This morning we are at John 3:22-36.  Over the past few Sundays we have been looking at the first 4 chapters of John’s Gospel - the beginning part of Jesus’ ministry.  We’ve been thinking through what we believe about Jesus and why and what all that truth and history can mean for us as we live our lives in the places where we do life.

This morning we’re coming to the next event in the sequence of events that took place during the beginning part of Jesus’ ministry and dealing with the question:  Does God really have a purpose for my life?  And if so, what is it?

Let’s jump into the text.  Read together starting at verse 22:  After this Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, and He remained there with them and was baptizing.  John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).

Let’s pause there.  What John is introducing us to is the when and where and what of what’s happening.  The Setting.

When John writes, “after this” we need to ask, “After what?”

Which is everything that we’ve been looking at in the first 3 chapters of John’s Gospel.  Which is a lot.  Two things in all that that we need to make sure we’re up to speed on.

First is the ministry of John the Baptist.  John has been out by the Jordan River… baptizing.  John’s baptism was preparing people to spiritually receive the coming Messiah.

John was clearing out the obstacles that were in people’s minds about the Messiah.  People were looking for some kind of military and political and economic genius to rule Israel and kick the Romans back to Rome.  John was clarifying that the Messiah was first going to deal with the sin and evil in people’s hearts.

John’s ministry was about calling the hearts of God’s people to repentance.  Baptism was a symbol of that.  Inner turning towards God - inner purification - symbolized by an outward act of ritual purification.

Then John’s ministry was to get out of the way.  Its John who answers the delegation from the Pharisees in Jerusalem.  John tells them.  “Chill dudes.  I’m not the Messiah.  But He is here.”  Its John who makes the astounding announcement - pointing to Jesus - “Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world!”

One of the “after this” things that we need to keep in mind is the ministry of John the Baptist.  The second “after this” is the ministry of Jesus.

Jesus has begun calling disciples.  He’s done the water to wine miracle up in Cana.  After some R & R in Capernaum He’s come back to Jerusalem - where He’s done more miracles - signs pointing to Him as the Messiah.  He’s cleaned out the Temple along with a confrontation with the religious leadership.  He’s had a conversation with Nicodemus that we looked at last Sunday.  A conversation which focused on what it means to be made spiritually alive towards God.  What it takes to live pleasing to God.

John the Apostle tells us that “after this” - ministry of John and ministry of Jesus - “after this Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, and He remained there with them and was baptizing.” 

We know - because we’ve cheated and read ahead in chapter 4 - we know two things.

Looking at the map:  First - that Jesus is on route to Samaria and probably the town of Sychar.  Second, we know - because in 4:2 John clarifies this for us - that it wasn’t Jesus who was doing the actual baptizing.  But, it was His disciples who were baptizing as a part of Jesus’ ministry.

We also know that “after this” John the Baptist was also doing ministry with his disciples and continuing to baptize people.  We’re told that John had moved his ministry north to Aenon which is near Salim.

Which if that doesn’t mean a whole to you, you’re in good company.  In reality we’re not completely sure where that is.  Our best understanding of the location of Aenon near Salim is that its around the town of Scythopolis.

We’re told in verse 24 that John hasn’t been arrested yet.  Which is a clue as to John’s location.  Herod Antipas was the ruler who’d had John arrested and later beheaded.  Sythopolis was in an area under the authority of Herod Antipas.  What’s the tan colored area there.  Meaning that John being there is putting John in harm’s way which he wouldn’t be in danger of if he was in another Aenon not near Salim.

Which also tells us that we’re coming to the end of John’s ministry.  John hasn’t been arrested yet - and beheaded.  But he’s about to be.

The point of all that - which is a whole lot less complicated than I just explained it - the point of all that - the setting - is that Jesus and John both had ministries that included baptism and both those ministries were taking place in pretty much the same general area at the same time.  

Let’s go on to The Discussion that takes place as a result of what’s going on with these two ministries.

Let’s read together at verse 25:  Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.  And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, He is baptizing, and all are going to Him.”  John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.  You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him.’  The one who has the bride is the bridegroom.  The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.  Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.  He must increase, but I must decrease.”

