Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
John 3:22-36 Jesus Must Increase, But I Must Decrease

John 3:22-36 Jesus Must Increase, But I Must Decrease

Last updated on: June 9, 2015 at 5:32 pm by Jim Erwin

John 3:22-36 Jesus Must Increase, But I Must Decrease 2015-06-09T17:32:48-05:00 Jim Erwin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

John 3:22-36 Jesus Must Increase, But I Must Decrease

SCENE 1 – “He must increase, but I must decrease”

Repeat this with me: “He must increase, but I must decrease”

SCENE 2 – Competition about Baptism

The Scene: There is a competition between baptismal leaders.

Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a Jew about purification. So they came to John and told him, “Rabbi, the One you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing–and everyone is flocking to Him.”

(John 3:25-26 HCSB)

The scene now shifts to the work of the Baptist with his disciples (3:22–36) and it makes one point: Jesus’ baptism is superior: “He must become greater; I must become less” (3:30).1

We just had a baptism today. Just like in those days, there were people baptizing in different places.

What was the dispute? Was it the “method of purification?” Was it how they were baptized? Was it differently than before? “Was it the style of baptism?”

So what’s the dispute over purification? We can only guess. Maybe it went something like this. A Jewish man says to John’s disciples: “Look, you are baptizing lots of people. It looks like a kind of bath or purification. But more and more people are leaving your movement and going over to that other group gathering around Jesus. So what’s the deal with his baptism and your baptism? Does his work and yours doesn’t? Does his really make people pure and yours fails?”2

It appears that some of John’s disciples started the argument. It began on doctrinal grounds—the matter of purifying—but soon moved to personal grounds.3

So, while the controversy was baptism, the idea of a competition between styles is very relevant today:

Do we argue over styles of worship?

Do we argue over styles of leadership?

Do we argue over styles of management?

SCENE 3 – Submission

The Answer to Competition: Submission

He must increase, but I must decrease.

(John 3:30 HCSB)

John the Baptist modeled submission.

Out of this discussion, a statement is thrown at the Baptist that surely could have been an opening for a jealous explosion. This must have come from John’s own disciples, for they address him as “Rabbi.” They speak of One who was with John beyond the Jordan to whom he bore witness. Surely, Jesus, whose name is not mentioned here, must have been in the company of the Baptist longer than we assume. Then these disciples report, “He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” It is almost as if they are saying, “He is getting into our territory, taking over what you, John, were called to do.” What an opportunity for John to strike back.

How difficult it is for those of us who are so-called spiritual leaders to handle the success of some other brother and “his church” down the street. Think of how easy it is to be subtly or openly critical of, or envious of some great church and its pastor and try to imitate them. It can be difficult to pray for him and his people and to rejoice in his spiritual victories.

But John is spiritually mature and sensitive, a true man of God. He is profoundly aware that anyone can only be and do what God gives him. He cannot take by force what only heaven can give. Each of us is to be content and faithful with his gifts and his own calling. So John reiterates what he has so emphatically stated before, “I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him” (v. 28).4

John responded, “No one can receive a single thing unless it’s given to him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of Him.’

(John 3:27-28 HCSB)

This has enormous implications for our relationships:
SCENE 4: Who Is Submitting?

Our marriage relationships – who is submitting? What happens when we compete? We split and divorce. When I compete for the attention and I stop submitting to my wife, I run the risk of losing my wife because of my selfishness.

Our work relationships – who is submitting? Are you submitting to your boss graciously? Or are you taking every chance you have to do evil against him/her? While it is ok to work hard and seek promotions, it should not be with an evil intent. We must learn to submit to our leaders.

Our friendships – who is submitting?

The Reason to Submit: The Show is about Him

He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete.

(John 3:29 HCSB)

Illustration: The Best Man

Our problem is that we want to be the groom, and it’s not even our party.

Illustration: President and Vice-President

The President was inaugurated this week. It was historic. But the same idea of submission applies, even in our governmental structure. The Vice President submits to the President.

“He must increase, but I must decrease”

So how can I begin to let Jesus be increased in my life, and how can I decrease myself in importance?

How can I let Jesus become more important in my life, while I become less important?

How can Jesus become the Center, while I step out to the sidelines?

Jesus must grow in my life, while I must fade out.

What am I going to do to stop competing with others and start submitting? What am I going to do to let Jesus be the Center of my life? How can I make Jesus more than just Someone I get to know, and become Someone Whom I want to follow? This is the challenge that John the Baptist showed us. He gives us a model to follow. We don’t try to compete with Jesus but submit to Jesus.

I must decrease so that Jesus may increase. The sooner we learn this, the better our life will be. You must decrease so that Jesus may increase, because it is all about Him.

QUESTIONS:

1. How do I let arguments over insignificant things bother me? What are some things that I argue about (with my spouse or someone else) which are really not useful?

2. Where have I been competing, when I should have been submitting?

3. In what relationships do I need to give up control and learn to start being more faithful and submissive?

4. Is there a relationship in which I need to repair because of my controlling/competing nature?

5. What area do I need to let Jesus take center stage? How will I start to let Him do that?

1 Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Commentary on the Bible, vol. 3, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995), Jn 3:1–22.

2 John Piper, Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014) (Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God, 2014).

3 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 297.

4 Roger L. Fredrikson and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Preacher’s Commentary Series : John, vol. 27, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1985), 87–88.

Previous Post

June 3, 2015

Who You Gonna Call? My Troublebuster!

Next Post

June 9, 2015 The Final Separation of All Time

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 Chronicles 1 Corinthians 1 John 1 Kings 1 Peter 1 Samuel 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Chronicles 2 Corinthians 2 John 2 Kings 2 Peter 2 Samuel 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy 3 John Acts Advent Amos Book Review Colossians Comics Culture Watch Daniel Deuteronomy Ecclesiastes Ephesians Esther Exodus Ezekiel Ezra Galatians Genesis Guest Post Habakkuk Haggai Hebrews Hosea Humor Inspiritational Isaiah James Jeremiah Job Joel John Jonah Joshua Jude Judges Lamentations Lectionary Lent Leviticus Link Love Luke Malachi Mark Matthew Micah Movie Review Nahum Nehemiah Numbers Philippians Political Watch Prophecy Watch Proverbs Psalm Revelation Reviews Romans Ruth Science Watch Sermon Series Sermons Simple Thoughts Song of Solomon Titus Top Ten Uncategorized Video Review Zechariah Zephaniah

Select a Month May 2026 October 2025 September 2025 June 2025 February 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 January 2022 June 2021 January 2021 October 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2009 June 2008 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 October 2006 September 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 September 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am a day when the high priest enters the Most Holy Place once a year to make atonement. What day am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Day of Atonement The Sabbath Passover The Day of Trumpets