 --> 00:15:55.580 I'm not the center of attention here. 00:15:55.660 --> 00:15:57.180 I'm just the wedding planner. 00:15:57.300 --> 00:15:58.379 I'm just the best man. 00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:59.400 I'm just the officiant. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:07.600 The friend of the bridegroom played an important role in weddings back then. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:10.200 And he was sort of like the wedding planner, 00:16:10.300 --> 00:16:10.879 the best man, 00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:12.100 and the officiant all in one. 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:14.659 I don't know. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:16.879 Maybe you've played some of those roles in somebody's wedding. 00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:19.360 Maybe you've helped organize the details. 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:21.500 Maybe you've been part of the wedding party. 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:24.860 As someone who's officiated many weddings, 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:26.580 I'm standing here in the center. 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:27.720 But you know, 00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:29.300 the wedding is never about me. 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:31.500 Right? 00:16:31.560 --> 00:16:32.580 If you're part of the wedding party, 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:34.980 you don't ever want to make that day about you. 00:16:34.980 --> 00:16:39.740 You don't ever want to take the focus off the couple who's getting married. 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:45.220 Because it's about them and the promises they're making to each other before God. 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:53.000 So the bridegroom's friend might have been responsible for all kinds of things back then, 00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:54.200 organizing the details, 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:56.879 communicating with the fiancee in advance of the ceremony, 00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:59.680 making sure the bride and groom both arrived safely, 00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:00.879 presiding over the wedding, 00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:02.759 making sure everything goes without a hitch. 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:10.220 But the bridegroom's friend must never become the center of attention at the wedding. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:13.299 He must never get between the couple who are to be married. 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:15.960 He must never put himself in the place of the bridegroom. 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:18.779 His role is to do his job and see the marriage happen 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:22.000 and rejoice in their union and go off on his way. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:27.599 You know, that's what humility looks like. 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:31.900 Humility doesn't mean being passive or timid or silent. 00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:33.460 It doesn't mean hiding in a corner. 00:17:34.780 --> 00:17:39.160 It doesn't mean being complacent when there's wrongdoing and injustice that need to be addressed. 00:17:39.820 --> 00:17:43.180 It doesn't mean never speaking the truth or confronting someone. 00:17:43.280 --> 00:17:46.860 Humility is knowing who you are in relation to Jesus 00:17:46.860 --> 00:17:49.840 and doing your job with confidence, 00:17:50.560 --> 00:17:53.300 but never putting yourself in his place. 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:58.839 And that's what John does. 00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.480 John says, 00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:02.099 I'm a voice crying out in the barren wilderness. 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:04.200 Make way for the long-awaited king. 00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:05.940 But now John says, 00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:07.559 I hear another voice. 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:14.339 I hear a voice that is stronger and wiser and more worthy than mine. 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:17.759 Listen to that voice. 00:18:18.159 --> 00:18:19.319 The voice of the king. 00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:23.439 The voice of the good shepherd himself who calls his own sheep by name. 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:25.679 John says, 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.439 The king has come. 00:18:27.459 --> 00:18:29.599 And so my voice is going to fade into the background. 00:18:30.659 --> 00:18:31.699 And that's just fine. 00:18:35.159 --> 00:18:35.799 He says, 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:36.819 I'm the bridegroom's friend. 00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:42.199 I'm here to make the preparations for the wedding and get everything ready. 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:46.519 And I'm like the wedding officiant who steps on the stage to call everyone to attention 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:48.220 and announce that the groom has arrived. 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:50.740 And today he will be married to his bride. 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:54.480 And my greatest happiness is seeing their union take place. 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:57.400 I rejoice greatly at the bridegroom's voice. 00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:00.420 Now I can walk off the stage and be happy. 00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:03.140 He must increase. 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:05.980 And I must decrease. 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.620 That's the heart of this passage. 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:16.500 These are John's last words in the gospel of John. 00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:18.100 The last words that he speaks. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:21.740 He must increase and I must decrease. 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:26.039 You know, John doesn't just grudgingly acknowledge 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:29.980 that this is God's will for Jesus to 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:34.980 take his, to not just take his place, 00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:37.700 but to step into the center of things 00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:40.980 and accomplish the work that God has sent him to do. 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:43.559 John is, John's not just like, oh yeah, well, 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.759 I guess that's God's will. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.920 I guess I have to give into it. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:49.579 No, he rejoices in that. 00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:52.059 He says it's a good thing. 00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:55.120 Because all along, 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.579 John has been saying, 00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:57.539 it's not about me. 00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:58.460 It's about him. 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.539 All along, 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.259 John has been saying, 00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:03.279 I'm not the Messiah. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:05.240 I'm just here to prepare the way. 00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:11.740 Do you know who you are in relation to Jesus? 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:15.619 I mean, in some ways, 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:18.619 John's role as a prophet and a forerunner is unique. 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:20.019 But in his humility, 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:23.139 he's a model for every Christian believer. 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:27.000 John was full of joy, 00:20:27.100 --> 00:20:30.600 even when his ministry was diminishing. 00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:33.320 Even when his disciples came to him and said, 00:20:33.820 --> 00:20:35.300 everybody's going to Jesus now. 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.280 And not you. 00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:39.060 Now, obviously, 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.600 they were even exaggerating 00:20:40.600 --> 00:20:42.259 because some people were still coming to John 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:42.780 to be baptized. 00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.040 And then, 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:45.480 if they were coming to John to be baptized, 00:20:45.620 --> 00:20:47.060 he was going to teach them and baptize them 00:20:47.060 --> 00:20:47.900 and point them toward Jesus. 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.100 That's what he was doing. 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.780 He was going to keep being faithful. 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:53.240 As long as God gave him work to do. 00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:56.599 But John was full of joy, 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:58.700 even when he realized that he was on the way out. 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:03.220 And John may not have known this, 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.920 but his life was about to get much harder. 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:09.399 Verse 24 reminds us of this. 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.899 John keeps preaching. 00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:12.680 He's bold. 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.940 He confronts King Herod 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:17.460 about King Herod's immoral 00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:19.480 and adulterous relationship that he was in. 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:21.620 And Herod responds to that 00:21:21.620 --> 00:21:22.920 by locking him up in prison 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:26.120 and keeping him locked up for a while 00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:28.480 and eventually cutting off his head. 00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:31.500 That's how his life was going to end. 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:35.319 Being imprisoned and unjustly executed. 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:39.740 Now, John may not have been able to know that. 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:44.660 But John was still full of joy 00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:49.680 because he had seen Jesus. 00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:52.799 And he saw people listening to Jesus 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:56.440 and being baptized by his disciples 00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:57.900 and believing in his name. 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:01.259 And John says, 00:22:01.380 --> 00:22:02.259 my joy is complete. 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:05.140 That's what it's all about. 00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:08.060 Brothers and sisters in Christ, 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:10.500 this joy can be ours today. 00:22:13.840 --> 00:22:15.900 Even in the midst of hardships, 00:22:17.340 --> 00:22:19.440 even if things seem to be 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:21.960 trending down in your own life 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:24.820 and going badly, 00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:28.359 even if it seems like 00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:31.720 the greatest times, 00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:33.539 the greatest successes 00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:36.319 in your life or your ministry 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:38.359 or your career are behind you. 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:43.079 You can have this joy 00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:45.519 if you see Jesus. 00:22:46.679 --> 00:22:47.460 You can have this joy 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.700 of knowing that he has come, 00:22:49.379 --> 00:22:50.139 that he is here, 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:51.480 he has fulfilled his promises. 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:56.559 If John the Baptist's words 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:58.160 in verses 27 to 29 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:00.680 highlight his own lesser role, 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.779 I must decrease. 00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.960 John the Apostle's reflections 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:05.680 in verses 31 to 36 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:06.940 highlight Jesus' greater 00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:08.059 and increasing role. 00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:09.279 He must increase. 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.980 Now, some people think 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:12.240 verses 31 to 36 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.279 continues the words 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:14.000 of John the Baptist. 00:23:14.360 --> 00:23:15.259 I think it's better 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:16.360 to understand these verses 00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:17.759 as the reflections 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:19.220 of John the Gospel writer. 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:20.700 John the Baptist 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:21.460 is not the same 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.420 as John the Gospel writer. 00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.579 I know it's a little confusing. 00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:25.039 They're two different people. 00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:25.940 But regardless of who 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.620 you think is speaking, 00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:27.880 the point is really the same. 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:30.720 You can see the correspondences 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.360 either way. 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:34.039 Verses 35 to 36, 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:35.039 we see the principle 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.980 of verse 27 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:36.920 applied to Jesus. 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.680 A person can only receive 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:40.180 what heaven gives. 00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.640 And then verse 35, 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:42.299 John says, 00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:43.579 God the Father 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:45.720 has given all things, 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.440 everything, 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.460 into the hand of his Son. 00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:51.220 everything has been given 00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:51.940 to Jesus, 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:54.100 including, 00:23:54.620 --> 00:23:55.460 verse 36, 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:57.000 eternal life 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.799 and the ability 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:59.400 to bestow eternal life 00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.579 on all who believe in him. 00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:04.819 Jesus has a greater authority. 00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.960 And then verses 32 to 34, 00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.620 we see the theme 00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:08.799 of witness or testimony, 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:11.400 which is a big theme 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:12.440 throughout John's Gospel. 00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:13.940 Verse 28, 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:15.279 John's disciples bear witness 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.440 about what he had said. 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.960 But in verse 32, 00:24:18.100 --> 00:24:19.140 Jesus bears witness. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.220 And Jesus' witness 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:22.000 is even weightier than John's. 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:23.920 Verse 34, 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:24.420 Jesus, 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.779 he whom God has sent, 00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.980 that's referring to Jesus here, 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.360 utters the words of God 00:24:28.360 --> 00:24:29.460 for he gives the Spirit 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.279 without measure. 00:24:31.080 --> 00:24:32.460 So he has a greater authority. 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.920 He has a weightier testimony. 00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:34.840 And finally, 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.740 verse 31 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:37.559 helps us understand 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:38.380 verse 29 00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:40.140 about where this bridegroom 00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:40.820 comes from. 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.860 John makes it very clear. 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:45.220 Jesus has come from heaven. 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:48.600 He is not just 00:24:48.600 --> 00:24:51.039 a human being. 00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.880 John is a mere human being. 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:54.519 He's a creature of the earth, 00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:56.360 like every one of us. 00:24:58.120 --> 00:24:59.740 But isn't that what we celebrate 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.240 at Christmas? 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:03.960 He came down from heaven. 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:06.980 He came to bring 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:09.299 heaven's peace and joy. 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.620 Heaven is where God lives. 00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:11.599 He came to bring 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:13.039 God's dwelling place 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:16.039 into our hearts and lives. 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:18.639 He came to be our Emmanuel, 00:25:19.159 --> 00:25:19.919 God with us. 00:25:22.639 --> 00:25:24.379 So we see the greatness of Jesus. 00:25:25.219 --> 00:25:26.419 His authority is unlimited. 00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:27.799 His testimony is greater. 00:25:27.939 --> 00:25:29.179 And His origin is heavenly. 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:34.500 And so John, 00:25:34.560 --> 00:25:35.200 the gospel writer, 00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:36.140 is saying we should stand 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:36.700 in awe of Him. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.900 He must increase. 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:43.180 I want to go back 00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:43.880 to verse 29 00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:44.660 for just a bit. 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.700 This imagery 00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.640 of the bridegroom 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:49.120 or the groom 00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:49.640 at the wedding. 00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:51.160 The Old Testament prophets 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.160 frequently used 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:52.880 this imagery 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.940 of a bridegroom 00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.620 and a bride 00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:56.259 to speak of the relationship 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.080 between God 00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:58.140 and His people Israel. 00:25:58.140 --> 00:26:01.480 So Jeremiah chapter 2, 00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:02.140 God is speaking 00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:02.700 to His people. 00:26:02.820 --> 00:26:03.060 He says, 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:04.580 I remember the devotion 00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:05.340 of your youth, 00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:06.780 your love as a bride, 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.360 how you followed me 00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:08.920 in the wilderness 00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:10.400 like a newly married couple 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:13.080 starting out their life together. 00:26:14.300 --> 00:26:15.520 But then the people of Israel 00:26:15.520 --> 00:26:16.740 entered into the promised land 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.820 that God had purchased for them 00:26:17.820 --> 00:26:18.340 and then everything 00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:18.960 went downhill. 00:26:19.780 --> 00:26:21.000 The people were unfaithful 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.259 to their promises to God. 00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:23.820 They bowed down to idols 00:26:23.820 --> 00:26:24.840 made of silver and gold. 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:26.460 They worshiped political power. 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:28.559 They committed sexual sins 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:30.259 and eventually God gave them 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.279 what they were asking for. 00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.079 He gave them over 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:32.920 to the chaos 00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:34.600 of their own twisted desires 00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:36.180 but God didn't give up on them. 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:38.200 Despite their unfaithfulness, 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:39.620 He promised that He would come 00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:41.019 and make a new covenant 00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:41.680 with them. 00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:44.100 And that's what 00:26:44.100 --> 00:26:44.900 the prophet Isaiah 00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:45.700 was speaking about 00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.259 in that passage 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.120 we read earlier. 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:48.980 Isaiah said, 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.640 You shall no more 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:50.660 be called forsaken 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:52.500 and your land 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.019 shall no more 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.920 be called desolate 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.900 but you shall be called 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:56.320 my delight is in her 00:26:56.320 --> 00:26:57.980 and your land married 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:59.920 for the Lord delights in you. 00:27:00.320 --> 00:27:01.720 As the bridegroom rejoices 00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.440 over the bride 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.340 so shall your God 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:08.720 in her. 00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:11.079 you shall be called desolate 00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:12.000 who simply 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.399 seeependence 00:27:12.399 --> 00:27:12.720 everywhere 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.819 and you yearn 00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:14.319 and your land 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:14.879 so shall their 00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:15.819 and your素 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.579 be called desolate 00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:16.679 engr noted 00:27:16.679 --> 00:27:17.699 that 00:27:17.699 --> 00:27:18.339 That he can 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:18.959 be called desolate 00:27:18.959 --> 00:27:19.579 and they have 00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.379 a wedding 00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:20.980 that 00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.639 that 00:27:22.939 --> 00:27:23.579 Oh 00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:47.059 Sl translating the thunder . 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:50.059 dzien 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:52.059 schemic 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:55.059 hor 00:27:55.059 --> 00:28:08.059 hor 00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:10.059 r 00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:40.039 Thank you. 00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:57.879 malaki 00:28:57.880 --> 00:29:27.860 Thank you. 00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:57.860 Thank you. 00:29:57.880 --> 00:30:27.860 Thank you. 00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:57.860 Thank you. 00:30:57.880 --> 00:31:27.860 Thank you. 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:57.860 Thank you. 00:31:57.880 --> 00:32:27.860 Thank you. 00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:57.860 Thank you. 00:32:57.880 --> 00:33:27.860 Thank you. 00:33:27.880 --> 00:33:57.860 Thank you. 00:33:57.880 --> 00:34:27.860 Thank you. 00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:57.860 Thank you. 00:34:57.880 --> 00:35:27.860 Thank you. 00:35:27.880 --> 00:35:57.860 Thank you. 00:35:57.880 --> 00:36:27.860 Thank you. 00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:57.860 Thank you. 00:36:57.880 --> 00:37:27.860 Thank you. 00:37:27.880 --> 00:37:57.860 Thank you. 00:37:57.880 --> 00:38:27.860 Thank you.