The common Jewish understanding of baptism had to do with what was required of Gentiles converting to Judaism.  The ceremonial outward washing of Gentile converts who leaving behind their pagan beliefs and practices to embrace obedience to the one true God.

Which meant that what John was doing had raised some questions.  Because John was baptizing anyone - Gentile and Jew.  Why did a Jew need to be baptized?  Who’d given John the right to do that and what did John’s baptism really mean?

The word “discussion” in Greek has the idea of talking things over and looking for some understanding of an issue.  John moving into an new area - think geography - here comes a Jew - probably not completely familiar with what’s go on down south - probably a devout man - a Jew with legitimate questions.

Probably the question was something like:  “Jesus is baptizing.  John is baptizing.  What’s the difference?  What’s the meaning of John’s baptism?”

Notice that there really isn’t a problem here - with the Jew who’s seemingly just looking for answers - there really isn’t a problem here until John’s disciples get a hold of that and come to John to point out that Jesus is not too far off doing ministry - baptizing - and quote:  “all are going to Him.”

Sometimes I get asked, “How church?”  The real question behind the question is “How many people are showing up on Sunday morning?”  To which I usually reply, “Well, God is at work.  People are coming to Jesus.  People are growing in their relationship with Jesus.”  Which generally irritates people because that wasn’t what they were really asking.

Church can be such a numbers game.  Which is all about us.  Comparing ministries and buildings and numbers - Oh my.  Pastors with huge congregations are obviously better pastors than pastors with small congregations. 

Sometimes pastors - we play Fantasy Church - where we select a dream team of congregants before the next season of ministry.  Depending on how those congregants do is whether we’re having a good season of ministry.  There’s a draft and mid-season trade deadline.

True - look there’s even trading cards.  Drafting Billy Graham is like getting Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers.  At that point its all over.

If a church grows - if ministry develops - if people come to Jesus and grow up in Him - if there’s blessing and revival - its the work of the Holy Spirit - or it better be.  Ministry and growth should be to God’s glory - not ours.  As a pastor - as a Christian - one of the great challenges is to not take credit for what God does.

Are we together?

Reading between the lines - we need to see in the disciples’ statement a whole lot of jealousy and envy and rivalry and competition and ego - ugly attitudes - what’s behind what’s upsetting John’s disciples.  John introduced Jesus and now Jesus is setting up a rival ministry and Jesus is gaining converts - winning more people than John was.  “We’re upset by all that.  John, you should be upset by all that too.  What are you gonna do about it?”

Which touches on what all of us struggle with when we get our focus on us and not Jesus.  We all have this temptation to find our self-worth in things like possessions - what we have - and performance - what we achieve - and popularity - what others think of us.  All of which is tied to this world and what ultimately doesn’t last.  And if we’re honest with ourselves - all that never really satisfies - ultimately we’re still come up empty inside.

Coming to verse 27 - walk with me through John’s answer.  Verse 27:  A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

We got nothing unless God gives it to us.  Life is about… God.  All of us who serve in ministry - and that’s all of us - all of us serve at God’s pleasure.

Everything we have and are - life and breath and food and shelter and water and clothing and the stuff of our lives... and way more importantly even knowing that God exists and salvation and life in Christ and the hope of eternity with Him and being able to serve Him now - all that and more - the air we breath and the dirt under our feet - all that is all because of what God our sovereign creator wills - by His grace and mercy and love.  All of which has nothing whatsoever to do with our whit, wisdom, and working.

Sometimes we talk about “our” church.  Creekside is “our” church.  “Our” church’s ministry.  Which on one hand is great in how we see ourselves as belonging - being connected together as a congregation -  with what God is doing here.

But - on the other hand - we need to be constantly reminded that this is Christ’s church.  He died for us.  Purchased our being here with His broken body and spilled blood.  He’s the head.  He’s the groom.  We’re His bride.  We exist because of Him and for Him and by Him and Him alone - for His glory not ours.

Are we hearing purpose in that?

Verse 28 - John goes on:  You yourselves bear me witness, that I said - “You’ve heard me say this before.  Remember the delegation from Jerusalem?” - ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him.’ 

Luke - in his Gospel account - Luke fills in more details about John.  From Luke we learn that John was the only child of the priest Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth.  Zachariah who was really old and Elizabeth who was way beyond being able to bear children.

