The Gospel of John | Willing To Become Nothing – John 3:22-36
When Jesus Christ is everything, we can become nothing, pointing people to Him
After Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus, Jesus and the disciples began teaching along the Judean countryside publicly. With the rumors of his miracles and His more public teaching, Jesus began to draw the attention of those who sought to challenge His authority and those curious of His message. People came from all around to see the man who disrupted the temple and did the miracles that He is reported to have done. For John the Baptist, though, he continued to preach the coming of Jesus Christ and baptizing people as a sign of their repentance. While John had amassed a following in the past, now people began to flock to hear Jesus. Even though they were in separate parts of the country, the effect of Jesus and His teaching had been felt in the whole country. For the people of Israel, the time of silence was coming to an end and the long awaited Messiah had finally come to save and redeem the people from their oppressive rule.
The disciples of John the Baptist understood the effect that Jesus Christ had on their particular ministry. Likely, these persons had followed and supported John for a lengthy amount of time. They had been present as John baptized Jesus in the Jordan river and watched as the Spirit descended upon Him. Through a conversation that started with Jewish person over purification, a conversation arose as to what to do with the Jesus Christ. To the followers of John the Baptist, Jesus presented a challenge to “their ministry.” People likely began going to Jesus rather than to John the Baptist. Logically this would be understandable as the message of John of the Baptist was repentance from sin and turning to the Messiah. Yet, at first glance, Jesus’ message seemed like an incursion on the ministry of John the Baptist.
John understood the purpose of his coming and the role he was to play in the story of Jesus Christ’s coming. John’s mission was to point people to Jesus and allow them to encounter the Messiah. The ministry is not about him, his message, or his success. Thus, John corrected his disciples of their jealousy Jesus Christ reigns supreme as God come down in the flesh rather than man’s attempt at coming up to God. The Gospel is about Jesus’ work of salvation for the sake of the elect to come to Him. John is not the Christ but knows where to point people to, even if it comes at his own personal expense. Jesus Christ will be glorified above all things.
We Must Decrease, Christ Must Increase
John the Baptist understood that everything stems from the presence of God. No part of their ministry comes from their own ambition, message, or teaching. This rang especially true for John the Baptist, understanding that he is nothing more than the voice calling in the desert, preparing the way of the Lord. While they do proclaim the message of Christ to the people, the subject of their message had arrived and began preaching. To compete with Jesus for followers would drastically miss the point. John is not the point but only the one who is pointing to the actual point. He is the servant of the one who matters. In keeping with the idea of the marriage between the bride and groom, John is both the bride and the friend of the bridegroom but not the groom. That honor belongs to Jesus Christ who came to rescue His bride for His glory. Whatever the bride receives comes from heaven, in this case, the presence of the God made flesh has descended from heaven to tabernacle with His people and restore them to purity and eternity with Him.
The role of the “friend of the bridegroom,” during the ancient era, had specific duties pertaining to the wedding. Some would compare this to the best man, but with ensuring that everyone made it to the wedding, the bride arrive prepared, and attended to every need of the wedding, it is more likely a combination of the best man of a wedding and the wedding coordinator. Every action the friend of the bridegroom makes exists to give glory to the groom and the wedding to the bride. This role sought no glory for itself and reveled in the glorification of the bride and groom coming together. Thus, as John compares his ministry with the coming wedding between the groom (Jesus) and the bridge (the church), he reminds his disciples that the focus is on Jesus Christ first and foremost not himself. “The concern of the disciples of John had for their teachers was entirely misplaced. It would be like a bride who was concerned that the best man of the bridegroom was not getting any attention at the wedding” (1)
As the summary of his argument, John utters his probably most well-known statement; “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30, ESV) If John embodies both the bride and the friend of the bridegroom, then the honor should be given to the groom. After all, what does John offer. Salvation comes from Jesus. Life comes from Jesus. Forgiveness comes from Jesus. If John needed to diminish and become nothing in order for Christ to become more, then so be it. It would be more important for people to hear from Jesus than John. We too are in a similar position. When we share the Gospel, point people to Christ, or even proclaim the truth of scripture, our temptation will always be to swell with pride thinking we had anything to do with it. We see pastors and ministry leaders urging their followers to grasp hold of the power but neglect to properly understand this verse in which John relinquishes all power for the sake of Christ’s growing name. I am no better than any other sinner and each of us desperately needs a Savior to rescue us from the fullness of our sin. Only one man, who descended from heaven can fill that role; Jesus Christ. Therefore, by the grace we have been given through the opportunities God has set before us, we must accurately and truthfully proclaim the truth of scripture with love and be willing to empty the glory of our name to point towards the glory of God. When people look to us, they should see the presence of God moving in us and through us so that Jesus Christ alone would be proclaimed.
- What do you see as the role of the friend of the bridegroom? What modern day equivalence could you compare this to?
The Supremacy of Christ
Central to the message of John the Baptist I saw the supremacy of Christ. By this fact, John is willing to become nothing so that the glory of God might be lifted high above the all. Throughout Johannine writing, the idea of the Spirit contrasting with the flesh becomes a recurring theme as the two stand in stark contrast with one another. Because Jesus originates from above, He is aboveboard all things. Man did not become God, but instead God became man. God came down into the world to who stood against Him in order than mankind might be saved from their sins and established in eternity. Jesus Christ is above all and He speaks truth, bearing witness to that same. He alone represents the way towards eternal salvation and no other viable option exists.
Yet, world and those in it, although created by God, rejected the truth and message of God. We see this clearly throughout the Old Testament of God revealing Himself to His people only to be rejected shortly after. Now is no different. Jesus’ coming had not been met with the fanfare and praise due to it. John knew this more than most, having been the recipient of similar criticism, and, although the did not know it yet, would ultimately lose his life for this message. Whatever the difficulty though, John would endure it head on, standing firm in the conviction that Jesus Christ is the Messiah who came to save.
At his core, John understood that everything he has receive does is a gift from God not to be used for his own glory or credit. Jesus abides in the Father and takes reigns supreme over all, possessing everything. Those who abide in Jesus’s Christ abide in the life of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, this status is granted as a gift of grace. All who received Jesus Christ will have eternal life. Yet, for those who reject the gift and grace of Jesus Christ, the consequences will be eternal. The wrath of God will be poured out on those whom Christ does not identify with. We may see temporary glory and temporary riches but the battle between our flesh and the Holy Spirit will always result in the death of the flesh. For us, we will either submit our flesh to the Spirit and truly come alive or we will continually live according to our flesh and die from it. John the Baptist key and core of this transformative change is Jesus and mankind needs Jesus more than they need John the Baptist.
- According to John the Baptist, what are the consequences of following or not following Jesus Christ?
(1) Klink, Edward W. John. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament [ZECNT]. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016.
Discussion Questions
- When did you ever experience jealous over someone else’s success? Why were you feeling jealous?
- What doesn’t John the Baptist’s description tell us about the nature of God? In what ways does this contrast with our nature?
- How would you summarize the message of John the Baptist? What does John’s willingness to point his followers to Christ tell us about how John viewed the significance of Jesus Christ?
- Following Jesus involves dying to our flesh. What areas of your life would be the hardest give up for the glory of God? Why?
- Why should we trust Jesus Christ above ourselves? How does God’s provide for our daily needs and care for our soul?
