I. SERMON NOTES​

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Confident Faith in Jesus: It’s All About Christ

 

The passage in John 3:22–36 unfolds in the Judean countryside where two groups are baptising: Jesus and His disciples on the one hand, and John the Baptist with his disciples on the other (vv. 22–23). At that time, John had not yet been imprisoned (v. 24).

 

A discussion arose between John’s disciples and a Jew regarding purification, which led them to report to John: “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptising, and all are going to him” (v. 26). What began as a discussion about purification moved naturally to the subject of baptism and then to concern about Jesus’ growing following.

 

Within this context, the passage teaches that Jesus Christ must take priority in our life and ministry. We consider three perspectives:

• The attitude of John’s disciples

• The example of John the Baptist

• The identity and witness of Jesus Christ

 

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1. The Attitude of John’s Disciples: “It’s About Us”

 

• John’s disciples reported to him that increasing numbers were going to Jesus. Their words carry a tone of resentment: “All are going to him.”

• They seemed to view the situation as competition. Baptising for repentance had been John’s recognised ministry, and they perceived Jesus’ activity as an intrusion into their territory. In effect, they were thinking in terms of a zero-sum game: Jesus’ gain meant their loss.

• In many ways, we can fall into the same mindset. We often measure ministry by external markers such as numbers, popularity, and recognition. When another church or ministry flourishes, envy may arise. We compare ourselves with others and worry about losing ground.

• However, this is the wrong perspective. Ministry is not about competition or protecting turf. Instead, we should rejoice that God’s kingdom is making inroads. When we focus on our own performance, we fail to see what God Himself is doing. This narrow perspective is a form of spiritual myopia.

• John’s response corrects this attitude:

A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven (v. 27).

• The growing influence of Jesus was not humanly engineered—it was the work of God. John recognised this as part of God’s plan.

 

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2. The Example of John the Baptist: “It’s About Christ”

 

• In contrast to his disciples, John models a life centred on Christ.

• John had a remarkable ministry. Introduced in John 1:6–8 as a man sent from God to bear witness to the light, he preached powerfully and attracted large crowds. Even political and religious leaders took notice, and some wondered if he might be the Messiah.

• Yet John never sought the limelight. His mission was always to prepare the way for Jesus. Our passage highlights four aspects of John’s Christ-centred life.

 

(1) He Acknowledges That Everything Is Given by God

• John declares that no one receives anything unless it is given from heaven. Life itself and all that we possess—abilities, opportunities, circumstances—are gifts from God.

• The reformer Martin Luther wrote shortly before his death: “We are beggars. This is true.” We contribute nothing to salvation but our sin. Everything else is the gracious provision of God.

• Recognising the “givenness” of life leads to gratitude and faithful stewardship.

 

(2) He Knows His Identity and Mission

• John compares himself to the friend of the bridegroom—the best man at a wedding (v. 29). The best man plays an important role but is not the centre of attention. The focus belongs to the bridegroom and bride.

• John identifies Jesus as the bridegroom and willingly steps out of the spotlight. His role is simply to point to Christ.

• This raises an important question for us: Who are we and what is our mission? Regardless of vocation, our lives are to point others to Jesus.

 

(3) He Listens for and Rejoices in the Voice of Jesus

• John says the friend of the bridegroom rejoices when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. His joy is complete because the bridegroom has come.

• While the church rightly emphasises speaking the gospel, we must also listen to Christ. Before proclaiming “Thus says the Lord,” we must first say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”

• Knowing God deeply requires faithful preaching and attentive listening to the Word.

 

(4) He Elevates Christ and Humble Himself

• John summarises his entire ministry in one statement:

“He must increase, but I must decrease” (v. 30).

• John’s joy was not diminished when people turned to Jesus. His focus was not self-promotion but Christ’s glory.

• Yet Christ can gradually be displaced from the centre of our lives as responsibilities accumulate—career, family, possessions, and other concerns. These are not evil in themselves, but if Christ is no longer central, He has effectively decreased while we have increased.

• We must therefore guard against the gradual eclipse of Christ by intentionally keeping Him at the centre.

 

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3. The Identity and Witness of Jesus Christ

 

• Verses 31–36 focus on who Jesus is and why faith in Him matters.

 

(1) Jesus Is From Above

• Jesus comes from heaven and therefore stands above all. Humanity is trapped in the darkness of sin, unable to escape on its own. Only someone from outside—someone from above—can open the door of our imprisonment.

• God did exactly this by sending His Son.

 

(2) Jesus Speaks the Words of God

• Jesus bears witness to what He has seen and heard. His words are the words of God, and the Spirit is given to Him without measure (v. 34). Through Christ, God reveals the truth about Himself, the world, and our future.

 

(3) Jesus Gives Eternal Life

• The witness of Christ demands a response:

• 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 (v. 36).

• Faith in Jesus therefore has eternal consequences.

 

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Conclusion

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• This passage reminds us:

It is not about us, but about the progress of God’s kingdom.

• Like John the Baptist, our lives should be dedicated to magnifying Christ: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

• Jesus Christ is the one from above, the one who speaks God’s words, and the one who gives eternal life.

• How convinced we are about who Jesus is will determine how convincing we are when we bear witness to Him.

• Yet bearing witness is costly. John the Baptist paid with his life. Jesus Himself was crucified. As we move towards Good Friday, we remember the price Christ paid so that we might have life.

• The question for us is this: Is it truly all about Christ in our lives?