Introduction (Sermon #8 in a Series on the Gospel of John)
You have likely heard the slogan, “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.” The idea is simple: we may feel like doing something, but, in fact, it would be better if we did not. We recognize that we are easily manipulated, the excitement or confusion of a moment can sweep us off our senses and we do that which is foolish. A friend holds us back, she applies the brakes, she makes us do that very thing we would want to do if we were in our right mind. As you can imagine, such a clever slogan is often edited in order to make a statement.
“Friends don’t let friends drink Starbucks,” for those who are offended by the ubiquity of Seattle’s suburban coffee success. “Friends don’t let friends use Windows” for those who dislike the Microsoft monopoly. And at the University of Virginia, the ever-popular button with the Virginia Tech logo crossed through: “Friends don’t let friends attend Tech.”
We can summarize the main point of our text as, “Friends don’t let friends grab glory.” As people move from John and toward Jesus, John’s disciples feel envy and jealousy. They want their man in power; they plan to ride his coattails to positions of influence; they enjoy the excitement of John’s fame and they want it not to end.
John is the true friend. He insists that only One get glory – and it will not be himself. Nor does he resort to exaggeration and emotional appeals. As every wise leader knows, in the midst of conflict and a party spirit and heated passions, we need calmness, humility and careful teaching. These John provides with understated volume – he responds carefully and without exaggeration; he points to the Messiah with profound humility; and he teaches the truth without any equivocation.
As we gather around John the Baptist, and also listen to John the Apostle’s commentary, we learn much about how to relate to God and to other people, both the vertical and the horizontal aspects of our lives together.
Before we do, however, let us take a quick side road. Did you notice the unexpected reasoning in verse 23? Look at it again: “John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized.”
I wonder if we are all satisfied with his answer? “John, how did you pick Aenon for your work? Did God give you a vision? Did you get a word from the Lord? Tell us, how did you know this was the place?” And John answers, “Well, I was baptizing a lot of people and there was a bunch of water there.”
Two cautions for you to consider.
First, please distinguish between practical decisions and pragmatism. “Pragmatism” values results we can see over faithfulness to God. As such, it is a sinful way of evaluating choices. But “practical” decisions take into account the facts of daily living. When we restarted Sunday evening worship last month, I recommended that the service begin at 6:30. It was not pragmatism, but a practical recommendation. I remembered that small children have difficulty getting up from afternoon nap and ready for church at 5:30. By beginning later, it is easier for them to attend. “Water was plentiful there” was a practical answer.
Second, please beware of over-spiritualizing church life. Because Christians want to be biblical in all they do, we can easily imagine that our choices are more spiritual than they really are. When that happens, secondary matters are often elevated to first importance. Let me give an example. I wear a robe on Sunday morning. I like the robe and these neat stoles that mark the church calendar. And the robe reminds me that Sunday morning is different and special for God’s people. Suppose the Evangelism committee comes to me and says, “Glenn, we really think that the robe has connotations in our time and place that make an obstacle for people coming to Christ. Some who see the robe think of supreme court justices and it distracts them. Would you consider not wearing it on Sunday mornings?” I absolutely would consider that. We may need to discuss the pros and cons, but it is not a matter of biblical faithfulness to wear a black robe. And if we demand “spiritual answers” for every decision, we run the risk of trivializing Scripture.
That’s our side road for today, now to the main points.
1. We Must Not Seek Glory for Ourselves Because None of Us Is the Christ (John 3.25-30)
“Humility is a virtue all men preach, none practice, and yet everybody is content to hear of.” So wrote John Selden, a judge in 17th century England. Selden exaggerated – on occasion, men are humble. It is extraordinarily rare. Many people speak well of humility, but think of themselves like the character in the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, Ruddigore, who said, “You’ve no idea what a poor opinion I have of myself…and how little I deserve it.” [These two illustrations are from Boice, John, 252.]
Large numbers of people traveled from the city to see and hear John the Baptist. He was an important and charismatic figure. Naturally those closely connected to John would benefit from his popularity. But suddenly a man named “Jesus” begins to gain notoriety and pull away the crowds. John’s men want him to do something lest he lose all influence and power.
It must have been a sore temptation to hurt feelings for John. (It would have been for me.) John spent long years of loneliness and deprivation in the wilderness. He gave up a “normal” life for weird clothing and the strange diet of “locusts and wild honey.” Prophets like John were stared at and talked about and often the object of ridicule.
And now his rising fame is ripped away by a newcomer. “Look,” say John’s followers, “all are going to him.” Surely that was an exaggeration – but by claiming “all” were moving into Jesus’ camp, the urgency of action is stressed. In spite of their fear, John is a faithful friend who reminds them (and us), “Friends don’t let friends grab glory.” Three truths John presents which empower and enable humility and which will deliver us from that divisive and petty party spirit infecting and weakening the church.
1.1. We are delivered from the slavery of seeking self-glory when we know that God is the source of all gifts (John 3.27)
The Apostle Paul applied the same truth to a church he pastured. The congregation in Corinth was the most gifted in the first century – and the most prideful. They had little need for apostles – they already had all the spiritual gifts. So Paul writes: “If then you received [these things], why do you boast as if you did not?” (1Corinthians 4.7). Gifts leave no room for boasting.
John reminds his friends of the same: it is all of God’s grace. It is not about me.
J. C. Ryle applies this to pastors: “The whole verse is a useful antidote to that jealousy which sometimes springs up in a minister’s mind, when he sees a brother’s ministry prospering more than his own.” Pride makes us attribute other’s success to compromise.
But pastors are not the only to suffer from this affliction. Politicians are consumed with anxious jockeying for the limelight. Schwarzenegger moved California’s primary to the place of preeminence. A recent Wall Street Journal article reported on the dearth of physicists who will work on a certain type of critical research. The reason? The projects were so complex and involved so many variables, that each major experiment required hundreds of physicists working together. But getting everyone listed on a major research paper is difficult for a team of 460 physicists, and the Nobel Prize is not available for large groups. If you work on these super-projects you may not receive glory. The research remains untouched.
A lack of appreciation for God as the source of all things also damages the church. Some of us are here because you are convinced that this is the most biblical church available. That’s fine, but we must also admit that many people outside our walls often consider PCA folk arrogant. It should not be so. Let us strive to change such perceptions, first, by believing that even if we are correct on some point of theology, it is a gift of God, not an excuse for criticizing others.
1.2. We are delivered from the slavery of seeking self-glory when we know the joy of befriending the groom (John 3.28-29)
J. Campbell White, speaking for the Laymen’s Missionary Movement in 1909, said: “Nothing can wholly satisfy the life of Christ within his followers except the adoption of Christ’s purpose toward the world he came to redeem. Fame, pleasure and riches are but husks and ashes in contrast with the boundless and abiding joy of working with God for the fulfillment of his eternal plans. The men who are putting everything into Christ’s undertaking are getting out of life its sweetest and most priceless rewards.”
If you have never been the best man at a wedding, you may not fully appreciate John’s illustration. Yes, the bride is beautiful, but there is no place for jealousy in the heart of a true friend when she walks down the aisle. A faithful best man never begrudges the groom his good fortune!
In the same way, every true disciple of Jesus delights to turn the attention to him. “Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to your name give glory.” We were made for this! “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” This is your joy – all alternatives leave you bitter.
1.3. We are delivered from the slavery of seeking self-glory when we believe that Jesus is the center of all (John 3.30)
Andy Warhol once quipped: “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” From that line it became a saying that “everyone will get his 15 minutes of fame.” Many now suppose that a few moments of notoriety will fill up an otherwise empty and insignificant life.
Marcus Aurelius (c. 160 AD) was wiser: “And what after all is everlasting fame? Altogether vanity.”
Striving for attention, grasping for glory, fretting over recognition deserved but not received – these trap us in an exhausting chase for a rabbit stuffed with straw.
In an amusement park in Monterey, California, in the 1940s, a large cylinder, 8 feet in diameter and 30 feet long lay on its side. The cylinder rotated and the goal was to walk through it without losing your balance and being toppled. Donald Barnhouse thought this no great challenge, so he immediately started. Within a few yards, however, he lost his balance and orientation and was flopping around like a rag doll. The operator stopped the cylinder and Barnhouse got out and said, “Start it up; I’m going to do it again.”
The operator said: “Wait a minute. First you should know there is a secret for walking through the barrel. Do you see the mirror at the other end?”
“Yes.”
“What do you see in the mirror?”
“I see you.”
“That’s right. The mirror is set at an angle with other mirrors to allow me to stand here and see in the other end. But it also allows you to see me. As you walk through, keep your eyes focused on the image of me. Do not look at the cylinder at all. Focus on me and that will keep your true sense of vertical and you will be able to walk though.” This time he walked through triumphantly. [James Boice, Commentary, in loc., 256.]
How can you walk through a world twisted by sin? Keep your eyes on the One who operates all things for his glory and your joy. I find it helpful to remember this: success in the Christian life is not so much thinking less of ourselves as thinking of ourselves, less.
2. We Must Seek Glory for Jesus Because He Is the Christ (John 3.31-36)
These verses give us three reasons for thinking of ourselves, less, and focusing instead on Jesus.
First, he comes from God (John 3.31). Jesus is the “Christ,” the “Messiah,” the “Chosen One of God.” He is chosen by God for you to base your whole life upon his life, his glory, and his word, because he comes from God. No man or woman on earth will suffice because they are all earthly.
• Every political leader one day trips over her own love of preeminence.
• Every pastor one day stumbles over his own pride.
• Every husband one day slips on his own selfishness.
• Every friend one day gives in to her desire to look out for herself.
They all will fail us. Only One from God is completely dedicated to your good. He did not come for you to serve him, but that he might serve you and give his life as a ransom. Seek his glory – since he is from God, sin cannot stain his selfless service for your great joy. Jesus comes from God.
Second, he speaks for God (John 3.32-34). You can base your life on Jesus because his words are life. Yes, you want your pastor to have the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We value the historic creeds and confessions of the church. A sister who speaks words of encouragement or correction or counsel can be an valuable friend in times of trouble.
But Jesus is not like any of them. And John reminds us that he is unlike any prophet to ever speak for God. His word is God’s word in a unique way that Jeremiah or Isaiah or David or John the Baptist never knew. In Jesus the “whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,” so there are no limits to the Spirit’s power working through him. Jesus speaks for God.
Third, he takes us to God (John 3.35-36). Here is the ultimate reason you should dedicate your life to seeking glory for Jesus: he gives eternal life to all who believe. Would it not be wonderful to be freed from having to chase your own glory? What if someone else has chased it, grabbed it, and secured it with the Father in heaven? Like a young child running for the kitchen with a stack of plates because she so wants to help mommy, we always trip and drop and shatter the crystal when we hold our own glory in our own hands. Only Jesus’ hands are a certain clutch on your being lifted to a place of high honor at the throne of the King.
3. Conclusion
On December 4, 1857, David Livingstone, missionary to Africa, made a stirring appeal to the students of Cambridge: “People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice.”
John the Baptist will tell you the same when you arrive in heaven: “I never made a sacrifice.”
“But wait, John,” we say. “Surely you sacrificed – you decreased.”
“But every decrease, he exalted to the highest place, for his glory is my greatest joy.”
John Piper: “I do not appeal to you to screw up your courage and sacrifice for Christ. I appeal to you to renounce all you have to obtain life that satisfies your deepest longings. I appeal to you to count all things as rubbish for the surpassing value of standing in the service of the King of kings. I appeal to you to take off your store-bought rags and put on the garments of God’s ambassadors. I promise you persecutions and privations, but ‘remember the joy!’”
On January 8, 1956, five Auca Indians of Ecuador killed Jim Elliot and his four missionary companions as they were trying to bring the gospel to the Auca tribe of sixty people. Four young wives lost husbands and nine children lost their fathers. Elisabeth Elliot wrote that the world called it a nightmare of tragedy. Then she added, "The world did not recognize the truth of the second clause in Jim Elliot’s credo: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
You cannot keep glory for yourself. Grab at it and it will be as insubstantial as a beam of light. Trust it to Jesus and it will be a heavy crown of glory in eternity. You think about that.
Next Week: Easter: Acts 2.22-47: Is the Gospel for the Devout?
April 15: John 4.1-15: Meeting God When You are Thirsty
April 22: John 4.16-26: Meeting God When You are Dry
April 29: John 4.17-42: Meeting God When You are Hungry
