The Lead Role
Sermon Audio
Sermon Notes
Today we’re continuing our teaching series called Visible God, which is all about seeing God through the life of Jesus. We’re studying a book of the bible called the Gospel of John, which records the life and words of Jesus as it was written by an original source, an original follower of Jesus.
Now when it comes to everyday life we tend to think we’re the center of the universe... We think we’re the center of the universe and the entire universe should revolve around us. It’s why we get bitter when our spouse or roommate doesn’t recognize the hard work we do, we get upset when our children don’t listen, we get upset when our boss doesn’t thank us for going the extra mile. It’s because we think the entire universe revolves around us, and life would be much more joyful if people just did what we wanted, instead of disrupting the harmony of our little universe. We want to be the leading role in this story called life, and we think everybody else should play a supporting role to us, including God. We think God should submit to us, submit to our demands, and if He doesn’t, we’ll just cut Him out of the script...We’ll cut Him out of the script, out of our lives for not following the script we’re trying to write. But you’re not the center of the universe, the leading role, the main point in this story called life, which means somebody else is. If you’re not the leading role, the main point in this story called life, it means somebody else is, and that’s what we’re gonna talk about today. So let’s turn to John 3:22-36 and get into it. If you open your bible to the middle, keep turning right, and a few books over is John. We’ll be in John 3:22-36. The title of today’s message is The Lead Role, and here’s the big idea. You have a special role in God’s story, but you’re not the leading role...You have a special role in God’s story, but you’re not the leading role. Jesus must increase, we must decrease.
Context:
Here’s your context. John’s the author of this book of the bible, he’s very good friends with Jesus, he was a part of Jesus’ inner circle, and in vs. 1-21 he tells us Jesus wants us to have the eternal security of God’s love. Jesus wants us to have the eternal security of God’s love, the eternal security of a loving relationship with him. In vs. 16-17 Jesus tells us the very reason he came was to save us, not condemn us, and this tells us we have a special place in God’s heart, a special place in God’s story. When Jesus saves us he starts transforming our lives, and gives us a special place in a much greater narrative than our own mini narratives. It’s not the lead role, but it is a special role, and in today’s text we’ll learn about a few people who are wrestling with this. They’re wrestling with not being the lead role, the main point of God’s story. Let’s check it out.
The Word:
John 3:22-36 states, “After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 for John had not yet been put in prison.” That’s a different John than the author of this book, it’s John the Baptist, which we learned about in ch’s 1-2. John the Author’s saying these events took place before John the Baptist was thrown in prison by King Herod. The reason he’s thrown in prison is because he confronts King Herod for marrying Herodias, who’s the wife of King Herod’s brother. John confronts him, Herod throws him in prison, and eventually beheads John. So the words we’re studying today are John the Baptist’s last words in recorded history, and they’re significant.
Vs. 25, “Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.’” Okay so apparently John’s ministry is shrinking, Jesus’ ministry is growing, and John’s disciples are jealous that Jesus’s ministry is growing bigger than theirs. They’re so jealous, they can’t even say Jesus’ name. They’re like “Hey John, do you remember he who was with you? You know that guy you bore witness about?” They’re so jealous over Jesus’ ministry growing bigger than theirs, that they can’t even say Jesus’ name. Now we see this and think it’s ridiculous, but our hearts aren’t far from this either. I mean there’s times when we’ll get jealous over other people’s success too. We’ll get jealous over their athletic success, educational success, career success, ministry success, their life going better than ours. Like John’s disciples we all have times when our desire to be the center of the universe, the lead role, the main point causes us to demonize others instead of celebrate them. There’s a little bit of this jealousy in all of us, and John’s about to respond to his disciples jealousy by saying 4 significant things. It’s 4 things, 4 heart checks when it comes to viewing our roles, in this story called life, and here comes the first.
Vs. 27, “John answered, ‘A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” There’s heart check #1, it’s everything comes from God. Everything comes from God, meaning the roles we have, the gifts we have, the success we have, it all comes from God. John says we can’t receive a single thing, unless it’s given from heaven, that includes your DNA. You didn’t do a single thing in your mother’s womb to create the DNA you have, so let’s not be so quick to claim praise for things our genetic makeup gifted us to do. I mean there’s a lot of young, talented, athletic kids in our church, and it’s okay to celebrate the great things you do in sports, just remember to praise God for giving you the gifts to do those great things. The same is true for all of us and not just the athletes. We need to remember all we have comes from God like John says. In fact Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” The Hebrew can translate as “I praise you, for I’m fearfully set apart,” meaning God uniquely created you, he set you apart from everybody else in the world. Nobody else in the world has the exact genetics, personality, gifts as you, which means you’re special. You’ve been uniquely set apart to play a special role in this world. It’s not the lead role, but it is a special role.
