JESUS MAKES MORE DISCIPLES
JOHN 3:22–4:4
Introduction:
This is the early Judean ministry of the Lord Jesus. At the outset John the Baptist was still preaching in Judea also.
The ministry of the Lord was beginning to take hold and he was taking advantage of what John had done and many began to turn to Jesus. John’s disciples were directed to follow Jesus and He began to have much success in Judea.
I. ALL MEN COME TO JESUS
A. John bears witness of the Light, John 1:7, 9, “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
1. John was preparing the way, John 1:15, “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me,”
2. John was sent before the Lord, Isaiah 40:3, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
B. The concern to the Religious leaders, John 11:48, “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.”
1. The world is gone after him, John 12:19, “The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.”
2. During Paul’s ministry, Acts 19:26-27, “Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: 27So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.”
II. THE FRIEND OF JESUS
A. John reminds his disciples:
1. I am not the Christ, John 1:20, “And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.”
2. I am the friend of the Bridegroom, John 3:29, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.”
3. I must decrease, John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
B. John Baptist advances Christ before his disciples:
1. He is greater than Jonah, Matthew 12:41, “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.”
2. He is greater than Solomon, Matthew 12:42, “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”
3. He instructs his disciples concerning the dignity of Christ’s person, John 3:31, “He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.”
III. JESUS DOES NOT BAPTIZE
A. His ministry was successful, but not without opposition, Psalm 110:2-3, “The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.”
1. The sudden prominence of Jesus, evidenced by the growth of His followers, caused the Pharisees to take special notice of Him.”
2. This is when the Jews began to persecute the Lord, John 7:6, “Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. 7The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.”
B. “Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,” John 3:26, “And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.” John 3:22, “After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.”
1. “Jesus himself baptized not,” John 4:2, “(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)”
2. Peter’s ministry, Acts 10:48, “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”
3. Paul’s ministry, 1 Corinthians 1:13-17, “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
CONCLUSION:
The Lord moves to His next project, which was to reach the Gentiles, John 4:3-4, “He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4And he must needs go through Samaria.” He is going to Galilee by way of Samaria. This left His disciples amazed.