He must increASE
John 3:22-36
Main Idea: Rejoice in Christ, recognize His reign, and rest in His reward.
I. Rejoice in His Rise (3:22–30)
John 3:22-23: 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 water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).
John 3:25-26: 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.”
John 3:27-28: “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.
John 3:29: The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
“The bridegroom’s friend, is jealous for the bridegroom. And he does not put himself forward as an adulterer in the bridegroom’s place but bears witness to his friend and commends the one who really was the bridegroom to the bride. He wants to be loved in him and hates the idea of being loved instead of him.”
~ Augustine
John 3:30: He must increase, but I must decrease.
II. Recognize His Reign (3:31–34)
John 3:31-34: He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
A. Recognize His Authority Over Your Mind
To recognize His reign is to surrender your reasoning to His Word.
B. Recognize His Authority Over Your Time
Because Jesus reigns, then He rules over your calendar, your work, your rest, and even your hidden life.
C. Recognize His Authority Over Your Confidence
When you recognize the supremacy of Christ you no longer brace yourself against His authority—you draw confidence from it. You do not resent His commands—you trust them. You do not fear His providence—you rest in it.
III. Rest in His Reward (vv. 35–36)
John 3:35-36: The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 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.
A. Rest Means You Stop Trying to Save Yourself
Rest begins when self-salvation ends.
B. Rest Means You Take Judgment Seriously
If you are in Him, wrath does not remain on you. It fell on Christ. That is why you can rest.
C. Rest Means Daily Reliance
Belief is not a one-time glance. It is ongoing trust.
