Matthew 4:12 part 5

“He Must Increase,
but I Must Decrease”

John 3:22-30

One of John the Baptists desciples told him the Jesus was baptizing people, and all the people were now going to Him. John responded by thelling them,

“A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease."
John 3:27-30

John was the messenger who ushered in the One true Messiah, Like Apolos, many recieved the baptisim of repentabce from John, but it wasn't until Jesus came along that they could soon be truly be baptize in the Holy Spirit. Had they paid attention to John's speaches and teachings, they would know this, for before he baptized Jesus he told them,

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
Matthew 3:11

1. (John 3:22-24) After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.For John had not yet been thrown into prison.

1. After these things

1. Wedding in Cana of Galilee where he turned water into wine

2. He cleanses the Temple of the profiteers and money changers

3. He attends the Passover in Jerusalem

4. Many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing, but He knew their hearts

5. In a late night conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus expounds upon the way to salvation and eternal life

2. His disciples came into the land of Judea

1. By “The land of Judea” John means the expanse of countryside as opposed to the walled in city

2. In Jerusalem, Jesus made a lot of noise with His miracles and His fresh insight of the scriptures

3. It had many influential Jewish leaders whose power and prestige clouded their ability to accept Him 

1. Pharisees ----- They prided themselves in following the Law to the “T”. They may have observed the rules of their institution, but the spirit was gone. They were a proud, haughty, and self-righteous, corrupt, hypocritical, office-seeking class of men.

2. Sadducees ---- These were the skeptics of that age who did not believe in the resurrection

3. Scribes -------- Interpreters of the Law, they were the public teachers of the people

4. Sanhedrin ---- The supreme judicial and administrative council of the Jews (Council of 72)

5. High Priests --- Among other duties he was also president of the Sanhedrin 

6. Unlike like Nicodemus, most were contentious with this hick from the backwoods of Nazareth

4. Most people there wanted only to be around a great man but were not really open to His teachings

5. Many came only for healing, but Like the multitude he fed in Bethsaida (John 6:22-66) they did not accept His teachings

6. If they truly believed who He was they would have followed Him because He is the “Living Ark” As in the “Ark of the Covenant”

1. The Israelites were commanded to follow the ark when it was carried in front of them

1. (Joshua 3:3)

2. (Numbers 10:33)

3. (Exodus 13:21-22)

2. We are called to follow Christ the “Living Ark”

1. (Matthew 8:19 )

2. (Matthew 16:24)

3. (Revelations 14:4)

7. Finally He wanted to have personal conversation and teachings with His disciples and followers

3. and there He remained with them and baptized.

1. In (John 4:1-2) we learn that the disciples baptized not Jesus. 

1. We take no credit, we give all credit to Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20)

1. We can do nothing without Christ He gets all credit

2. All our works are because HE gave us the knowledge and Wisdom

3. Thus we always give credit and the glory to God through Jesus

2. (John 3:25) Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.

1. In (John 4:1-2) we learn that Jesus himself did not baptize, but His disciples did. And though Christ did this by his disciples, yet he is here given credit for the baptism. We, as followers of Jesus, do everything in the name of Jesus. Thus we take no credit, we give all credit to Jesus for our works because we were commanded so. (Matthew 28:18-20)

1. Not my will but THY will (Thy being Jesus)

2. We can do nothing without Christ He gets all credit

1. All our works are because HE gave us the knowledge and Wisdom

2. All we have comes from God through Jesus 

3. Thus we always give the glory to God through Jesus

3. (John 3:26) And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!"

1. John disciples missed the point. What they believed to be competition to John’s ministry, John recognized as the completion of his mission.

2. John’s disciples thought that their teacher would lose his popularity to this new teacher 

3. When Christians are new they tend to be defensive of those who brought them to the light

4. (John 3:27) John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

1. All my success comes from God. All the success of Jesus is from God. As success comes from the same source, we ought not to be envious. It is designed to answer the same end, and, by whomsoever accomplished, the hand of God is in it, and we should rejoice. If Jesus and his disciples are successful, if all men flee to him, it is proof that God favors him, and you should rejoice.

