John the Baptist and Jesus
[reading, prayer] Most major concerts, featuring major acts like Coldplay or U2 or Kanye, follow same patterns. Band or two in beginning. Each play set. Then finally main act comes on.
Beginning bands have specific goal. Warmup crowd, get them hyped. So yeah, they want play really good music, get people moving, singing, excited. But they not main act! Would not do for these beginning bands to refuse to go off stage, just keep playing song after song. Before too long people start shouting, “Bring out Kanye!” Cause he’s the main act! Everything beforehand meant to come under him, elevate his performance.
Allow me to use this metaphor to describe what happened thousands of years ago. Similar pattern, where had someone come before him, someone named John the Baptist. John did many great things. But John came not to promote himself but to ultimately promote Jesus. Jesus was main act.
It is Jesus as main act in human history that exploring today. Put it another way, what talking about today is the superiority of Jesus.
In encountering Jesus got to see that he without comparison, without rival. And at end of our time, we’ll see that implications that come from this fact will once again bring us to that central question, one that rides over entire book of John – “What do you believe about Jesus?” Do you believe in Jesus as the Superior One, one who is above all? Or do you believe in him as something quite less than that?
That’s where we’ll end up. Getting there we’ll be assisted through reflections of John the Baptist and John the apostle.
[CLICK] Begin with v.22-30, with John the Baptist and his reflections on the superiority of Jesus.
As we read earlier, Jesus and his disciples baptizing now, although as noted in 4:2 was disciples of Jesus doing the actual baptizing.
Certainly, from very beginning, clear that what Jesus doing very different from John. Had authority and power unlike any other before him. Obvious to everyone that he surpassed all the major teachers of that day, including John the Baptist. So increasingly more and more people checking out Jesus.
Now one day John’s disciples get into debate with someone over purification. Not told exact details of debate, except that somehow debate morphs into discussion about Jesus. Eventually prompts John’s disciples to come to their master in huff and express their indignation at Jesus and his ministry. In their mind Jesus two-bit hustler encroaching on their turf. “Look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” You can almost hear the whine in their voices as you read that! They envious and unhappy with what’s been happening.
John though refuses to cater to whining. Instead he reminds his disciples what his whole ministry was ultimately about – pointing people to Jesus. Always been about exalting Jesus.
Quick flashback to John 1:19-27. Remember how people came asking questions about John – who is he, why doing all stuff he’s doing? John’s main points: (1) He’s not the Christ, i.e. the Messiah (v.20); (2). He’s come to prepare the way for Jesus (v.23); and (3) Jesus is far far greater than him. v.26-27 - John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, [27] even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."
Unlike his disciples, John not bitter about Jesus’ ministry growing. What he expected and what he wanted. In fact, in this John affirms God’s sovereignty, his will being accomplished. Notice v.27. John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
All credit for all that we have goes to God. If Jesus’ ministry growing beyond that of John, it’s because that’s exactly what God wants to happen.
John goes on in v.29 to use metaphor of wedding to illustrate his perspective on Jesus. The “friend of the bridegroom” that’s mentioned in that verse roughly equivalent to what we call “the best man” today. This ancient best man would have various duties related to assisting the groom with preparing for the wedding.
Best man however gladly and quite happily steps aside when finally comes time for groom to have his bride on wedding day. Best man’s goal been achieved and his joy completed once he stands next to groom and watches as all eyes now fall on him and his bride as join together in marriage.
John sees himself as best man, preparing way for the groom, Jesus, to be joined together with his bride, which is the people of God, who today are known as the church. John overjoyed to see Jesus being exalted. Fully satisfied, knowing that he’s successfully done what God wanted him to do.
Thus all that is left for him to do is fade from the scene so that all the attention can be put on Jesus. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” No rivalry here. Notice emphasis: Jesus must increase in John’s view, while John must decrease.
Heard from John the Baptist. Now move on to second half of this passage. [CLICK] Here we hear from John the Apostle, get his reflections on the superiority of Jesus. Point out four facts from what he says that demonstrate how and why Jesus is, as says in v.31, “above all.”
[CLICK] 1. Jesus comes from God. v.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.
John the Baptist limited in what he could do or what he could speak of. He called people to repentance and to be baptized with water as sign of repentance. But only Jesus could actually bring that about!
Similarly all human beings limited to earthly reality and earthly perspective. It’s because we are all “of the earth.” Not so for Jesus. Jesus superior because he is from above. In other words, he comes from God. This makes him superior to every human being.
[CLICK] 2. Jesus’ testimony is sure and certain.
v.32 - He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. This goes along with what what’s already been said in this gospel. Since Jesus from above, means he is witness to the heavenly reality. He alone able to bring God’s message to humanity. Yet humanity does not receive that message. World not interested what Jesus has to say.
v.33-34 - Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. [34] For he whom God has sent utters the words of God…
Let’s work backwards here. Jesus is God’s official messenger. Sent by God to speak the words of God. So, to hear Jesus is to hear from God himself.
Now if you receive what Jesus has to say, if receive his testimony as opposed to rejecting it like world does, you certify divine truth behind what Jesus says. More specifically, you “set [your] seal…that God is true.”
To “set his seal” meant to certify or authenticate something to be true. In ancient times, seals affixed to documents to authenticate them. Person would set us his seal to something in order to officially sign important documents and certify them as being true.
Thus, verse saying that everyone who accepts Christ’s testimony agrees, or seals, his deep conviction that God is true. What Jesus says about himself and about God is sure and certain. It is worthy of full trust and commitment.
[CLICK] 3. Jesus has an unlimited measure of the Spirit. v.34 - For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
It is because God gives unlimited measure of Spirit to Jesus that he able to speak words of God.
