“Loser” is a word that carries with it a severely negative
connotation. However, one television show has turned this word into a
victorious affirmation. I’m speaking of the “Biggest Loser.” In that program,
overweight individuals set out to lose weight through a rigorous regimen of
exercises. Whoever has lost the most weight or become the smallest version of
their past self, is named the winner. It is the only example in our culture
today that I can think of where less is more, smaller is better, and people
work hard in order to achieve the status of a “loser.” In a season where many
anticipate gym memberships and losing weight, I can think of no better time to
discuss getting into shape spiritually, something that has nothing to do with
weight loss but everything to do with self-loss. Today we are going to listen to four
statements that are made from one who understood self-loss from John 3:25-30.
This passage begins at the emergence of a discussion taking
place between the disciples of John the Baptist in response to what Jesus was
doing in and around the area (read vv. 22-24). With John baptizing in the area
and Jesus doing the same nearby, John’s disciples began to “discuss” issues of
purification and its relationship to baptism. Given the context of this
dialogue, it might be that these followers of John were in a dispute around the
issue of whose baptism was more efficacious, the Baptist’s or Jesus’. However,
it is also possible that this is not in view. Instead, the discussion may have
concerned the clash between John’s practices and other prominent Jewish
practices. Lots of people are getting wet for all kinds of reasons. Therefore
this small group of disciples begins to have a heated debate on the subject.
The manner in which John’s disciples refer to John reflects
incredible honor. “Rabbi,” or “my great one,” would have been an esteemed title
for any teacher. However, the manner in which John’s disciples refer to Jesus
reveals a hint of jealousy on their part. Notice how impersonal they are in their
reference to Christ, “he who was with you…to whom you have testified.” It is
not as though His name escaped them or was unknown to them. Jesus was a big deal! He had already amassed
a large gathering and had performed many signs (one of which involving a very
large spectacle in the temple that would have been the topic of many
discussions in and around Jerusalem). Even John the Baptist had testified to
Him. However, what is communicated here is that
John the Baptist and Jesus both had attractive, vibrant ministries and
one was becoming more attractive and vibrant that the other.
The exaggerated statement, “all are coming to Him” reveals,
once again, the impure jealousy of the disciples of John. Although some of
John’s disciples were leaving him and going to Jesus (see 1:35ff), not everyone
among the Baptist’s disciples was leaving. However, many were, and the
disciples of John, as shown here, are beginning to ask questions. What’s the
deal? Are you not as special as we thought? Were you not the first one
baptizing? These questions gave John every reason and opportunity to stake his
claim, defend his ministry, and tout his experience. Faced with a similar
barrage of questions, anyone would be tempted to go to one’s own defense for
fear of looking weak, obsolete, or inferior—especially after being egged on by
a group of one’s supporters. However, that is not what John does here.
Statement #1 (I am
Not in Control)-3:27
Here, instead of running to his own defense or explaining
away the mass migration to Jesus, John tells his disciples that he must neither
exceed his own calling, nor compare himself with the work of others. As much as it concerned people responding to
a message or calling, John submits that Jesus’ is far superior because the
calling associated with Him is from heaven (a circumlocution for the name of
God). The reference to Jesus’ superior calling coincides with John’s witness
(1:7-9, 15, 26-27, 30). Reminding his disciples of his consistent testimony
–Jesus is greater than he is—the Baptist tells his devotees that they should
not be surprised that Jesus has attracted a larger following. John ultimately
confesses that he is not in control and could not control how people were
responding because the God of heaven is at work and moving. God’s sovereignty
stands hidden behind all human claims, for a human being does not have anything
but what he has received from the Lord. Believing for one second that John
could alter the minds of people or attempting to sway them in his direction and
away from Jesus would have been to behave in the worst possible arrogance.
Self-Loss Tip #1: Recognize that as far as your life
is concerned, you are not in control. It is time for us to shape up by
refraining from the tendency we all have of ever believing that we are calling
the shots in our life.
Statement #2 (I am
Not God)-3:28
John, unlike some of his followers, is not perturbed by the
news of Jesus’ growing popularity. For starters, he had always made it
abundantly clear that he was not the Christ.