John’s birth was not only miraculous - a God thing - but also John was dedicated to be a Nazarite from birth.  Meaning that from birth John was not to cut his hair, couldn’t drink wine - no eating grapes or raisins - no touching dead bodies.  He had to undergo certain rituals for purity - certain offerings.  The idea of being a Nazarite was the taking of a vow - of being totally consecrated to God.

Meaning that even before his conception - John had been set apart by God to be the forerunner of the Messiah.  John was conceived to testify of Jesus.  Even in the womb - when Mary visited Elizabeth - John moved. 

John when he grew up he lived in the desert - the Judean wilderness.  Dust and rocks and scrubby bushes.  Hot.  Even hotter than here.  In the simplicity and solitude of those days - Luke tells us that John grew up and became strong in spirit.  He grew in Godly wisdom.  He was filled with the Holy Spirit.  God’s favor was on him preparing John for ministry.

In God’s timing John emerged from that desert solitude to confront and convict God’s people.  John’s ministry was always to introduce Jesus the Messiah.

There’s purpose in that that touches everyone one of us. 

God says to the prophet Jeremiah, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.  Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as My prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5 TNLT)

David declares of God, “Your eyes have seen my unformed substance - you saw me at the moment I was conceived - And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” - God writes the history of our lives before we’re born.  (Psalm 139:16 NASB)

The Apostle Paul - writing about His own calling - being set apart from the womb - writes in Ephesians of us - “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Galatians 1:15; Ephesians 2:10)

Notice the “we” in that.  What Paul writes isn’t just about Paul or Jeremiah or David.  God has uniquely created you to be you.  Its no accident - that today - we’re here together.  God has called each one of us to be here - before you were born.  You are uniquely created by Him and for Him.  Are we hearing purpose in that? 

Coming to verse 29 - John gives an illustration:  The one who has the bride is the bridegroom.  The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. 

Have you ever wondered why - at a wedding - there’s a best man and a groom and ultimately the bride goes home with the groom and not the best man?  John’s illustration here is about the role of the friend of the groom - think best man - and the role of the groom.

I don’t know if any of you ever did stuff like this - but in the old days people used to tie cans and shoes and stuff to the bumper of the “get away” car.  Or put rice in people’s suitcases.  Make phone calls late at night to where a couple was spending their honeymoon.  I can’t even begin to imagine who would do something like that.

There was usually some subterfuge - hidden get away cars - false sets of luggage - misinformation about where the couple was going.  A bride and groom really had to trust their best man.  It seems like today a best man doesn’t do a whole lot except try not loose the ring.

Back in Jesus’ day the “friend of the bridegroom” had some pretty weighty responsibilities.  The friend of the groom directed the wedding feast - this potentially week long celebration after the wedding.  Probably most significant he guarded the bridal chamber during the feast.

At some point during the feast the bride would slip away from the feast to the bridal chamber.  And no one was permitted to go into that room except the bride and groom.  The job of the friend of the groom was to guard the sacredness of that chamber.  To keep anyone else from going in there.

When the friend of the groom heard the groom’s voice - coming to the chamber - then the friend of the groom would step aside - mission accomplished.  His joy was complete when the groom arrived to take his place - in the bridal chamber with the bride - now his wife.

That’s what John is using to illustrate his God created for purpose in ministry.  The joy that he feels because he’s done what he - John - was created and called to do.  Ministry accomplished.  The next event on the calendar for John is arrested and decapitation. 

So now - as John tells his disciples - verse 30:  “He - Jesus and His ministry - He must increase.  And I and my ministry must decrease.”

Sometime ask someone:  Other than Jesus - which is the obvious been to Sunday School answer to just about everything - other than Jesus, who’s the greatest person who ever lived?  And what do you think made him or her great?  We all have our definitions of greatness.

Jesus told His disciples, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.”  (Matthew 11:11).

John had what is arguably the most significant and unique ministry in all of history.  He’s created and used by God at the crucial pivot point of human history.  He’s the last of the Old Testament prophets and the forerunner of the Messiah.

John was a powerful preacher with a ministry to thousands who flocked out into the dry - hot - dusty wilderness to sit on rocks - just to hear him speak (forget cushioned chairs and air conditioning).  They were comparing Him to the great prophet Elijah.  He’d become like a messiah to the people.  Imagine - even his disciples were wondering if maybe Jesus should take a back seat to John.  Heady stuff.

The ministry of John was pretty simple:  Clear the way.  Prepare the way.  John flawlessly fulfilled the purpose for which he was created.  Included in that ministry - what made John great was that he knew when to get out of the way.

Can you hear John?  “What am I going to do about it?  Decrease.  Guys, my time is coming to an end.  I’m on the way out.  Jesus’ ministry is increasing.  Its His time.  And that brings me unspeakable joy.”

We need to get this.  Joy - real joy - joy at the depths of who we are - joy as only God can bless us with - joy comes as we live out the purpose for which we’ve been created.

One of the astounding realities of what God offers to each of us in Jesus is that anyone can come to God.  It doesn’t matter how we’ve messed up in life or how wounded and beat up we are.  We don’t have to somehow clean ourselves up and do a bunch of religious stuff to get right with God.  Couldn’t do that for ourselves anyway.  We just need to come.

Repentance is turning our back on our own way of doing life - our own efforts at getting right with God - agreeing with God that that really is sin - that we are spiritually dead towards Him.  And then throwing ourselves before God - trusting Him totally for His salvation - what He offers to us freely in Jesus.

We don’t have to understand it all.  We never could understand all that.  Its a God thing.  We need to take God at His word - by faith - that what God says He’ll do, He’ll do.  Which He does.  When we repent and come to Christ - trusting in Him as our Savior - God makes us to be spiritually alive towards Him.

What is also astounding is that God does not leave us there - reborn and messed up.  At that point of spiritual rebirth God begins a process of transformation in our lives - transforming us into the person that He’s created us to be.  Theologians call that process of transformation - “sanctification.”  Being made sanctified - set aside - for God’s use.

We need to be careful that we understand what that means.  Because way too often we think that sanctification - this process of Spirit driven transformation - all that healing and changing and growing and maturing - that somehow all that is about us.  That God does that for us.

But life is about… God.  Sanctification - being set aside for God’s purposes is all that is about God.  What God wills for us.  And there’s joy in that.

Are we together? 

We can’t fit a square peg in a round hole without there being a lot of pain for the square peg.  Many of us are square pegs trying to fit ourselves into round holes.  We’ve been squared by sin.  We go on trying to fit ourselves into that round hole and no matter how hard we work at it we keep failing at it and we’re wondering why we’re going through such deep pain.

God has designed us - created us - to be round pegs that fit into round holes.  He knows that even if we don’t.  Or we can’t see ourselves that way.  Our thinking about ourselves - how we see ourselves - has been distorted by sin.  We’ve come to see ourselves as squares.  When we come to God He transforms us into round pegs and we fit.  And there’s joy in that.  Doing what it is that we’ve been created to do.

Major Ian Thomas - a great Bible teacher from a few years back - Ian Thomas wrote this:  “...to be sanctified means that God is able to put us completely to our correct use, and only when this is the case are we truly sanctified.”  (1)

Please hear this:  Only when God has free reign in us are we are able to function as God intended for us to function.  Purpose.

We have this sin distorted perspective that joy is found in possession and performance and popularity - in what we have and do and what others think of us.  We get caught up - as John’s disciples did - in comparisons.  What others have and we don’t.  Their stuff.  Their family life.  Their job.  Their reputation.  What God blesses them with.  What they think of us.  What they get away with.  What we have to suffer.  Our inadequacies.  Where we’re messed up.  Where we’ve failed.  And on and on it goes - just adding to our misery index.

We grind away pursuing all that - immersing ourselves in all that - seeking to fill the emptiness within with more stuff - more experiences - as if somehow in all that we’re going to find meaning and purpose and joy for our lives.  Even as Christians we - way too easily - we get caught up in all that.

Can we agree together?  There is no joy in that.  Never can be.  Because all that is focused on us.  Our sin distorted purpose for our lives - not God’s. 

Joy only comes - the depth of joy that John experienced even facing arrest and death - joy only comes when we let go of ourselves - our sin distorted purpose for our lives - as we decrease - as we trust God completely with who we are - so that our lives are completely His - when He freely puts us to our correct use.  His created for purpose for our lives.  To God alone be the glory. 