This highlights Jesus’ superiority in contrast to all other prophets. According to rabbinic tradition, prophets had the Spirit only “by weight” or “measure.” In other words, each prophet spoke only one or two books of prophecy.
In contrast, Jesus has unlimited measure of the Spirit. Means then that those who receive Jesus also receive full measure of Holy Spirit. As John the Baptist said back in John 1, Jesus is one who comes in order to “baptize with the Holy Spirit.”
[CLICK] 4. Jesus is loved by God and has been given all things by God. v.35 - The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
Relationship between Son and Father is one of full, perfect love. Because of his great love for his Son, Father has given all things into the hand of Jesus.
Jesus then has complete authority to act in name of the Father. Jesus not superior in title only. He superior over all things because he actually been given power over all things.
So finally, in view of all said so far today, come to v.36. [CLICK] Main application point for this passage, and indeed for whole chapter, comes to us in this verse. 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.
Generally speaking this just repeats what already read in chapter 3. v.15, “…whoever believes in him may have eternal life." And v.18, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
That’s John’s main point to press on us - believing in Jesus. Whole gospel of John revolves around this point, taken at different angles. Believe in Jesus and will have eternal life. Is life where experience heaven, life full of the Spirit and God’s perfect love. And note present tense – doesn’t say “will have eternal life,” says “has eternal life.” Even now can live the eternal life!
So believe in Jesus. But particular angle from which now approach from now having considered superiority of Jesus. From this angle here’s what want to emphasize: Because Jesus is superior and preeminent over all creation, he requires and deserves your complete committed, obedient belief in him.
Obviously, even more now than last week, should be clear that not talking about intellectual assent to something. To believe in Jesus means full, obedient commitment to Jesus that acknowledges as him being #1 over your life. You’ve set your seal to it. You’ve submitted your life under him. Like John you say, “Jesus you must always increase!” Really, for many of us, does this describe our belief in Jesus?
Cause let’s take some time here to really absorb how disbelief is described and effects of it. Disbelief in Jesus is essentially disobedience. If Jesus is as great and superior as we’ve been saying, if he represents God himself, then what we talking about, plain and simple, is obedience. Jesus calls each of us to obedient belief. So to reject Jesus is to disobey him. And if you do that, effect will be that not see life but remain under the wrath of God.
Ex. Traffic signal. Can believe that signal requires your obedience, so you drive in response to its guidelines. Of course, it’s your choice to not believe that signal has any authority over you, and so disobey the signal. But if you do that will be consequences. Flash from traffic camera, get ticket.
Similar here. Wrath of God comes upon people as result of them rejecting the signal that is Jesus.
Spoke of God’s love last week. Bible tells us that God abounding in steadfast love. However Bible also speaks of God’s anger, or his “wrath.” His wrath is slow wrath, held back by God’s great patience, governed by his fairness and righteousness. But is there nonetheless.
Very unpopular speak of “God’s wrath.” Another one of those subjects you avoid if want grow your church really really fast. So suppose again saying something might kill Roosevelt (so been good ride!)
But while unpopular subject, fully biblical subject. Word “wrath” associated with God literally hundreds of times in Bible. Wrath used to describe God’s holy outrage against defiant and rebellious humanity.
And here’s surprising thing, what many don’t realize. It’s this – you and I WANT God’s wrath. In fact, you and I need God to be God who does show wrath, who does get outraged about certain things and will act to do something about them!
Use traffic signal illustration again. Saw movie recently in which terrorists attack technological infrastructure of U.S. Many devastating effects, one of them is to make all the traffic lights start going off at random. In movie you literally watch as cars hit each other, one after another in full speed as they try to cross intersections.
To not have a God who willing to show wrath means not having anyone willing or powerful enough to fight hard against evil and injustice. Result would be world that equivalent of 100 car pileup. Would be like totally corrupt world morally and ethically, hundreds of times worse than Sodom and Gomorrah, place where people would gang rape strangers as part of their nightly entertainment.
We need and want a God of wrath, who actively fight against everything that is evil and wrong. Especially those of us who have really and truly encountered evil and wrong.
The real problem here is that we don’t look carefully enough at ourselves. For what fail to see is that the corruption and evil in world originates from within us and pours out from within us into our world. We fail to see how we fully responsible for own self-destruction.
God’s wrath then is God personally acting within a rebellious world, slowly decaying world. Author of book, “Hope Has Reasons” describes it this way: “God’s wrath is not a cranky explosion, but his settled opposition to the cancer…which is eating out the insides of the human race he loves with his whole being.”
Now God is doing something about the cancer. He only one who can do it, and do it most fairly and perfectly and justly. And what God did, amazingly, is provide way in which we humans might be part of process he is carrying out to fix things instead of being part of process that continues to corrupt everything. That way is in his Son Jesus!
Hope now we can see then how important belief in Jesus is. To believe in Jesus, and let me make clear, committed obedient belief, is to commit yourself to life. Become part of God’s cosmic life restoring project.
To disbelieve Jesus, and let me clear here as well, means not being concerned to fully obey Jesus, maybe you agree with Jesus a lot but not commit your life to him - to disbelieve Jesus is to commit yourself to death. Part of promoting death in creation, and so remain under God’s wrath and ultimately face eternal death.
v.36 then rightly view as a warning. But warning delivered so that might not be condemned by God but instead be saved by God through Jesus. “For God did no send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.”
Comes down to a “commitment of belief.” Challenged to commit our belief to Jesus, the one who is superior to all, the one who is “above all,” who because he is “above all” is worthy to obeyed.
And we challenged to continue committed belief in Jesus “above all,” to have belief that everyday seeks him out, listens to him, and obeys him.
Who guides your life? Who will you follow? Who will you obey? Answer: Jesus must guide your life. Jesus you must follow. Jesus you must obey. Would that be true in my life and every person’s life here.