My sermon notes from Sunday, June 4th as we continue our study through The Gospel of John. Remember, these are my study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. To see the sermon each week please visit http://www.fbcap.net.
John 3:22-36 – The Spiritual Greatness of John the Baptist
John the Baptist is leaving the scene as Jesus is becoming the key figure. John is decreasing so that Jesus may increase. Jesus himself claimed how great a man John the Baptist was. He was great not because of all his worldly accomplishments, but rather because of his kingdom accomplishments.
What made him so great was that he was a humble servant that pointed people to the redeeming Savior.
He was a Servant
vv. 22-26 – He was Kingdom Focused
Up to this point, John the Baptist was doing everything that had been asked of him from his birth. He was considered a great man because he knew he was born to fulfill a mission. He was a man that keep his life focused on the Kingdom.
- Matt. 11:11 – Truly, I say to you, among those born of women, there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
- He was obedient, faithful, patient, and focused on the Kingdom.
v. 27 – He knew all he had was been given to him by God and His Grace.
1 Cor. 3:1-9 – But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
v. 28a – He knew he was not Christ
- Our ministry should draw a crowd that is willing to follow Jesus. Our ministry should not draw a crowd to us.
- Too many times in life and ministry we think everything is about us.
- John was willing to be in the background so that Christ could be glorified.
v. 28b – He knew he was sent on a mission
- We have been sent to serve as His ambassador (2 Cor. 5:20)
- Encouraging other in Growing, Going, Sharing
- John was sent
- Jesus was sent
- We are sent
- God is the sender and the giver of gifts
v. 29 – He found his great joy in pointing people to Christ
- In Jewish culture, the friend of the groom made sure the bride and groom were united. The friend of the groom was also the one that announced to the World that the marriage is complete.
- The friends joy was in the accomplishment of the bride and groom coming together.
- Our joy should not be in us, but in seeing people come to the Savior.
v. 30 – He knew he must decrease and Jesus must increase
- Our life should revolve around pointing people to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
- Me nothing…Him everything.
The Savior
v. 31 – He is from above and is above all
- from above…same as born again 3:3,7
- God in the flesh, heavenly origin, SUPERNATURAL EXISTENCE
vv. 32-33 – Bears witness to truth
- Bears witness but not everyone receives 1:9-11
- whoever receives 1:12, become children of God.
- When one receives Christ they are declaring….. IT IS TRUE
- Truth in a fallen world is found only in the Gospel
v. 34 – Sent by God, utters the words of God, and is God
- Col 2:9 – in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.
vv. 35 – 36 – He is loved by the Father and has given all things unto His hand.
- IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM…ALL AUTHORITY
- HE IS LORD
- SUSTAINS ALL THINGS
- Believe and Live
- Deny and Perish