Coming to verse 31.  Let’s read these last 6 verses together:  He who comes from above is above all.  He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way.  He who comes from heaven is above all.  He bears witness to what He has seen and heard, yet no one receives His testimony.  Whoever receives His testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.  For He whom God has sent utters the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure.  The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

This is where John lays it all on the line with no uncertainty:  John Exalts Jesus.  There are two major truths here that they and we need keep ourselves focused on.

Truth number one:  Jesus is not a messenger from God.

John says that “Jesus comes from above and is above all.” 

Jesus is completely human in all of what it means to be human - minus the sin part.  But He’s not merely human.  Jesus comes from above.  From heaven.  He’ THE Creator - of everything.  Our Creator.  He sees everything as everything really is.  Not from the limited perspective of things that we have as the creation.  But Jesus sees what is from the perspective of the Creator.

Jesus isn’t speaking from our limited perspective - our complete understanding of all things - Jesus is speaking with the authority of the author of it all.  There’s no higher authority than Jesus.

John says that when Jesus speaks He’s “bearing witness to what He has seen and heard.”  That’s cred.  Jesus is the first hand witness to all things heavenly - what’s of God.  Because He’s been there.  He’s from there.

John says that when Jesus speaks He’s uttering “the words of God” - meaning that when Jesus is speaking we’re hearing God Himself speak to us.  God’s wisdom.  God’s knowledge.  God’s truth.  Not everyone - John says - is going to receive that.  But some will - which is a work of the Holy Spirit.

Isn’t that what amazed the crowd when Jesus finished His Sermon on the Mount?  Matthew 7:28:  “When Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”  (Matthew 7:28,29)

To date - everyone that crowd had listen to was explaining the word of God.  But Jesus isn’t someone who’s studied theology and is teaching about it.  Jesus is what that theology is all about.  Jesus isn’t some great philosopher or way shower - someone with some insight into God.  Jesus is the source - the Word of God.  

Put practically - what would be the purpose of listening to John teach about the Messiah if Jesus - the Messiah - the Word - is teaching?  What purpose would there be of listening to me go on about what I think about things when we’ve got the word of God here that we all better be listening to and giving authority to over our lives?

Truth number two:  Jesus is the message from God.

In verse 36 John says that the “wrath of God remains” on those that reject the son.

Psalm 90 tells us that we live our days under the wrath of God. (Psalm 90:9)  Meaning that because of our sin - because apart from Christ we’re spiritually dead - we’re toast.  That’s the condition of mankind.  What all of us are born into - born spiritually dead towards God.  Its who we are.

The word for “wrath” is “orge” - which is not some out of control abusive anger.  “Orge” as its used here - God’s wrath is a passionate - righteous - controlled - deliberate - justified expression of anger - of outrage - against wrongdoing.  The response of the holy God to that which is unholy.

But we do have choice.  God - because He love us gives us that choice.  We can choose to go on living under the wrath of God and living our lives that way.  Or, when we hear of the words of Jesus and His work on the cross on our behalf - we can choose life.

Jesus is not just a message from God - He is the message.  He is the object of faith that we must all believe in.  The believer in the Son has eternal life.  Life that consists - even today - of purpose and joy.

Putting that practically - how John lived and died and what he testified of - the one purpose for which all of us have been created is to testify of Jesus - Who He is and what it means to believe in Him.

Three really brief take home bullet points to keep focused on as we head out of here to out there.

First:  All of us live and exist and serve at God’s pleasure.

Second:  Joy and purpose and meaning and fulfillment and blessing and peace - the very bottom live stuff that we all crave in life - only comes as we live controlled by God serving Him as He has created us to serve Him.

Third:  All that is focused on Jesus.  We are created to exalt Jesus.  Not us.  Jesus.

_________________________

1. Major Ian Thomas, “The Mystery of Godliness” - Zondervan, 1964, page 25

General reference for this message:  “The Best Possible News” - sermon shared by Ray Stedman from John 3:16-36, May 22, 1983 

General Reference for this series:  Charles R. Swindoll, “Insights On John:  Swindoll’s New Testament Insights,”  Zondervan, 2010

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.