Daily Devotions
John
A very personal word of testimony
Text: John 3:22-36
A VERY PERSONAL WORD OF TESTIMONY
It is good that John recorded this very personal testimony concerning the Baptizer’s feelings towards Jesus. Our appreciation of John as a person deepens considerably as we read about how he personally felt about Jesus. The obvious fact was that he no longer attracted people as he did previously. The Person who was pulling in the crowds by the multitudes was Jesus!
Was he the tiniest bit jealous about the popularity of Jesus? John’s word to his disciples helps us to appreciate John for the man of God that he was.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:30
These were simple words. But they were most profound in meaning! On the human level, one would expect that John might feel a little tinge of envy that Jesus was so successful. But no, not where John was concerned.
His whole approach to his ministry was bound in this statement. But of course Jesus must wax stronger and stronger. It was natural that his ministry should wane proportionately. If he could, he would have loved to see ALL his disciples turn to Jesus and follow Him.
His decrease in popularity meant nothing at all to John. What was his purpose in ministry anyway? Was it not to point people to Jesus? If he was consistent with himself, then he would not be unhappy in the slightest! It was only right that Jesus should increase and he decrease! What a profound effect those words must have had on his disciples!
A CORRECT VIEW OF JESUS
John knew that it would be nothing short of being absurd to compare himself with the Messiah! Nobody in his right mind would attempt a comparison! John explained why he spoke the way he did!
“He who comes from above is above all;
He who is of the earth is earthly and
Speaks of the earth.
He who comes from heaven is above all.
John 3:31
Didn’t the disciples know who Jesus really was? John had to explain to his disciples how they should view Jesus.
1. The Origin of Jesus
Did his disciples think that Jesus was just like John, a mere human being? They were wrong if they had had harboured this thought. Jesus was fully man, but He was also the Son of God who came from the bosom of His Father! The disciples must get this fact straight. They must not see Jesus as an ordinary human being alone! They must try and see Him as John did. Jesus had come from above, that is from Heaven!
2. The Status of Jesus
Since Jesus came from above, naturally His status would be different from one who lived on this earth! The earthly man cannot be compared with the Heavenly Man! He who came from Heaven is above ALL – no exception!
John knew Jesus in a way that his disciples did not. He knew just how sinful and unworthy he was when he stood before Jesus. He had already declared publicly that he was not worthy to even unloose the sandal straps of Jesus (Cf. John 1:27).
RESPONDING TO JESUS
The disciples of John had erred when they came to their teacher with a spirit of misgiving concerning the highly successful ministry of Jesus. John had to spend some time to correct them with reference to this mistake. In his corrective teaching, John wanted his disciples to make an appropriate and correct response to Jesus. They must not continue to feel aggrieved in their hearts as they observed the rapidly growing ministry of Jesus.
Why was Jesus so effective in His ministry anyway? John offered an important perspective to his upset disciples.
“And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies;
and no one receives His testimony.”
John 3:32
Why were people drawn to Jesus and not John, if both were preaching the same message? John explained some very profound truths:-
1. A Special Sense of Freshness
Whereas most preachers have to rely on textbooks, Jesus had one special advantage. Because of the fact that He was God’s only begotten Son, He hears and sees many great spiritual things directly from His Father. Thus the word that Jesus proclaimed became extra special because of this special relationship between Father and Son!
Even as Jesus spoke, He bore testimony of His Father. The Word that He taught reflected the fact that Jesus seemed to reflect a very dynamic and vital relationship between Father and Son. That freshness was a special characteristic of the ministry of Jesus should not surprise the disciples! Jesus was indeed the Son of God!
2. Sadly, Few Received the Word of Jesus
John had also taken note of the growth and ministry of Jesus. He noted that despite the obvious signs that Jesus displayed, few had come to the conclusion that He was the Messiah. That was John’s sorrow! How could people not see Jesus for who He really was?
John determined that his own small circle of disciples should not come short of this understanding of who Jesus was! They should listen to Jesus preach and teach! They should recognize His power and authority! They should receive Jesus as none other than The Lamb of God, the Messiah of God! Nothing less than full recognition of Jesus as the Messiah would do! Of course, He must increase and John decrease!