THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST -- "From Old To New"

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
“From Old To New”
John 3:22-30
November 27, 2011

Life is full of transitions. From the time we are born, life is about moving from one phase of life to the next. In this area of Scripture we see a transition that is crucial. While it is directed primarily at Israel, it is directed to us today as well. So, let’s read our text verses in John 3:22-30. In these verses we see:

JESUS AS THE NEW MASTER -- John 3:22-26 (NASB) “After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. And John also was baptizing in Aenon (EYE-non) near Salim, because there was much water there; and they were coming and were being baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison. There arose therefore a discussion on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification. And they came to John and said to him, " Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have borne witness, behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him."

Following His talk with Nicodemus, Jesus moves out into the country side of Judea where He and his disciples were are baptizing people. At the same time, John and his disciples were also baptizing in Aenon near Salim. But more people were going to Jesus instead of John. Note as well, that Jesus spent time with His disciples. It was in these times that Jesus hared with them and ministered to them. It was in those quiet times that their relationship with Jesus grew and matured as Jesus nurtured them.

Some of the Jews questioned the value of John’s baptism. If John’s baptism was really cleansing people’s hearts, why were they now flocking to Jesus? Now, let me address this cleansing of the heart with some facts. First:

HUMAN HEARTS CAN BE CLEANSED -- Every human wants to have that certainty that they can have their heart cleansed by someone at some place. They want to be rid of guilt and conviction. Secondly:

MAN WILL FOLLOW SOMEONE -- There’s the question of who do they turn to for this heart cleansing and to released from this sense of failure? Some will seek Christ for that cleansing. But others turn to religion –church attendance--giving to charity—doing some good work. But the truth is that only Jesus Christ can really cleanse and purify a man’s heart and give them a true cleansing from sin.

Romans 8:1-2 tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” When Jesus went to the cross He suffered the fullness of condemnation. And it was done for anyone who would believe in Him.

John could have felt hurt or neglected or forgotten with people flocking to Jesus instead of him. But instead John told his disciples that:

GOD APPOINTED JESUS AS THE MESSIAH – John 3:27-28 “John answered and said, " A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. "You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ' I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.’”

God is the only One who appoints men to particular service and then equips them with His gifting. And if God doesn’t do the appointing and the gift giving, then those men are false prophets and false apostles. No one can confer any of the gifts of the Holy Spirit on anyone else. John’s whole message was that Jesus was the Messiah and not him. John knew what God had appointed him to do and he wasn’t looking for anything greater. There’s a great lesson there for us – don’t try to be more than God wants you to be. Just be where God wants you to be, do what God wants you to do and work for Him with all of your heart.

True servants of God serve and trust God to take care of him; they don’t envy others. Every ministry of God is valuable for the proclamation of the gospel and the plan of salvation. God does the appointing, the anointing, the equipping and the providing. Man cannot do any of that. If it isn’t from God, it’s going to fail. John was saying that:

JESUS IS THE OBJECT OF LOYALTY -- John 3:29-30 "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. And so this joy of mine has been made full. "He must increase, but I must decrease.’”

John paints a picture of a bride and the bridegroom. Israel’s relationship to God was like that of a bride to a bridegroom. Israel went after other gods and God said that Israel was like a prostitute who was unfaithful to her loving husband. In the New Test, the church takes on the role of the bride of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the bridegroom of Israel. But John said he was a friend of the bridegroom.

To the Jews, the friend of the bridegroom had a unique place. He sent out the wedding invitations, arranged the wedding and set up the wedding feast. But he had one special duty – he was to guard the bridal chamber and not let anyone in except the bride and the bridegroom – no false lovers. When the friend recognized the bridegroom’s voice he would open the door and let the couple in. Once he did his job, he would rejoice and then fade out of the picture. John said that he must increase and he, John must decrease. John’s loyalty was to Jesus and now his work was done.

So we see here a transition from the old covenant to the new covenant –from the law to grace –from John to Jesus. And in that transition we see that man can find freedom from guilt and condemnation – through Jesus Christ only.

CALL --- This freedom brings true joy and peace which comes from realizing that we are in a right relationship with God through His Son, and that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. And knowing that because Jesus died on the Cross, all of our sins are forgiven. We get a new life free from guilt and condemnation? Would you like to leave here with a new peace and joy? Will you ask Jesus to come into your heart and life to be your Lord and Savior? Just raise your hand.

My friends, Jesus is the Bridegroom. As Christians, our focus should be on Jesus alone. Jesus is the ultimate object of our focus. We are to carry out His will as He shows it to us in His Word. We’re not to envy others and what God may or may not have done to or for them. We’re to be humble, accept where God has us and rejoice in that position. It may be a position of humility, or playing 2nd fiddle, but we’re to be satisfied with where we are and trust God to provide for us. Our only object in this life is to exalt Jesus in our lives so that others will come to Him. Do you need more help? The Holy Spirit is your answer. Let’s come and pray and ask the Lord to give us the grace and the power to fulfill His will in and through us.

Father, help us to understand that Jesus is to be the focus of our loyalty – that His voice is the only voice that we are to respond to as revealed through Your Word. Grant us, Father, that fresh anointing and filling of the Holy Spirit which only can give so that we will have the power, boldness and courage to do our part in carrying out Your plan of salvation in the lives of those around us. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.