In my prior post, we see how important John the Baptist‘s job and ministry were. God used this baptism as a way to Identify Jesus’ deity. God used the baptism to show publicly that Jesus was the Messiah who was to baptize a people with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist testified to that fact. Now God was using John’s ministry to introduce the Ministry of his only begotten Son, Jesus. God’s timing allowed for John to start ministering before the time was ready for Jesus to begin. For a time, both Jesus and John were ministering in parallel. Today we will read in John 3:22-35 to see this:

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

It’s sad, but the life of somebody who is involved in ministry always encounters people who try and divide or start dramas. Verse 25 talks about a certain Jew who wanted to argue about ceremonial washing. The argument began as a question about law and religious ceremony, but by verse 26, we see what the real problem was. Read verse 26. The argument was never about whether the Mosaic or Levitical laws were being properly followed. It was never about procedure or even worshiping God. The issue was that Jesus was gaining popularity and baptizing, whereas John’s ministry was less popular. As Christians, we are ALWAYS faced with this type of objection. It’s rare that we find somebody who tells us we are saying the wrong thing, or to find people who genuinely want to clarify scripture. They might say they have a problem with what we believe, but they don’t want to take the argument to scripture. So in reality, these arguments and divisions are never really about doctrine. They might be about doctrine on the surface, but there’s usually one side that really doesn’t know enough scripture to make any real point. The real conflict isn’t a question about doctrine, it’s a question about popularity, or outward success. They want to see why one church is full and popular, but your’s isn’t. They want to turn the pursuit of truth and grace into a pursuit of the most popular place to be. It’s easier to point fingers and ask why the church isn’t big than it is to really dig into the text of the Bible and study what God is telling us. But it’s wrong. And John replies in a way that I believe to be John the Baptist’s most shining moment of his ministry. John 3:27-30

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”

At this point in the Scripture, John understood his place in God’s ministry. Did John the Baptist have a following? Yes, and it was given to him by God. Did John’s followers leave him and follow Jesus? Yes!! Was that a problem? NO! That’s what they were supposed to do. If John the Baptist did his job right, his followers would follow Jesus instead of him. Sometimes church leaders think that they are pastors or shepherds. They have their flock, and their ministry. They are teaching their followers. But that’s totally wrong. If you are a leader of Christians, you are not the Shepherd. You are not THE pastor. You are not a Father. You are just a friend. A friend who happens to be at the wedding between a Glorious Groom and his Perfected bride. The bride is the church of God. The bride, or the church, doesn’t belong to me, or any pastor or leader. The Bride belongs to the Groom. And the groom is Christ himself. The church belongs to Christ. When leaders hear the voice of the Groom. When we see and hear Christ, our Joy is ours and is complete. That’s why I preach the Gospel. I preach it for the joy that maybe you hear the voice of our groom. As a member of the church, I am a part of this body known as the bride of Christ. I know one day we will be united with our loving groom, and we will be made perfect. Perfected by his work, not by ours. We sit here eager to hear the voice of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. So ministry is not about the leadership team. It’s not about how many people are in the congregation. It isn’t about us. It’s about Jesus Christ uniting his perfect self to an imperfect Church in love. Because of this truth, There comes a point in everyone’s life where we say, Jesus must become greater, and I must become less. John the Baptist saw this and understood it. We need to see it and understand it too. These lives that we live day to day. They aren’t about us. They are about glorifying our beautiful Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. We need to become less and less as Jesus becomes more in our hearts. This is supposed to happen consistently every day. “He must become greater. I must become less.” When we receive a praise or a compliment, “Jesus must become greater, I must become less.” When we are frustrated about how our lives are going, “Jesus must become greater, I must become less.” Our lives are not for our enjoyment, or our comfort, or our happiness. Our lives are to glorify Jesus Christ. He must become greater, I must become less. Why? Because Jesus is Greater. John explains it in John 3:31-36

31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

He must become greater, and we must become less. This is because Jesus is above all. We are from the earth and belong to the earth and are below Him. Jesus is the One that God has sent. When we accept Jesus’s divinity we certify that we believe God is truthful. Check the end of verse 34. That spirit is not ours. That Spirit is given to us by God. It comes from God, so we have Nothing to boast about. Verse 35. Everything is in the hands of Jesus, and has been placed there by God the Father himself. Verse 36. If we believe in Jesus we have eternal life, if we reject him, God’s wrath is still on us.

So John the Baptist’s ministry continued to point people to Jesus. And John the Baptist was very bold. He spoke against the sins that he saw in the royal family of Herod. So what happens when we speak out against people who are in power? Sometimes bad things happen. John the Baptist made some enemies in high places and was thrown in prison. In John’s mind, I don’t think he was concerned with Earthly powers, because He saw the Messiah. I think that he figured Jesus was going to assume power politically and rescue his People that way. And this is important to remember. But our idea of what God’s plan is doesn’t always turn out to be exactly what God’s plan ends up looking like. I think John the Baptist was expecting a different type of Messiah with different power. Instead, John was thrown into jail, and Jesus continued with His ministry. Matthew 11:1-15

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.

John the Baptist, who knew who Jesus was, and successfully recognized him as the Messiah later on asked this question: Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?

This is not how we want to end our lives. When things don’t turn out the way we were hoping, we don’t want to begin questioning whether Jesus is who he said he is. We want to be a people who continue to run the race until our final breath. In the words of Jesus, John the Baptist, was the greatest of all born of a woman. Great words from our savior, even towards someone who began to doubt. That is grace, forgiveness, and great mercy. That’s what we encounter when we hear the voice of our groom. That forgiving voice is what we can set our hearts and minds towards. The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.