For instance, in John 1:20-23, it states, “and he confessed and did not deny but confessed “I am not the
Christ.’…I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness,’ make straight the
way of the Lord.’…” With Jesus’ popularity on the rise and John at the
height of his popularity, the issue of John’s relationship to Jesus needed
clarification. Here, John succinctly provides this clarity by saying, “by the
way, I am not the Messiah, I’m just the messenger for the Messiah.”
The phrase “sent
ahead” is used in the OT for messengers sent ahead of a given person (see Gen.
24:7; 32:3; 45:5; 46:28; cf. Ps. 105:17). Indeed, John had prepared the way of
the Lord and His ministry, by its very nature was intended to result in people
encountering the Christ (Messiah/Anointed One).
Both Jesus and John had been given their roles from heaven and John was
content to play his part well. “Act well you part, there the honor lies.”
With my own academic and ministerial career on the up and up
it was easy for me to begin developing a higher view of myself than necessary
and play the role of a savior. I had spent the years at Liberty studying under
amazing professors, serving in student leadership, and even served two summers
at a thriving church where I received very practical experience. Having
achieved the triple crown of my discipline at university (preacher of the year,
the pastoral leadership award, and school of religion valedictorian) you can
imagine the confidence I had walking into the church I currently serve. Never
mind that there were only 13 people there that first week my soon to be wife
and I attended. Never mind that you could not find a bathroom in the sanctuary
building. Never mind that the next youngest person in the church was 46 years
old. Never mind that my wife and I lived an hour away! I had read the books,
aced the program, and achieved greatness and I got it in my head that I could
be the savior of this struggling church. Little did I know I would begin a long
and arduous journey that would break me of this misplaced confidence in
myself. Sleepless nights and tireless
efforts with no observable results soon helped me realize that I could save
nothing, no matter how highly I thought of myself. And neither can you. That
marriage that is on the frits, that addiction you are trying to hide, that
relationship that is broken is beyond your saving capabilities. Only Jesus is
suitable for saving your life, because only Jesus is God. In the grand play of
life, Jesus not only calls the shots as the director, but is the main event in
which the real actions takes place, leaving you and I as a pre-show pointing to
the main attraction.
Self-Loss Tip #2: Understand, although it can be
hard, that you are not God, Jesus is. It is time that we shape up by getting
over ourselves and coming face-to-face with the very real fact that we are NOT
GOD.
Statement #3 (I am Not the Center of Attention)-3:29
John next provides a similar comment by means of an
illustration. Here, he likens himself to the best man at a wedding, who stands
ready to do the bridegroom’s bidding. In the first century, the role of a best
man included organizing the details of the wedding and presiding over its
success. He would find his greatest joy in watching the ceremony proceed
without a problem, and in knowing that the groom and his bride were being
united with great rejoicing. In light of the Old Testament background where
Israel is depicted as “the bride of God,” John the Baptist is suggesting that
Jesus is Israel’s awaited Groom. In keeping with the ancient law, the Baptist as
the “best man” would have been forbidden to ever marry the bride. Rather than
try and steal the attention that belongs to a bride and groom on their wedding
day, John, as a good best man stood on the side and “rejoiced greatly.” Coupled
with the noun form of the verb, this literally reads, “rejoices a joy.” This is
a Greek tool for communicating a higher degree. In this case, “rejoices greatly
fits very well.”
John is ecstatic, not bewildered or threatened that many are
responding to the voice of Jesus Christ. He realizes that the ministry, his
life, and everything, is about people responding to the Messiah, not him—the
groom, not the best man. John’s joy was fulfilled/made complete when he saw
people leaving him and heading to Christ!
