The Joy of Second Fiddle (3:22-36)

JOHN 3:22-36 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). Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him,…

JOHN 3:22-36 …"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…

JOHN 3:22-36 …Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease." 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…

JOHN 3:22-36 …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.

Proverbs 11:12 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom

Proverbs 11:12 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall

Proverbs 18:26 For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down

Proverbs 15:3 The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor

Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves

1 Peter 5:5-6 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves

JOHN 3:22-24 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).

JOHN 4:1-2 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples)

Matthew 4:11-12 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee

JOHN 3:25-26 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 3:27-28 John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven

Humble Servants… Understand that God Alone is Sovereign over Power & Position

Thielicke “Success exposes a man to the pressure of people and thus tempts him to hold on to his gains by means of “fleshly” methods and practices, and to let himself be ruled wholly by the dictatorial demands of incessant expansion. Success can go to my head, and will unless I remember that it is God who accomplished the work, that he can continue to do so without my help, and that He will be able to make out with other means whenever He “cuts me down to size”

Humble Servants… Understand Their Role & Find Joy In It

JOHN 3:28 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

JOHN 3:29 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

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me

Humble Servants… Find JOY in the Success of Others

JOHN 3:29 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.

Humble Servants… are Not Power Hungry or Marked by Jealousy

JOHN 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease

Swindoll ENVY – has empty hands and wants them full JEALOUSY – has full hands and never wants them empty ENVY – languishes in self-pity because it doesn’t have what others have JEALOUSY – rants in paranoia because it fears losing what if feels worthless to own.

A Humble Servant’s… Great Joy is to EXALT JESUS

Jesus’ Superiority Jesus is GOD COME DOWN From HEAVEN

JOHN 3:31 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.

Jesus’ Superiority Jesus Speaks from FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE of God

JOHN 3:32-33 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

Jesus’ Superiority Jesus Has Intimate, Personal Fellowship with the Rest of the Trinity

JOHN 3:34-35 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.

Jesus’ Superiority Eternal Life Is Dependent Upon Him

JOHN 3:36 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