THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

“HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE”–JOHN 3:22-36–LESSON 8

Introduction:

Jesus had now gone to the land of Judah outside of Jerusalem, v. 22, “After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.” The Son of God traveled much during His public ministry.

Matthew Henry says, “The Sun of righteousness took a large circuit to diffuse his light and heat, Ps. 19:6, ‘His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.’”

I. JESUS WAS MAKING DISCIPLES AND BAPTIZING THEM

A. Jesus’ public ministry begins to bring fruit.

B. He fulfills what later was to become the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

1. Make disciples, v. 19.

2. Baptize those disciples, v. 19.

3. Teach them to observe all things in the Scriptures, v. 20.

C. “It is noted (v. 24) that John was not yet cast into prison, to clear the order of the story, and to show that these passages are to come in before Mark. 6:24.” (Matthew Henry)

II. A QUESTION FROM JOHN’S DISCIPLES, vs. 25-29

A. He to whom you bare witness… v. 26.

1. He baptizes.

2. All men come to him.

B. This is given unto Him from heaven, vs. 27-29.

1. This is the manifestation of His power from heaven, v. 27, “John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.’’

2. “I am not the Christ.” John’s work was to go ahead of the Lord and prepare a people for Him, v. 28; 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6-I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7-So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

C. I am the friend of the Bridegroom, v. 29; Psalm 45.

1. Jesus has the bride, His Church.

2. John compares himself to the friend of the bridegroom, who attends upon him, to do him honour and service, speaks a good word for him, and uses his interest on his behalf.

III. “HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE

A. John sees clearly his mission and purpose, v. 30.

1. “The friends of the bridegroom must stand, and hear the bridegroom’s voice; must receive instructions from him, and attend his orders; must desire to have proofs of Christ speaking in them, and with them (2 Cor. 13:3); that is the bridegroom’s voice.

2. “The espousing (to give one’s loyalty or support to (a cause, for example); adopt.) of souls to Jesus Christ, in faith and love, is the fulfilling of the joy of every good minister.

If the day of Christ’s espousals be the day of the gladness of his heart, it cannot but be of theirs too who love him and wish well to his honour and kingdom. Surely they have no greater joy.” (Matthew Henry).

B. “I must decrease.” John knew that his ministry was coming to a close and he pointed his disciples to Jesus Christ the Savior.

IV. “HE THAT COMETH FROM HEAVEN IS ABOVE ALL

A. John instructs his disciples regarding the dignity of Christ’s person, v. 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.”

1. He speaks of divine origin.

2. He infers to His divine sovereignty.

B. The Father has placed all things in His hands, vs. 32-36.

1. Jesus testifies of what the Father has put in His heart, v. 32.

2. He that receives that testimony “hath set to his seal that God is true,” v. 33.

C. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” v. 36.

LESSON 9 TO FOLLOW:

THE “LADDER” BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH

JOHN 3:13-18

No one has ever gone into heaven and then come back to earth, able to give clear teaching about divine matters. The one exception is Jesus who is the Son of Man, Daniel 7:13, “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.”

I. THE “LADDER” IS JESUS CHRIST, v. 13.

A. No man has ever gone to heaven and returned.

1. Enoch was taken by God, Genesis 5:23, “And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God tookhim.”

a. His testimony was that he walked with God, v. 24.

b. Enoch never died, but was translated directly to heaven, Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

c. Enoch never returned to tell us about heaven.

2. Elijah was carried to heaven by a whirlwind, 2 Kings 2:11, “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

a. Elijah was seen with Moses at the Lord’s transfiguration, Matthew 17:2, “And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3-And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.”

b. However, Elijah has not returned to tell us about heaven.

B. Jesus came down from heaven and returned, v. 13, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”

1. He descended from heaven and revealed the Father to us, Matthew 11:27, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”

a. He came to do the will of the Father, Hebrews 10:7, “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

b. He came to die that we might live, Matthew 20:19, “And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.”

2. He came to reveal the way of salvation, Acts 16:30-31, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

II. THE “LADDER” IS “LIFTED UP,” v. 14.

A. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,” Numbers 21:4-9.

1. Sin brought God’s judgment, v. 5, “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”

2. God’s judgment brought repentance, vs. 6-7, “And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.”

3. Repentance brought a solution, vs. 8-9, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

B. “Even so must the Son of man be lifted up,” John 12:32-33, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.”

1. Then you will know who I am, John 8:28, “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”

2. Jesus was “lifted up” on a cross just as Moses lifted up the brass serpent, John 19:17, “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.”

