HE MUST INCREASE AND I MUST DECREASE
Friday – October 26, 2018, Cheshvan 17, 5779
Greetings and welcome back to this exciting and powerful Bible Study from the Book of John. Today we see a mother deer with her spotted fawn at the deer feeder in Texas. Yes, this is legal in Texas. Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text reading it aloud.
John 3:23-26 (KJV)
23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
I will be covering several verses today as we move along in our study. In the passage above we find that the Jews are trying to stir up trouble by telling John that more people are coming to the disciples of Jesus to be baptized than John. Perhaps it is here on this day that the seeds of offense are sown that leads to John losing his head.
John 3:27-31 (KJV)
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
John’s response to their provocation to jealousy was that if He is increasing it is the will of God, “given him from heaven.” Again, John the Baptist points out to them that he is not the Christ, the awaited Messiah. John reaffirms that he is the one sent to prepare the way of the Messiah, the spirit of Elijah who prepared the way of Elisha. John goes on with the following statement in verse twenty-nine.
John 3:29 (TLB)
29 The crowds will naturally go to the main attraction —the bride will go where the bridegroom is! A bridegroom’s friends rejoice with him. I am the Bridegroom’s friend, and I am filled with joy at his success.
This brings us to verse thirty, thirty is the number of the Blood of Christ, where John tells them boldly, I must decrease and He must increase. I wonder how many of us take this seriously in our own lives. That person we used to be day by day must decrease, be put away, and this new creation becoming more and more like Jesus must increase. In this part of Scripture, we are in a transition from the old (John is fading out of the picture) to the new (Jesus becoming the central figure). John the Baptist in the thirty-first verse above testifies to the Divine origin of Christ Jesus. Jesus is not operating as God in the earth but as a man. We see from Scripture that the Word (Jesus) laid aside the attributes of God on coming to the womb of Mary (Philippians 2:7-8). The evidence to support this is irrefutable. Just as Adams body was of the earth so was the body of Jesus, however, His Spirit was of Heaven also like Adam. Jesus was a sinless man operating in Grace with man and God until the time He was to lay down His life for the sins of the world.
John 3:32-33 (TLB)
32 He tells what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them!
33 Those who believe him discover that God is a fountain of truth. For this one—sent by God—speaks God’s words, for God’s Spirit is upon him without measure or limit.
John 3:35-36 (TLB)
35 The Father loves this man because he is his Son, and God has given him everything there is.
36 And all who trust him—God’s Son—to save them have eternal life; those who don’t believe and obey him shall never see heaven, but the wrath of God remains upon them.”
The Living Bible Translation gives us a very clear picture of Jesus as this chapter draws to an end. We see that many will hear Jesus in the earth but few will believe, those who do are amazed at the wealth of Truth (a fountain, an eternal flow) from Jesus. Of course, once He is Crucified, raised from the dead, ascended to Heaven, and the Teacher (Holy Spirit) is in the earth, the Blessing returned, people could not only understand but were empowered to walk a sinless life just as Jesus walked. Let’s focus on verse thirty-three (TLB), thirty-four (KJV) which tells us that he whom God sends and speaks the Words of God has the Spirit without measure. This is not just describing Jesus, this is for you and me dear brother and sister. As we approach the end for today we find in verse thirty-five John telling us that the Father so loves the Son that He has put everything in His hand. Keep in mind this is a statement by faith, by revelation for Jesus has not yet done what brings that to pass which is the sinless life, the laying down of His life being made sin in our stead and being raised from the dead. As this chapter ends John admonishes us to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, to believe on the Son. If you have not done so, do so now!
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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