Removing the Competition of Ministry (John 3:19-36)

The hardest part about “light” isn’t understanding it. It’s wanting it. John 3 shows Jesus speaking with a religious leader, Nicodemus, about being born again and why spiritual rebirth is the only way into God’s kingdom. We slow down over Jesus’ warning that rejecting His salvation leaves a person condemned, not because truth is unavailable, but because the human heart often prefers darkness where sin stays hidden. That tension between light and darkness still explains so much of what we see in ourselves and in the world. 

We also trace the story forward into the Judean countryside where baptisms are taking place, and we clarify a key Bible timeline detail: these baptisms match John the Baptist’s prophetic, preparatory baptism and occur before the New Testament church begins in Acts 2. That context helps connect the Gospels to the broader story of Scripture without mixing categories or missing the purpose behind what’s happening in John’s account. 

Then the episode turns painfully practical: John the Baptist’s disciples hear Jesus is drawing bigger crowds, and jealousy shows up fast. John answers with a line that cuts through comparison and ministry competition: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” We talk about two clear marks of humility in Christian leadership, why results belong to God, and how real joy comes from stepping aside like a best man when the bridegroom takes center stage. If you’ve ever wrestled with recognition, numbers, or needing to matter, this conversation aims straight at the heart. 

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Transcript

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In our wisdom journey, we've been listening in on a conversation that Jesus has been having with a very religious man and a curious man too. His name was Nicodemus, and Jesus told them that being born again is necessary to enter God's kingdom. Being born again is a spiritual birth, the Lord has explained to him. And that takes place when you trust Jesus as your personal Savior. Well now the Lord moves on and tells Nicodemus here in verse 18 that those who reject this message of salvation are condemned. And he tells him why in

Light, Darkness, And Condemnation

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verse 19. The light has come into the world, and people love the darkness rather than the light, because their works were evil. In simple language, people reject the light of salvation because they want the darkness of sin. You know, you can bring a little lamb into your house and a little pig along with it. You can give them both a bath and scrub them all down nice and clean, you can tie ribbons around their necks. But as soon as you let them loose, well that pig's going to go find a mud puddle, and that little lamb is going to go lie down in some green grass. Why? Well, they have different desires. These animals have different natures. Well the Lord is comparing the nature of an unbeliever with the nature of someone who's been born again. The Lord elaborates on that here in verse twenty. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. In other words, he loves the mud puddle of sin. Now don't misunderstand here, even saved people can fall into that mud puddle. But Jesus is describing the difference between someone who trips and falls down into that mud puddle with someone who

The Lamb And The Mud Puddle

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actually wants to live down there. Now, we don't know how Nicodemus responded here. In fact, he disappears, so to speak, back into the night. But don't count him out just yet. You're going to see him showing up a little later on. Now meanwhile, we read here in verse twenty two. After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. Now later on, John's gospel is going to clarify that Jesus' disciples were the ones baptizing people, while Jesus was evidently doing the teaching. Now keep in mind that this baptism was identical to John the Baptist's. It was immersing repentant people in water as they publicly prepared for the coming Messiah. This was a

Baptism Before The Church Era

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prophetic baptism, and this was an Old Testament baptism. By the way, don't forget, even though we're in the New Testament Gospels, we're still technically in the Old Testament days. The Old Testament system with its priesthood, its sacrifices, all of that is still in effect along with Sabbath worship. It isn't until the Lord ascends back to heaven and the Holy Spirit descends and creates the church in Acts chapter 2, that the New Testament era, that dispensation of the New Testament church officially begins. Now, back to John chapter 3 and verse 26, where we find John the Baptist and his disciples baptizing people as well. Well, some anonymous fellow shows up and informs them that Jesus' disciples are baptizing people, and they're drawing a bigger crowd. Well, this report makes John's disciples a little jealous. You know, they got a little competition going on here, and they're not too happy that Jesus and his disciples are evidently scoring more points than they are. But I want you to notice how John the Baptist responds. He says here in verse

When Ministry Turns Competitive

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30 to his disciples, he, that is Jesus, must increase, but I must decrease. In other words, we're not in competition. We are in cooperation with the message of Jesus. I want to point out at this juncture in our chronological study of the life of Christ a couple of characteristics of humility in John's reply. And let me tell you, we need we need this kind of humility today. The first characteristic of humility is this. Humility refuses to promote personal achievements. John the Baptist answers his disciples here in verse twenty seven. A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. In other words, you know, what are you fussing

He Must Increase, I Must Decrease

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about? Our ministry, whatever it might be, is from God. We are nothing more than what God has made us. And we can't receive one thing unless God gives it to us, and that includes results in ministry. You know, I've often thought about the fact that the most competitive field is not basketball or baseball or football. It's the church, it's ministry. We compare budgets, we compare attendance records, we we compare baptisms and Christmas programs. Well, that's exactly what John's disciples are doing here, comparing the number of people following them with those who are following Jesus. Let me tell you, the breadth and the growth of someone's gospel ministry is determined by God. It's given as a gift by God to that servant. Verse 27 emphasizes that. You can't receive even one thing unless it's been given to you from heaven. Now, don't misunderstand, that doesn't mean we can be lazy or sloppy in ministry and then blame God when nobody shows up. It does mean that while we work hard with what we have, we know God's given it to us, and we give God the credit then for whatever happens. God hasn't given all of us the same abilities or gifts, has he? You know, most of us are never going to be able to preach with the eloquence of Charles Spurgeon. I certainly wasn't given his photographic memory either. Sometimes I can't remember where I parked the car. But look, if we complain that we don't have what he had, we are giving in to the temptation of pride. And more than that, we're discrediting the wisdom of God who formed us, who equipped us for the role that He wants us to have. So instead of comparing, we ought to be cooperating with the plan God has for us. The second characteristic of humility that we see here in John the Baptist is this. Humility refuses to emphasize personal importance. Here in chapter three and verse twenty eight, John says this you yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. You see, his disciples are wanting to elevate John's significance. John is wanting to downplay his significance. He says to them here in verse twenty nine, The one who has the bride

Joyfully Stepping Aside Like A Best Man

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is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete. John here is comparing himself to the friend of the bridegroom. Now in this culture that meant he was the best man at the wedding. He would have been responsible to make the arrangements for the wedding ceremony, and he served as the master of ceremonies. And for a time everybody's going to listen to him, everyone will follow his directions. But when the bridegroom steps out into the scene, well the friend of the bridegroom would step aside, and with great joy. That's what John the Baptist is saying here. For a time everybody's been listening to me, you know, I've been making preparations for the nation, though, to meet the bridegroom, their Messiah. Well, he's now stepped in on the scene, and it's time for me to step aside, and I do that with joy. Well, now here in the next few verses, John the Baptist tells us two truths about Jesus. First, he makes clear that Jesus is the ultimate eyewitness. He says here in verse 31, He who comes from heaven is above all. Verse 32. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard. It's as if John is saying to them, Look, I can tell you some things about God the Father, I can tell you some things about the glory of heaven. But Jesus came from there. Secondly,

Jesus Speaks With Heaven’s Authority

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John declares here that Jesus has the eternal authority. He says in verse 35, The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. In other words, only through Jesus, God's Son, can a person have eternal life. And with these wonderful statements and this perspective, the curtains are now about to close on a very wonderful, faithful ministry of this man called John the Baptist. And with his response of humility, I can tell you John will have no regrets in his life or ministry. Today, beloved, let's live the same way. Let's think the same way. Let's say the same thing along with John. We must decrease, but Jesus must increase. So let's magnify Jesus today. Well, until we set sail again, beloved, on our wisdom journey, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen