Rev. David Holwick G
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
February 19, 1995
John 3:26-36
|
I. A hard man.
A. Severe ascetic.
1) Grasshoppers, hair shirt.
2) Radical truthfulness.
3) Essene? OT style prophet.
a) Not a fun guy.
b) Jesus associated funeral music with him.
B. Committed to Old Testament law and holy living.
1) Heart religion, not empty rituals.
a) Baptism of repentance.
b) Religion must be shown in actions.
c) Down on hypocrisy of leaders.
2) All people need to be cleansed, not just Gentiles.
a) Religious people are not excused.
b) Each person must make a personal decision of faith.
3) Messiah and Judgment are coming.
a) People need to be ready. They are in danger.
b) John is preparing the way for him.
C. John was hugely popular.
1) Epitome of Old Testament, according to Jesus.
2) Large crowds came to him, even the religious elite.
3) Jewish historian Josephus writes much about him.
4) Then Jesus of Nazareth, his cousin, appeared on the scene.
II. Being a second fiddle.
A. John's ministry became second rate.
1) Baptism with water, not Spirit. 1:33
2) Flocks of disciples left to follow Jesus.
a) Hard to see others become more popular. 3:26
b) (Pastor next to Grace Chapel, always losing members
to Gordon MacDonald.)
B. John knew exactly what his mission was.
1) He was "puffed" as the Messiah, but declined. 1:20; 3:28
2) Promoting Jesus was the goal of his efforts.
C. The Kingdom is more important than the Power and the Glory.
1) Instead of belittling Jesus, John esteemed him.
Every young student knows of Isaac Newton's famed encounter
with a falling apple.
Newton discovered and introduced the laws of gravity in the
1600s, which revolutionized the study of astronomy.
But few know that if it weren't for Edmund Halley, the world
might never have learned from Newton.
It was Halley who challenged Newton to think through his
original notions.
Halley corrected Newton's mathematical errors and prepared
geometrical figures to support his discoveries.
Halley coaxed the hesitant Newton to write his great work,
MATHEMATICAL PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.
Halley edited and supervised the publication, and actually
financed its printing even though Newton was wealthier
and easily could have afforded the printing costs.
Historians call it one of the most selfless examples in the
annals of science.
Newton began almost immediately to reap the rewards of
prominence; Halley received little credit.
He did use principles to predict the orbit and return of
the comet that would later bear his name.
Unfortunately, it was only after his death that he received
any acclaim.
And because the comet only returns every seventy-six years,
the notice is rather infrequent.
Halley remained a devoted scientist who didn't care who
received the credit as long as the cause was being advanced.
Others have played Halley's role.
John the Baptist said of Jesus,
"He must become greater; I must become less." 3:30
Such selflessness advances the kingdom of God.
#1879
2) John viewed himself as the best man. 3:29
a) The best man had to recognize groom in the dark.
b) He protected groom from pretenders.
III. Esteeming Jesus.
A. Rejection is hard, but you only need the approval of one.
G. Campbell Morgan was one of 150 young men who sought entrance
to the Wesleyan ministry in 1888.
He passed the doctrinal examinations, but then faced the trial
sermon.
In a cavernous auditorium that could seat more than 1,000
sat three ministers and 75 others who came to listen.
When Morgan stepped into the pulpit, the vast room and the
searching, critical eyes caught him up short.
Two weeks later Morgan's name appeared among the 105 rejected
for the ministry that year.
He sent a telegram to his father with one word, "Rejected."
Morgan then sat down and wrote in his diary,
"Very dark everything seems. Still, God knoweth best."
Quickly came the reply from his father:
"Rejected on earth. Accepted in heaven. Dad."
Rejection is rarely permanent, as Morgan went on to prove.
Even in this life, circumstances change.
Ultimately, there is no rejection of those accepted by Christ.
#1989
1) Whose approval do YOU seek?
2) What does God think of the way you are living?
B. We can only be and do what God gives us. 3:27
1) John was content to do his task.
a) "All service ranks the same with God."
b) We all have different gifts and responsibilities.
2) We cannot do more than God asks, but we often do less.
a) Lack of attention is no excuse to slacken.
C. Do you want Jesus to "increase" through your life? 3:30
1) The church people act, we want to increase ourselves.
2) Jesus is magnified when we serve others.
Evangelism is not salesmanship, but being a matchmaker.
We are introducing people (brides) to Jesus (the groom).
We must focus on the bridegroom instead of the wedding, and we
must let others close enough to see our relationship with
the groom.
Share what Jesus has done for you in your personal life.
#1198
==============================================================================
BARCLAY
I. John never expected anything else.
A. All service ranks the same with God.
II. No one can receive more than God gave him.
III. John is the best man.
A. Wedding was important Jewish image.
B. Best man's duty is to recognize the groom and protect him.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
Created with the Freeware Edition of HelpNDoc: Easily create HTML Help documents