Over the course of the last two years, my wife and I have
been in 10 weddings either as a bridesmaid, groomsman, mistress of ceremonies,
or officiator. I am always interested in what the best man has to say about the
groom in his speech at the reception. It is the one time the best man is
allowed to take center stage and yet, even still, the main attraction is often
the look on the grooms face and his reaction to what is being said. Similarly,
John’s life and ministry was intended to point all attention and focus to
Jesus. In this he found incredible joy and no cause for worry or shame. However
too often in our lives, the platforms God gives us at our jobs, or in our
families, or among our friends are used for selfish gain instead of pointing
people to Jesus. Too often our source of joy is how many people are looking at
us, instead of looking at Him. In essence, we become guilty of trying to steal
the people’s attention for ourselves which is no better than the best man
trying to run off with the bride at the wedding reception! In the grand play of
life, Jesus is not only the director calling the shots and the main action that
takes place on the stage; He is the lead role who receives all of the attention
from the audience and from the minor roles around Him.
Self-Loss tip #3: Give focus to Jesus as the groom
instead of trying to steal people’s attention from where it is supposed to be.
It is time that we shape up by quitting this obsession with the sound of our
own voices and begin tuning people around us into the sound of the only voice
that saves.
Statement #4 (I am
Not Trending)-3:30
John correctly perceives that his ministry is shrinking.
This is not merely a personal issue. Instead, the transition from the Baptist
to Jesus represents a crucial salvation-historical watershed from the Old
Testament prophetic era to that of the Messianic era. In other words, the time
for looking ahead to Jesus was coming to a close and the time for the emergence
of the Messiah was at hand. Therefore, John concludes, in a most reflective
tone, that it necessarily follows that Christ must increase while he must
decrease.
One translation of this verb for “increase” says “to
increase in status or become more important, to enjoy greater respect of
honor.” Similarly, its inverse, “decrease,” means “to cause something to have
less status or rank.”
John finds his satisfaction in wholeheartedly embracing
God’s will and the supremacy it assigns to Jesus Christ. John’s language is
reminiscent of the increase and decrease of light from heavenly bodies. The
more radiantly the sun begins to shine in the morning, the more John’s star
would grow faint.
One of the shows my wife and I like to watch is The Voice. At the live results show,
they will often talk about how an artist is trending on twitter or on Itunes. This
means that a specific performance is being downloaded by huge number of viewers
or is receiving superfluous mention in social media. The artist wants to be
trending because that means their popularity is growing. In the case of Jesus
and John the Baptist, Jesus was trending, and would continue to trend
throughout His ministry. Some might even make the case that He continues to
trend as His kingdom grows throughout the world. However, Jesus’ growth of popularity
necessarily meant that John’s popularity and influence was depreciating.
Similarly, our lives must be spent make ourselves smaller and Jesus bigger.
What it is that we broadcast should only result in Jesus becoming more and more
popular in our corner of the world. In the grand play of life, Jesus is not
only the director calling the shots, the main action that takes place on the
stage, and the lead role who receives all of the attention; He is the name on
the billboard that draws the masses to Himself.
Self-loss Step #4: Instead of broadcasting yourself
and your will to the world around you, choose to use yourself as a channel of
God to broadcast Jesus Christ and His will in order that He might trend in the
lives of those around you.
So What?
I challenge and compel you by the word of God and in light
of John’s example to adopt a “self-loss” program this year that includes these
realizations. Post them on a mirror, in your car, on a frequently opened door,
and write them on the tablet of your heart. “I am not in control.” “I am not
God.” “I am not the center of attention.” “I am not trending.” Recognize that
Jesus is in control; He is God; He is the center of attention; and He should be
the one trending in popularity. Today’s Christians have a real obsession with self as demonstrated by the questions
they ask and cures they seek. “How can I be a better husband or wife?” “How can
I manage my money better?” “How can I know the best decision in this particular
situation?” “How am I supposed to fix this or that?”-- Here is the dirty little
secret. YOU CAN’T! And no three or four-step process will provide you with the
salvation you need in any of these areas. But Jesus can! He is a great husband.
He manages everything well. He knows all things. He fixes all kinds of
problems. Instead of focusing this year on becoming a better version of
ourselves, perhaps we need to focus on becoming a smaller version of ourselves
in order that Jesus can become a bigger influence. John the Baptist, understood
this, and in response became the biggest loser. And so I say, with all due
respect, as someone who has learned this lesson the hard way, step aside, move
out of the way, and let God move. He must increase, and you and I must
decrease.