C. That He might taste death for every man, Hebrews 2:9, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

CONCLUSION:

In this we see God’s great love for man. He gave His Only Begotten Son to die in our place. Verse 16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

GOD’S LOVE FOR MANKIND–JOHN 3:14-21–LESSON 7

Introduction:

Jesus continues to talk to Nicodemus about the new birth. He says in verse 12, “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” Now Jesus goes back into Hebrew history to something to which Nicodemus could relate. He speaks of an incident that will show how Jesus would die for the sins of mankind.

I. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,” v. 14

A. The problem that faced Moses in the wilderness, Numbers 21:4-9.

1. The people became discouraged and murmured against Moses, vs. 4-5.

2. They call God’s provision for them “light bread,” v. 5, “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”

a. They spoke evil of God’s provision.

b. They call the bread “contemptible, despicable.”

3. God’s judgement fell upon everyone, v. 6, “And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.”

B. The solution to the problem.

1. The people repent, v. 7.

2. Moses is instructed what to do, v. 8, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”

3. Moses instructs the people to look and live, v. 9, “And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

a. Brass speaks of judgement.

b. Looking speaks of faith, Isaiah 45:22, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

II. “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish,” v. 15

A. The Son of Man was lifted up on the Cross just as the serpent was lifted up on a pole, “even so must the Son of man be lifted up:”

B. Look in faith, that is, BELIEVING was the key to life in Moses’ day just as it is today.

III. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,” v. 16-18

A. Here God’s love is demonstrated.

1. While we were yet sinners, Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

2. He loved us first, 1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us”

B. Here His grace is extended to us, “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

1. God’s purpose was never to destroy the world, v. 17.

2. Trusting Jesus Christ is all that is necessary to be saved from hell, v. 18.

a. Those not condemned, v. 18a, “He that believeth on him is not condemned:”

b. Those already condemned, v. 18b, “but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

CONCLUSION:

The solution to the whole problem discussed with Nicodemus is faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.

LESSON 8 TO FOLLOW:

NICODEMUS AND THE NEW BIRTH–JOHN 3:1-21–LESSON 6

Introduction:

Here we see a religious Jew that comes to the Lord at night. Nicodemus feared the religious leaders and did not want to be put out of the synagogue by being seen with Jesus. Let us consider what Jesus had to say to this religious leader of the Jews.

I. NICODEMUS, A RELIGIOUS MAN

A. Nicodemus was a moral, religious man, one of the chief teachers (rulers) of the Jews.

1. He was a Pharisee. They were noted for their self-righteousness and their pride, Matthew 9:11 ”And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?” Luke 7:39, “Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.”

2. They were frequently rebuked by our Lord, Matthew 12:39, “But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:”

3. From the very beginning of his ministry the Pharisees showed themselves bitter and persistent enemies of our Lord. They could not bear his doctrines, and they sought by every means to destroy his influence among the people.

B. Being religious and moral does not make a man fit for heaven.

1. Jesus declares that a man is condemned already, John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

2. Jesus further declares that “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” v. 3.

II. NICODEMUS’ NEED OF A SPIRITUAL BIRTH

A. In material things Nicodemus seemed to be well off, but not rich.

1. He was a ruler of the Jews, a member of the Sanhedrin, the body that governed the people, v. 1.

2. He was a teacher of the Law of Moses, v. 10, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?”

B. In relation to spiritual things, Nicodemus was in great need.

1. Jesus told him of his need, v. 3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

2. Nicodemus did not understand, v. 4.

3. Jesus explains in vs. 5-8

a. This birth in not a natural birth.

b. It is a spiritual birth, v. 6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

c. It is the Spirit of God that works the new birth, vs. 5-6.

1) The preaching of the Word of God, v. 5, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

a) Water is a symbol of the Word of God in the Bible.

b) We are washed by the Word, Ephesians 5:26, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,”

2) The Spirit of God accomplishes the work of Salvation.

a) The Spirit of God convicts of Sin through the preaching of the Word of God, John 16:8, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

b) The hearing of the Word brings faith, Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

CONCLUSION:

Nicodemus evidently trusted the Lord as his Savior because we find him helping prepare the Lord’s body for burial, John 19:39-40, “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40-Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

LESSON 7 TO FOLLOW:

THE MANIFESTATION OF JESUS’ POWER–JOHN 2–LESSON 5

Introduction:

Cana is a town of Galilee, near Capernaum. Here our Lord wrought his first miracle, the turning of water into wine (JOHN 2:1–11; 4:46). It is also mentioned as the birthplace of Nathanael (21:2). It is not mentioned in the Old Testament. It has been identified as a place 8 or 9 miles north of Nazareth. It is called “Cana of Galilee,” to distinguish it from Cana of Asher (Joshua 19:28).

The turning of water into wine at a humble wedding, is the first of two manifestations of the Lord’s power in this second chapter of the gospel of John.

The second manifestation of His power was in the court of the Temple before the religious leaders of the Jews. It involved His vindication of the sacredness of His Father’s house from the profane indifference of the priests and leaders.

I. THE FIRST MANIFESTATION OF HIS POWER

A. Jesus fulfills His promise to Nathanael, vs. 1-2; John 1:50, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.”

1. “The third day” may refer to the third day after meeting Nathanael.

a. Cana is mention as being Nathanael’s home, John 21:2, “Here were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.”

b. This town is in Galilee near Nazareth where Jesus was reared.

2. The opportunity for Jesus to manifest His power was at a wedding in Cana, vs. 1-2.

a. Jesus’ mother was there. Perhaps she was a relative judging by her involvement in the wedding.

b. Jesus was invited along with His disciples. It is not known just how many of His disciples were present; perhaps only those mentioned in chapter one of John.

B. Jesus manifests His power to His disciples principally, vs. 3-11.

1. Many calls Jesus’ attention to the lack of wine, v. 3.

2. Jesus reacts to His mother’s words, v. 4, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.”

a. “Woman,” Jesus was not disrespectful to His mother, but rather point out that His subjection to her as a child had passed, Luke 2:51, And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.”

b. He did not use the title of “mother,” but rather that of a respected woman in the tradition of oriental people.

c. Here He speaks as the Son of God.

3. Mary gives instruction to the servants, v. 5.

4. Jesus realizes His first miracle, vs. 6-11.

a. Servant told to fill water pots, vs. 6-7. A “Firkin” is just less than 9 gallons. These were large containers of about 18 to 27 gallons each.

b. “Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.” v. 8.

c. The governor’s reaction, “thou hast kept the good wine until now.” Jesus always produces perfection in everything.

d. Note John 1:17—“The law came through Moses”; in the Old Testament water was changed to blood (Exodus 7:19), which indicates judgment. But Christ turned water into wine, which speaks of grace and joy. Wine symbolizes the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

5. His disciples believed on Him, vs. 11-12.

a. Jesus realizes His purpose in the miracle, v. 11. That purpose was to confirm the faith of His disciples.

1) They had John the Baptist’s testimony, John 1:29, 36.

2) Now they had God’s testimony.

b. Now His disciples were more than mere followers; they were believers, v. 12.

II. THE SECOND MANIFESTATION OF HIS POWER

A. The zeal of the Lord, vs. 13-17.

1. Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, v. 13.

a. The name given to the chief of the three great historical annual festivals of the Jews. It was kept in remembrance of the Lord’s passing over the houses of the Israelites (Ex. 12:13) when the first born of all the Egyptians were destroyed.

b. It is called also the “feast of unleavened bread” (Ex. 23:15; Mark 14:1; Acts 12:3), because during its celebration no leavened bread was to be eaten or even kept in the household (Ex. 12:15). The word afterwards came to denote the lamb that was slain at the feast (Mark 14:12–14; 1 Cor. 5:7).

2. Jesus cleanses the Temple, vs. 14-15.

a. Changers of money = pilgrims to Jerusalem carried all sorts of currencies, but they brought no animals for sacrifice. Exchanges and purchases could be made at the Temple.

b. Jesus drives them out with a “scourge” (a whip) made of the material found around the sheep probably. This was the first of two cleansings of the Temple. The second is found in Luke 19:46.

c. The disciples remembered Psalms 69:9, “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up;” v. 17.

d. The Jews demanded proof of His authority for His right to challenge the existing order, vs. 18-19.

1) What sign? 1 Corinthians 1:22, “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up;”

2) Jesus gave them a veiled sign. v. 18, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

3) The Jews pondered this statement until His trial, Matthew 26:60-61, “But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61-And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.”

B. The Temple Itself.

1. Herod the Great replaced the temple of Zerubbabel because it was not of the same glory as that of Solomon’s (Hag. 2:3).

2. It took 46 years to build Herod’s Temple.

C. What Jesus meant by His statement, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

1. The Jews took Jesus literally.

2. Jesus spoke of the temple of His body, v. 21: “But he spake of the temple of his body.”

D. Jesus at the Passover, vs. 23-25.

1. Jesus preached and did miracles, v. 23. “The time was holy time, the feast-day, time appointed for the service of God; at the Passover the Levites taught the good knowledge of the Lord (2 Chr. 30:22), and Christ took that opportunity of preaching, when the concourse of people was great, and thus he would own and honour the divine institution of the Passover.” (Matthew Henry).

2. Jesus did not have confidence in His hearers, v. 24.

3. He knew all men. “His knowledge was not by information from others, but by his own infallible intuition” (Matthew Henry). Hebrews 4:12-13, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13-Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

LESSON 6 TO FOLLOW: