It’s Not About…

It’s Not About… You.

John 3:22-36

The angel said to the shop owner, “I will grant you whatever you want, but your

competitor will get twice as much as you!”

The angel said to the shop owner, “I will grant you whatever you want, but your

competitor will get twice as much as you!”

“Blind me in one eye!”

X

Are you jealous?

Connie TongConnie Tong

Jealousy in Relationships

Jealousy over thingsJust because I drive a Yugo does not mean I should make fun of your Lexus.

It wears sandals and gray shorts.

Jealousy leads to more workThe Prettier You Are, The Harder They Make You Work

How can we slay the How can we slay the jealousy lionjealousy lion??

John’s Fame John’s Fame John’s Fame John’s Fame

“He is Elijah” or

“the Prophet” (John 1:21)

“He is Elijah” or

“the Prophet” (John 1:21)

John’s MinistryJohn’s MinistryJohn’s MinistryJohn’s Ministry

Multitudes went out to hear him

Luke 3:7

John 3:22-36

• The temptation

• How he overcame it

I. John was tempted to jealousy regarding ministry

success (22-26).


success (22-26).

A. His growing ministry (22-24)

“People came to [John] from Jerusalem and all Judea and

all the region of Jordan.” (Matt 3:5)

John’s Popularity

http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/106.htmhttp://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/106.htmhttp://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/106.htmhttp://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/106.htm

JerusalemJerusalem

Where Where were were

Aenon & Aenon & Salim?Salim?

(Mark 6:20b)

Even King Herod liked to listen to John


success (22-26).


success (22-26).

A. His growing ministry (22-24)

B. His disciples provoked him to jealousy (25-26)

Competition from JesusCompetition from JesusCompetition from JesusCompetition from Jesus

Many of John’s Many of John’s followers left followers left

to follow Jesusto follow Jesus

Many of John’s Many of John’s followers left followers left

to follow Jesusto follow Jesus

A dispute

What was the ceremonial washing?

The Gk. word The Gk. word kaqarismou/kaqarismou/ suggests it was suggests it was over the Jewish over the Jewish

ritual of ritual of purification. purification.

The Dead Sea ScrollsThe Dead Sea ScrollsThe Dead Sea ScrollsThe Dead Sea Scrolls

……had a keen had a keen interest in interest in ceremonial ceremonial purificationpurification

……had a keen had a keen interest in interest in ceremonial ceremonial purificationpurification

Essenes

“Everyone is going to him!” (John 3:26)

Crowds grew around Jesus but decreased around John

The Response of John’s DisciplesThe Response of John’s Disciples

“Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the

Jordan--the one you testified about--well, he is

baptizing, and everyone is going to him!” (v. 26)

The Response of John’s DisciplesThe Response of John’s Disciples

•Not priestlyNot priestly

• Not studiedNot studied

•YoungerYounger

““That man That man was…”was…”

Jealousy hits all of us

“I can dance too!”

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If you were John, what would be If you were John, what would be your response?your response?

Are you jealous when you see Are you jealous when you see others succeed?others succeed?

II. John overcame jealousy II. John overcame jealousy by focusing on by focusing on Jesus’ Jesus’

superioritysuperiority (27-36). (27-36).

II. John overcame jealousy II. John overcame jealousy by focusing on by focusing on Jesus’ Jesus’

superioritysuperiority (27-36). (27-36).

A. “Jesus is superior to me” (27-30).

“Jesus is superior to me” (27-30)

• ““God is sovereign in all things”God is sovereign in all things”

• ““I am only Jesus’ messenger”I am only Jesus’ messenger”

• ““Jesus is more important”Jesus is more important”

• ““God is sovereign in all things”God is sovereign in all things”

• ““I am only Jesus’ messenger”I am only Jesus’ messenger”

• ““Jesus is more important”Jesus is more important”

““The bride belongs to the The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete” (v. 29).now complete” (v. 29).

““The bride belongs to the The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete” (v. 29).now complete” (v. 29).

“It’s not my wedding!”“It’s not my wedding!”

• Arranged the marriage ceremonies

• Brought the bride to her husband

• The focus was on the bridegroom—not the shoshben!

John was the shoshben

He must become greater;

I must become less important.

–––––––

He must increase,

I must decrease.

John’s Life Goal––John 3:30

William Carey

““When I am gone, When I am gone, don’t talk about don’t talk about William Carey; William Carey;

talk about William talk about William Carey’s Savior. I Carey’s Savior. I desire that Christ desire that Christ alone might be alone might be

magnified .”magnified .”

II. John overcame jealousy by focusing on Jesus’

superiority (27-36).



A. “Jesus is superior to me” (27-30). .

B.B. ““Jesus is the Son of God”Jesus is the Son of God”(31-36)(31-36)

Contrast •/• Jesus & JohnContrast •/• Jesus & JohnContrast •/• Jesus & JohnContrast •/• Jesus & John

““sent ahead sent ahead of Him” of Him” (v. 28)(v. 28)

the Christ (v. 28)

JohnJohn

JesusJesus


only the friend (v. 29)

The Groom The Groom (v. 29)(v. 29)

JohnJohn

JesusJesus


more

important

less

Important

(v. 30)

JohnJohn

JesusJesus


from from the the

earth earth

(v. 31)(v. 31)

from above from above (v. 31)(v. 31)

JohnJohn

JesusJesus


Has nothing except what is given him from

heaven (v. 31)

Given everything

(v. 35)

JohnJohn

JesusJesus


Spirit without

limitJohnJohn

Spirit with Spirit with limits limits (v. 34)(v. 34)

JesusJesus

Son of the Son of the FatherFather

(v. 35)(v. 35)


JohnJohn

Only a servant

JesusJesus

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one more powerful than I, . . .

He will baptize He will baptize you with the you with the

Holy Spirit Holy Spirit

and with fire”and with fire”

Matt 3:11 Matt 3:11

(Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16-17 ) (Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16-17 )


“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life

but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

Life or Death (John 3:36)Life or Death (John 3:36)Life or Death (John 3:36)Life or Death (John 3:36)

Main Idea

Slay jealousy by

magnifying Jesus


success (22-26).


success (22-26).





Main Idea

Slay jealousy by

magnifying Jesus

“It’s not about me.”

“It’s not about me.”

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Why are we jealous?

P R I D EI

Black

Mouths Speak the Heart (Luke 6:45)

Luke 6:45 Text

Don’t compare yourself with anyone but Christ!

That will humble you!

We will all be humbled

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Documents

It’s Not About…