Now what if you started viewing your life like this?...What if you started viewing your school, job, neighborhood not as places to get an education, collect a paycheck, and sleep...but as places to play a special role only you’ve been uniquely designed to play?...What if you started saying “God I know you’re doing something special in these places, and you have me in these places for a reason. You have me in these places to transform lives, so what role can I play?” When you start thinking like that, start thinking God’s up to something and has you in these places for a reason. It’ll change your heart, attitude, even the way you face difficult days. It’s because you realize it’s not about you, it’s about playing the role God’s given you. A lot of people, including non-Christians want to do good things and impact people’s lives. But you can’t do that if you think you’re the center of the universe, you’re the lead role, and life’s all about you. John’s disciples are jealous over not being the lead role, the main point. But John’s telling them there’s nothing to be jealous about, if you trust God with the gifts and role he’s given you.
Again vs. 27, “John answered, ‘A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’” This is heart check #2, it’s you’re not the Christ...You’re not the Christ, you’re not the savior. You have unique gifts, a unique role to play in this world, but that doesn’t mean you’re the savior of the world. John’s been saying this since ch 1, he’s constantly saying “I’m not the Christ, I’m not the Savior, I’m just a voice pointing people to the Savior. I’m just a voice pointing people to Jesus.” God gave John a unique role, a unique purpose in history, but it wasn’t to be the savior, and you’re not the savior either. You’re not the savior of your school, job, marriage, family, or anybody else’s marriage and family. We can be relieved of so much stress in life, if instead of playing the savior role, we went to the savior and pointed others to the savior like John. You have a unique role and purpose, but it’s not to be the savior.
Vs. 29, “The one who has the bride 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.” This is heart check #3, it’s to be joyful in your role. We should be joyful in whatever role God gives us. John’s like “Why should I be jealous of Jesus when #1, it all comes from God, #2 I’m not the Christ, and #3 I’m just thrilled to play a role in the wedding.” John’s just happy to play a role, to be a friend of the bridegroom, which back then was the best man. Now there’s a few rules everybody expects a best man to follow. It’s remember the ring, bend your knees so you don’t pass out, and don’t give a drunk toast talking about all the grooms ex-girlfriends. But the biggest rule, is don’t marry the bride...You don’t marry the bride if you’re the best man in a wedding. I mean could you imagine going to a wedding, seeing the bride walking down the aisle all beautifully dressed, and then all of a sudden the best man starts flirting with the bride. He starts flirting, poking his head around the groom, winking, blowing kisses at the bride. You’d be like “What in the world’s happening? Why’s the best man keep flirting with the bride?” It’d be shocking to you, but you know what wouldn’t be shocking? If the groom hit him with an elbow to the face...It’s because everybody knows the best man shouldn’t ever flirt with the bride. Yet that’s exactly what we’re doing when we try drawing attention to ourselves instead of Jesus. The bible refers to the church as the bride of Jesus, so our role isn’t to draw attention to us, it’s to put the attention to Jesus. It’s to be joyful over whatever role we play in the wedding. John’s not moping around saying “This stinks! I don’t know why I came. I don’t know why I’m even serving today, because nobody’s paying any attention to me.” Instead he says “I couldn’t be happier to just play my role in the wedding, and step aside so the groom gets all the attention. My joy’s now complete, since Jesus is getting the attention.” And check out what he says next.
Vs. 30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” There’s heart check #4, it’s he must increase, but we must decrease. John says he must increase, but I must decrease. People who think they’re the center of the universe, the lead role, the main point don’t think like this. Instead they think “I must increase, and he must decrease,” or “I must increase, and everybody else must decrease.” Even those who are Christians sometimes treat their relationship with Jesus like this, they treat it like a seesaw. You remember riding on a seesaw when you were a kid? I bruised a lot of tail bones riding those things, because I was the little boy who’d raise the seesaw up, then jump off so the other kid would come slamming down. Yeah I was that kid...But you know how a seesaw works, it goes up and down, up and down, up and down. Who’s going up and down on your spiritual seesaw?...Who’s going up, and who’s going down on your spiritual seesaw?...Is it Jesus going up and you going down, or you going up and Jesus is going down?...Has it been he must increase, and I must decrease, or I must increase, and he must decrease?...The last words John the Baptist spoke in recorded history, was “he must increase, but I must decrease.”
Again vs. 30, “He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.” So this is the reason John says all this, the reason Jesus must increase, and we must decrease. It’s because Jesus comes from above, he comes from heaven, which makes him above all. But we come from below heaven, we come from the earth, and when people talk about where they’re from they usually do it with pride, with a little bragging. They’re like “I’m from North Carolina, the place with beautiful mountains, vinegar BBQ, and Cheerwine”...or...“I’m from Minnesooota.” That’s how they say it, everything has an extra ooo. “I’m from Minnesooota the place with 10,000 lakes...” Some of us will even have a little tear trickle down our face while singing Proud to be an American on the 4th. “I’m an AmericaCAN, not an AmeriCANT...Merica!...”
So we’re proud of where we’re from, and there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as we remember we all come from the same earth. Diversity’s a great thing to celebrate, but it’s not a superior thing, meaning no group’s above another group. It’s because we all come from the same earth. But Jesus is above us all because he’s the only one who’s come from above, and since he’s from above, the text says he utters words from above, he utters words of God. So when Jesus speaks, he speaks the truth, he speaks the very words of God. Everything Jesus speaks is always true, and he came to tell us the truth about God, life, and the way to get to heaven. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The reason he can speak with such authority, is because he’s the only one who’s come from above, who’s come from heaven. Everybody else comes from earth, but he comes from heaven to earth, and utters the very words of God. Therefore he must increase, and we must decrease.
Vs. 35, “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” We’re only 3 chapters in, yet it’s the 14th time John the Author’s used this word “believe.” He’s repeatedly asking “Will you believe in Jesus?...Will you truly believe in Jesus?” So the question non-Christians need to ask is “Will you believe in Jesus, truly believe he came from heaven to earth to tell you the truth about God, life, and heaven? Will you truly believe he’s your God, your Savior who came from heaven to earth to live, die, and rise again for the forgiveness of your sins?” That’s the question non-Christians need to ask.
The question Christians need to ask is “Will you believe in Jesus not just for salvation, but also for sanctification? Will you believe not just in what Jesus did, but also in what he said? Will you believe every word he’s ever said, and strive to live it out?” Look if we truly believe the things Jesus said are the very words of God, then we should abide in his word for everyday life, and strive to live it out. We should believe so HIGHLY of him, that it causes us to say He must increase, and I must decrease. We shouldn’t believe so lowly of him, that we only want him to increase when he agrees with our script...We shouldn’t believe so lowly of him, that we only want him to increase when he agrees with our script, our schedules, our kids sport’s schedules, agrees with whatever we want in our script...Instead we should believe so HIGHLY of him, that we want him to increase above all other things, we want him to be at the top of our seesaw. We’ll have our moments where we want to be at the top, we want the attention at the wedding, we want the lead role. But it’s in those moments that we need to say “Jesus forgive me for trying to rise above you. Forgive me for trying to draw attention away from you. Forgive me for trying to make myself the center of the universe, the lead role, the main point in this life. Lord may you increase, and may I decrease. May I find tremendous joy in seeing you lifted up, regardless of the role I play.” City Awakening you have a special role in God’s story, but you’re not the leading role. Jesus is the leading role, the main point of this life, so He must increase, we must decrease.
Communion:
Let’s have those serving communion start passing the plates at this time...Communion’s a time for us to remember and celebrate Jesus as our Savior. Jesus told us to do this in remembrance of him, in remembrance of who he is and what he did for us on the cross. We’re to remember that Jesus is above all, because he’s our God who came from above to live, die, and rise again for our sins. So as the plates are being passed take a few minutes to prepare your hearts, to ask Jesus to reveal any sins you’ve committed, and to reveal anything in your life that’s been preventing you from exalting him. Whatever those things are, ask Jesus to forgive you of those things, thank him for dying for your sins, and ask him to help you decrease, so that he might increase. Let’s pray...
On the night Jesus was betrayed he was having a meal with his friends. He took some bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it saying “This is my body which is to be broken for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. As often as you eat it, do so in remembrance of me, in remembrance of who I am and what I’ve done for you.” When supper ended he took the cup, blessed it, gave thanks for it, and said“This cup is a symbol of my blood which is to be shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. As often as you drink of it, do so in remembrance of me, in remembrance of who I am and what I’ve done.” City Awakening let’s eat, let’s drink, then let’s stand and worship Jesus to make much of his name. Let’s make much of his name in here, and go make much of his name in our city. Let’s worship.