God’s Favorite

John 3:22-36

Baptism Questions

CIT: Jesus and John are both baptizing

CIS: When Jesus shows up, everyone else takes a backseat

SO: The hearer will understand the authority of Jesus

Follow along at d1.church/notes.

Intro: God’s Favorite

This series is designed to show you through the eyes of John, the Person of Jesus, the Jesus of the Godhead, and the key moments of his life. John is not a chronological book. Some things happen out of order compared to the other gospels. The gospel of John is not about exactness; it is about a relationship between Jesus and “the one Jesus loved.” 

This week, Bella asked Stephanie a question. I don’t even know what it was about. Stephanie told her she did not know and would have to ask me. Bella said, “Oh, well, I thought you were the one who says we can or not. Understanding authority is hard. 

I once had a boss who was a good boss. Smart, business-savvy, competent at work and in life, and an excellent leader. He was, for good reason, openly opposed to a new policy at the company. One day, I watched him confront his boss (out of earshot of anyone) about this policy. He expressed his feelings, and I’m sure informed him he would not be enforcing said policy. I watched as his boss fired him, and he grabbed his bag and left. There is a point where we all must learn authority.

Today we are going to learn some about Kingdom authority.

Let’s get into the Word of God.

1. Debate (John 3:22-26)

After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. (This was before John was put in prison.)  An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 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.”

EXP: Some time after Jesus ministry began, we find Jesus baptizing his disciples in the Judean countryside. At the same time, John the Baptist was still baptizing unto repentance near Salim. John’s disciples and another Jewish person begin debating who should be baptized. Eventually, this argument is taken to John the Baptist.

ILL: Ceremonial Cleansings:

1. Mikveh- Purity, Conversions, Weddings & Ceremonies, Daily Purification. Jewish ritual. Personal Act.
2. John’s Baptism unto repentance. For Repentance and Forgiveness of Sin. Word Baptism was created for it. John the Prophet fully immersed you and brought you back up. Jesus was baptized this way.
3. Jesus Baptism?. Baptism into the Kingdom that Jesus brought. A conversion and continuance of John’s baptism unto repentance. The disciples fully immersed many new converts into the Kingdom of God. (Jesus followers).

We know the disciples of Jesus were permitted to baptize in this way, and that Jesus specifically was not baptizing multitudes, because in John 4:2, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.  

Most scholars believe that none of these is the same baptism we practice now, but that it was instituted by Christ at the ascension and reiterated on Pentecost. Needless to say, we can understand why the followers of John, Jesus, and random Jewish community members were having a debate. 

APP: The followers of God were in a confusing time. They needed some clarity. 

T.S.: They ask John the Baptist, the most well-known Prophet of his time, to answer the question. 

2. Answer (John 3:27-30)

To this, John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.  You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 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. He must become greater; I must become less.”

EXP: John doesn’t really answer the question of which Baptism is greater. He only answers as to why he does what he does: this is what was given to him from heaven. Then he gives a powerful answer. The Bride goes to the Groom and the Groom alone. He answers a question about who has the greater authority. John sets himself up as the best man to the Groom in the story. As a man takes his wife, his best man becomes less important. 

ILL: I find it difficult to talk about authority in today’s day. I want you to understand how this works, but I feel like real-world examples are hard to come by. So let me just tell you the facts. 

Current Org Chart: John was a prophet in Jerusalem. Israel had not had a prophet from God for 400 years. John had proven his ministry and place in a way that gained respect and carried authority in the synagogue, among the religious ruling parties, and with the people. He had instituted new things and rebuked the Pharisees and kings. His authority was established through a lifetime of ministry. When Jesus ministry began, he knew immediately that his status and authority meant nothing.  

New Org Chart: Jesus the Messiah was now the greatest ruling person the world had ever seen. John yielded and gave away anything he had gained as soon as Jesus entered the room. 

Our way today is to question authority; their way was not that different, which is why they are having a debate. But John was not confused. Kingdom people are not confused or looking for signs to signify which way is better. When Jesus shows up, there is no other authority that matters. 

APP: King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Ruler of All. John’s answer was “I must decrease, he must increase.”

T. S.: I believe at this moment, John knew his ministry and Jesus ministry could not co-exist long. He would have to exit the scene. Not in exile, but in death. 

3. Authority (John 3:31-36)

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.  He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.  Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.  For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

EXP: Jesus is from above and is the ruler supreme. I am from Earth and will return to Earth. He tells of heavenly things, and if you can believe in his truth, you will be saved. He has all Authority and holds the keys to eternal life. John’s plea is that you hear his one last prophecy to submit to the authority of Christ and receive the Spirit without limit. Jesus holds the keys to life and death.

ILL: In every one of our walks with God, there will come a day when you will have to decrease, and God will have to increase. You will make a similar prophecy to John’s over your own life.

On graduation recognition Sunday, I always remember the day when I had to submit my life and education to God. I was in a place where I was married, had kids, worked a full-time job, went to campus to take classes for my bachelor’s, and was involved in ministry, taking classes once a month. My marriage was struggling; the mantra at the house was that I was never home. I actually knew I was following the dreams and goals God had placed before me. It had been a rough week. I had gone to my classes that morning, but I wasn’t in a good mood. I was walking back to my truck, which was in a parking lot about a quarter of a mile away. I was praying to God, “I don’t understand, you have given me all this opportunity to better myself, to advance in school and work and ministry. My wife does not seem to get it.” I was telling him I was just trying to do my best to serve his kingdom. God said to me, “You do not need anything else to do what I need you to do.” He meant no degrees, no ministry certificates, no church work, etc I heard him clearly. He spoke with authority in my life. I submitted, rather reluctantly, but I decided to trust him. I did not return to that campus again. I did not go to ministry school; I went to work and went home. Can I tell you that things really did not get better at home? I felt worthless and lost. All I had to hold onto was the authoritative word of God. God spoke, I listened. My grades came in as failing. I did not have a path to full-time ministry, but I knew he was the one I had to listen to. If I could not submit, he was not my Lord. 

Can I tell you, God wanted me to have all of those things. Degrees, Ministry credentials, family. But he would give them to me later. That moment was about me learning his authority in my life.

APP: When Jesus shows up, everyone else, everything else takes a back seat. 

I want to pray for three groups today:

1. Some of you have some theological questions because you want to understand.
2. I pray today that you will walk away knowing that God will protect his plan for your life.
3. Some of you are having a hard time with the Authority of Jesus
4. I pray that you will see his position in a new way today. You will give him all the authority in your life.
5. Some of you have just made a decision that he must increase and you must decrease.
6. I pray today for salvation.