When The Crowd Leaves

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When The Crowd Leaves

John 3:22-36

Speaker: Pastor
Series:

When Your Influence Starts to Fade: Lessons in Humility from John the Baptist

There’s a moment in every one of our lives where things begin to change. “No matter our age, things will change. One day your phone will ring less, your name is not mentioned as much, your influence doesn’t seem as strong, and someone else is stepping into the place where you once stood.”

How do you handle it when your voice doesn’t carry the weight it once did? When someone younger gets the job, the opportunity, the recognition? When your Numbers plateau or someone else gets the contract you wanted? As Kent Hughes said, “Few trials test a man’s character more severely than watching his influence decline when another’s increases.”

This exact scenario plays out in John 3:22-36, where we see two influential men doing ministry in the same region. John the Baptist, of whom Jesus said “there was no greater man born than John the Baptist,” had an incredible influence, following, and ministry. Then there’s Jesus, whose ministry begins to eclipse John’s completely.

The Test of True Character

“How is John going to respond when Jesus begins to outclipse him? When Jesus goes ahead of him, how is John going to respond?” This passage reveals John’s remarkable response and gives us four crucial truths about humility that can transform how we handle life’s inevitable transitions.

Interestingly, “it’s not John that gets upset. It’s John’s followers that are getting upset.” John’s disciples come to him saying, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, look, he is baptizing and all are going to him” (John 3:26). They were so upset “they don’t even mention Jesus’ name.”

Four Truths About Humility

1. HUMILITY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT EVERY GOOD THING COMES FROM GOD

John’s response in John 3:27 cuts straight to the heart: “A person cannot receive one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” James 1:17 echoes this truth: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”

“Do you understand that everything that you have, everything that you own, every position that you have is given to you by God? When you understand that, I believe that your life can be changed dramatically.”

“Nothing is accidental in your life. Nothing is earned. Everything is assigned.” Whether it’s your health, your business, your family, your house – “God is the one who gave you that. And you ought to thank God for that.”

“If everything is received, then there’s no room for pride.” As 1 Corinthians 4:7 asks, “What do you have that you did not receive?”

2. HUMILITY FINDS JOY IN FULFILLING GOD’S ASSIGNED ROLE

In verses 28-29, John reminds his followers: “You yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.” John knew his calling was to introduce the Messiah, and he fulfilled it with joy.

Using the illustration of a bridegroom’s friend (similar to our best man but with greater responsibilities), John explains his role: “The friend of the groom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete” (John 3:29).

“John didn’t back away begrudgingly. He wasn’t upset that his day was done, that his job was fulfilled. He says in the text that he did it with joy.”

A.W. Tozer said, “It’s not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular. It’s why he does it.” “True success, folks, is just being faithful with what God’s called you to do, wherever that is. However that looks.”

3. HUMILITY MEASURES SUCCESS BY CHRIST’S INCREASE, NOT OUR PROMINENCE

This brings us to the famous verse, John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

“In whatever God has called you to do, are you willing to humble yourself that Christ might be seen? Are you willing to have a life that’s diminished as long as Christ is put forward?”

J.C. Ryle reminds us: “We can never have too high thoughts about Christ, can never love him too much, trust him too implicitly, lay too much weight upon him, and speak too highly in his praise.”

4. HUMILITY SUBMITS TO CHRIST’S SUPREMACY

The passage concludes by establishing Jesus’s ultimate authority. “He who comes from above is above all” (John 3:31). Jesus is distinct because “he gives the Spirit without measure” (John 3:34) and “the Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands” (John 3:35).

Most importantly, “Jesus alone determines eternal destiny.” John 3:36 declares: “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.”

“Do you understand that what you do with Jesus will determine your eternal destiny? It’s not your relationship to Community Baptist Church. It’s not how good you are. It’s not how much you give. It’s not how many times you’ve been baptized. It’s what you do with Jesus.”

Putting It Into Practice

“You do not need someone else’s calling. You need to be faithful to the calling that God has called you to do.” Your calling will look different from others, but it’s equally valuable when assigned by God.

“Wherever you are tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock is probably God’s call on your life. And you can please the Lord by doing what he’s called you to do.” Don’t think you need to be somewhere else to find fulfillment – “you be faithful where God has you.”

Remember the old song “Brighten the Corner Where You Are.” Whatever your circumstances, whatever your current season of influence or lack thereof, your job is to brighten that corner and remain faithful to what God has entrusted to you.

The question isn’t whether your influence will change – it will. The question is: will you respond with the humility of John the Baptist, finding joy in God’s assignments and measuring success by Christ’s increase rather than your own prominence?

We hope you enjoyed the sermon and would love to see you in person. Plan your visit to Community Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee today!

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