May 12, 2024
Morning Service

Last week in our study of the Gospel of John, we looked at maybe the most famous verse in the Bible; John 3:16.  In that we found the answers to some very important questions.  Why did God do this? He loves us.  What did He do?  Gave up His Only Son to pay the price for our sins.  Who did He do it for?  Everyone who will believe.  What did He really give us?  A chance for everlasting life through the restoring of our broken relationship with God our Father.  That is a whole lot of theology for one little verse!  Today we will complete the chapter and see how it ties in nicely with a challenge for mothers and all of us.  With Jesus’ ministry in full swing, John returns to John the Baptist again.  His ministry was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah and now that Jesus was here, how did that change for him?

John 3:22-30 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.  (23)  Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.  (24)  For John had not yet been thrown into prison.  (25)  Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification.  (26)  And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!"  (27)  John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.  (28)  You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.'  (29)  He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled.  (30)  He must increase, but I must decrease.

            John’s disciples did not fully understand what was happening as those who were coming to them were far fewer in number than before.  John is able to explain this to them as he realizes that he is only part of God’s story playing a role he was called to fulfill.  He reveals to us that we “receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.”  As we said before, we must realize that we all play a part in God’s story and He chooses what part that will be, not us.  John knew all along that his job was to point people to Jesus and pass the torch on to Him.  He was the first prophet on the scene in Israel in over 400 years and many flocked to him to be baptized in repentance.  In that moment he was the only show in town and all eyes were on him.  But things change and John knew it.  He compares his new role to being Jesus’ best man at His wedding.  He is there to do whatever, but the focus is on the Bridegroom now not him and he understands that and also says through this new role “this joy of mine is fulfilled.”  He rejoices as Jesus moves past him into the limelight by design of God.  His statement in verse 30 shows great humility, wisdom, and acceptance of his changing world.  “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

            What can we as Jesus followers learn from John here?  First, I must realize that life is not about me and my wants, but about what God has planned for me.  He has uniquely placed me where I am and asks me to grow and serve there in Him doing whatever ministry He gives me the opportunity to do and the ability to do.  Secondly, we must see that there are segments in our lives that we like the way things are going and we find a groove to flourish within and a role we have learned to fulfill, but then things change.  Just as John flourished in his ministry for a time, but then Jesus entered the picture and everything changed.  Our life is full of those changes and we must adapt as John did; let me try to explain.  High School or college graduation is one of those changes we go through.  We have studied for many years and we may have flourished in that role, but now it is time to go to work and use those skills to move ahead in a whole new world.  We may find a job we love and are good at, but for some reason we find ourselves having to look for a new employer.  We meet someone special and begin a family, now there is a big change on both fronts.  It takes a lot of work and patience in this time to learn the role of being a spouse and a parent, but God leads us to a point to fulfill those new roles as well.  The cycle then continues and our kids graduate and move on and we are again faced with a new beginning and a new role to fulfill.  We must fully trust God that He is leading us through life and through these role changes in our lives.  There is a great joy fulfilled within us when we see our children become parents and they embrace it and flourish in their new role.  These changes in our lives and many more I did not mention are sometimes hard to adapt to.  Remember we are following and He is leading.  He is the Potter and we are the clay. We can find joy in Him in whatever role we are fulfilling in that moment.  He completes us in each role giving us new purposes as we walk through life with Him.  It is up to us, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to flourish in each new role as we seek to do God’s work not our own.  He must increase and I must decrease.  That does not always make it easier, but there is a deep settled peace within each of us that will abide when we accept that we truly are a Jesus follower.

            Since it is Mother’s Day today, I want to use this subject of roles to focus in on our ladies here today.  God has chosen your role in His kingdom and it is one you should embrace.  Let’s start at the beginning:

 

Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."

            At the moment of conception, God designated a woman’s role in life.  She is to be a “helper” for her husband.  She is to be the wind in his sails, his biggest fan, and one who receives joy when he flourishes.  That sounds a lot like what John the Baptist, doesn’t it?  Ladies, you are not to fill the role of leader in your home, but you are the glue that holds that home all together.  By accepting that role and flourishing at it, God is glorified through you.  Your husband will flourish and your children will learn what a Godly marriage and family is supposed to be like.  Your role of mother is a lifetime commitment and know that you are the only mother of your children.  You may have other roles at work, in the community, or even at church but know that your roles or mother and wife are the most important.  Others could fill in for you in those other roles, but not in your mother and wife roles; those are yours alone.  Fill that role well doing your best in the moment.

            Then as we said, just when you find your groove things change.  The kids grow up and move out and even become parents themselves creating a new role for them and for you.  This does not mean God is done with you, but your role changes.  Paul mentioned this change in his letter to Titus.

 

Titus 2:3-5the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— (4) that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, (5) to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

            Our older women within our Fellowship who embrace this role are invaluable to our younger generation.  You are needed to invest in the younger ladies and encourage them from your unique perspective of having been there and done that. If they rely on the world to teach them these things, it will not be in the manner God has designed.  He has put you, like Ester, here for “such a time as this.” Help them to learn from your mistakes and set a pattern for them to teach the younger women when time moves them into the role you are now in keeping God’s plan in place from generation to generation.  He must increase and I must decrease.  We must fulfill our ever changing roles with enthusiasm, joy and lots of patience.  Today we celebrate your efforts.  Thank you for serving the Lord by fulfilling your role in Christ.

            John closes this chapter with the perspective and motivation we need to be able to adapt through these changes I our lives.  It is the “big picture” of what we believe about our Lord and Savior who makes all of this possible.

 

John 3:31-36 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.  (32)  And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.  (33)  He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.  (34)  For He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.  (35)  The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.  (36)  He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

            Through life we must keep our eyes on Jesus who is above all, speaks truth, and has the Spirit of God without measure.  In Him is our hope of eternal life.  He is what life is about.  As we travel through this ever changing life, hold tightly to the hope that there is something ahead that is worth everything we invest in it.  Each day fulfill the role you are currently in looking to the future that will be more than we ever could hope for.  Live with the attitude that “He must increase and I must decrease.”

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for guiding us through this life.  Grant to us the ability to adapt to every circumstance by trusting that it is You that is leading us.