Well, we're going to look at a rather curious situation in the life of Jesus, and I want to encourage you again, as you study Scripture, to always ask key questions, "Why is this in the Bible? Why did God retain it for me? What does He want to know about me? What does He want me to know about Himself? What does He want me to know about life in a fallen world? What does He want me to know about his grace? What does He want me to know about what it means to be 'in Christ?'" There's always something for you in these passages. This is John 3:22-36; I'll just read a portion of this passage.
After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plentiful water there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).
Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 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."
It's a bit of a moment of tribal jealousy. John's tribe, his disciples, was jealous of Jesus' tribe and his disciples because the crowds were leaving John and going to Jesus. And I like the way they talk about Jesus. This is not an example of belief. This is not respect. "Rabbi, that man," that's their characterization of Jesus. "That guy is baptizing, and we don't like it."
Now, this is in the Bible because it gives John an opportunity to say, "There is no one like Jesus! Don't you get the point?" I was studying this passage and Sinéad O'Connor's song kept coming to mind, "Nothing Compares 2 U." That's what this passage is about. John says the crowd leaving Jesus is exactly what it's meant to be; "I must decrease so he can increase." And he uses the brilliant example; it's the example of a wedding.
Now, if you're invited to a wedding, you don't expect to be the center of attention. If you're the best man at a wedding, you don't expect to be the center of attention. It's not about you. John says, "Man, when the bridegroom enters the room, guess what? All excitement goes to him. All focus goes to him. That's the way it's meant to be." John says, "Don't you get it; that Jesus has come from above; he's uniquely qualified to speak for God because he is God. He alone has been given the spirit without limit?"
And then he says something just amazing. He said, "Don't you know, this guy, you can see in flesh and blood, has been appointed by the Father as Lord over everything." How mind boggling is that? There's just no one that compares to Jesus. He is the eternal son of God. He is the one who has come from above. He is the promised Messiah. He is God's ultimate spokesman. He is the King of kings who rules everything for the sake of his children. John says, "Guys, he's way more than 'that guy.' He's way more than 'that man.' This is everything we need. This is everything we hope for. This is everything that broken humanity can find as their ultimate solution. It's in this one person, Jesus of Nazareth. Yes, I want the crowds to forsake me because I want everyone to run after him and find in him everything they need. I may be the best man," John says, "But this one is the bridegroom!"
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. What does this passage teach you about who Jesus is and what it means to be in him? In what ways have you looked at Jesus simply as "that man" instead of the King of all kings? In all of human history, why is there nobody else like Jesus?
2. In what ways have you longed for attention in a way that you know should be directed at Christ, but instead wanted it to be directed at you? Please be honest. How can you practically relate with John the Baptist's disciples from this story? Where have you been more committed to your own tribe than to the advancement of God's kingdom in this world? Where have you been more committed to your own glory than to the glory of Christ (even within the context of Christian ministry)?
3. Why does the uniqueness of Jesus and his lordship apply to you today as much as it did to everyone in this specific story from the New Testament?
4. Why is Christ everything you need? Why is Christ everything you hope for? Why is Christ your personal ultimate solution? If you had difficulty answering those questions, take some time to ask yourself why it was hard and then share your answers with a trusted, godly friend or family member.
Conversation Prompts to Use with Children
For Younger Children:
• Why is Jesus the most important person who ever lived? Why is he still important today? Why is he important to both you and me right now even though he's not here on earth for us to see and touch?
• How can Jesus make an impact and difference in your life today? Let's talk about some ways that he might want to personally change me and you.
For Older Children:
• Why do you think Jesus was and currently still is such a big deal? How is he important to you personally (and if he's not, tell me honestly why he isn't)?
• How do you see Jesus making an impact in my life on a day-to-day basis? How is he making an impact in your life each day? If we're both not that impacted by him in our daily lives, why do you think that is? How can we keep each other accountable to changing?
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