1. Good people receive things from God

2. The Israelites (Numbers 16:9-11)

3. Kings chosen by God (1Chronicles 28:4-5)

4. Prophets chosen (Jeremiah 1:5)

5. Various gifts (Romans 12:6) (1Peter 4:10)

6. Apostles (1 Corinthians 1:1) (Galatians 1:1)

7. The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4) (1 Corinthians 2:12)

2. Evil people receive things from God

1. Evil nations allowed to survive to test Israel (Judges 3:1-4)

2. Evil nations given Israel to plunder as sell as slaves (Judges 2:14) (Psalm 106:41)

3. David’s son was raised as an adversary to David. (2Samuel1 12:11 and 15:1-15 and 16:20-22)

4. Enemies of the Lord's people are given from the house of David (Isaiah 39:5-8)

5. Nebuchadnezzar humbled by God who gives all (Daniel 4:30-37)

6. Herod dies because he failed to give glory to God (Acts 12:20-23)

3. Every man has his work and sphere appointed him from above (Hebrews 5:4)

4. Gods chooses to use and bless us, not because of who we are, but in spite of who we are

5. (John 3:28) You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, "I am not the Christ,' but, "I have been sent before Him.'

1. John reminds them he is not the Messiah but the voice crying in the wilderness (Matthew 3:3 and 3:11)

6. (John 3:29) He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

1. John uses an analogy very familiar to his disciples, a bridegroom and his best man

1. There were two at each wedding: one waited on the bride, the other on the bridegroom

2. After the marriage they were to reconcile differences between husband and wife

3. The best man or “the friend of the bridegroom” organized and presided over the wedding

4. He invites the guests to the wedding, so everyone wanted to be the best man’s friend

5. Found great joy in watching the ceremony proceed without any problems

6. Finally, upon completion of the wedding he escorts the virgin bride to her husband

7. His greatest joy came from seeing the groom and his bride united with great fanfare and celebration

8. He then escorts them both to the bridal chamber

9. Finally it was the voice of the bridegroom that all was ok inside the bridal chamber that made his heart rejoice

10. John looked at himself as the best friend of Christ who is the groom of the church, “us”

2. In the Old Testaments Israel was often described as a bride of the Lord

1. Isaiah 62:4-5

2. Jeremiah 2:32

3. Hosea 2:16-20

3. Throughout the New Testament the relation of Christ to the church is often compared with the marriage relation, denoting the tenderness of the union, and his great love for his people. 

1. 2 Corinthians 11:2

2. Ephesians 5:26-27

3. Ephesians 5:32

4. Revelations 21:9 

5. Revelations 22:17

4. Many ancient cultures, like Israel, would not allow the best man to marry the betrothed bride. Engagement was considered being married minus the vows and honeymoon consummation. 

1. One job was to present the bride as a chaste virgin to her husband. 

2. The Philistines killed the woman betrothed to Samson and her family. (Judges 14:20-15:6)

3. John would never dream of promoting himself as a possible courtier to the bride of Christ

4. Ministers are guardians of the spouse and should respect her as the future bride of Christ

5. Those who draw the Church to themselves rather than to Christ, are no better then perverted adulterers that corrupt the bride of Christ.

7. (John 3:30) He must increase, but I must decrease

1. John reiterates his point by summing up his ministry 

2. Seven words that capture the essence of an honest, faithful ministry for Christ

3. Like the best man at a wedding John must step to the background and allow the groom to shine

8. As we become closer to Christ, He must increase while our flesh decreases

1. Do what you do for Him and it will prosper, do it for yourself and it will stagnate

2. If you die to yourself, you’ll find life (Matthew 10:39)

3. Overtly pursuing our own desires makes us miserable, but we have true joy when we pursue His will

4. Instead of I, I, I, it should be Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, we must never put ourselves above Christ. He should always be our focus. Like my dog waiting for me to come out of the store.