He purposed ...

²⁹ The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ³¹ I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” ³² John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. ³³ I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

Jesus’ Public Ministry, First Converts

³⁵ Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” ³⁷ The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” ³⁹ He *said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. ⁴⁰ One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. ⁴¹ He *found first his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). ⁴² He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

⁴³ The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He *found Philip. And Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me.” ⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip *found Nathanael and *said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶ Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip *said to him, “Come and see.” ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and *said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” ⁴⁸ Nathanael *said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” ⁵⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” ⁵¹ And He *said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

The first thing I want to acknowledge, from our text today, is the tremendous humility and focus on his mission and call that John the baptist had. He had a large following, many disciples of his own and large numbers of people coming to him to hear his message of repentance and be baptised. Yet he remained faithful to his call. In yesterday's text John said this about himself John 1:19- 27

This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰ And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” ²¹ They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” ²² Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” ²³ He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”     ²⁴ Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵ They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” ²⁶ John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. ²⁷ It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

Later, toward the end of his ministry when John was asked about the crowds that were coming to Jesus he said:

He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” ²⁷ John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ ²⁹ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. ³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease.

From the beginning of his minstry to the end, John remained humble and focused. His purpose was not to glorify himself and create a great name and following. His purpose was to prepare the way, to prepare people for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Certainly today we see many who may have begun their ministries with great intentions. Their focus and purpose to answer the Lord's call and commission to make disciples. But somewhere along the way sadly the lure of fame and riches changes them and while they still declare the name of Jesus, they are building their own kingdoms and making their own disciples. They no longer have the focus and humility of John, who says "He must increase, but I must decrease."  

The principle of Isaiah 55:11 still applies. So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.   God will use these people He has called to accomplish His purposes and do things for Himself. Good things will happen.  Unfortunately for some of these great leaders their acknowledgment by men here on earth will exceed and superceed the acknowledgment of Jesus in heaven. 

In today's text we also see that Jesus Himself was focused and purposeful.  The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He *found Philip.      Jesus says of His entire ministry, of everything He did while here on earth:  “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. (John 5:19-20)   So even here, at the very beginning of Jesus ministry we see focus, puposeful yeilding to the leading of the Father as Jesus calls His disciples. Many were already coming to Jesus and all were called to repentance and to come near to and into the kingdom.

God the Father and Jesus our Lord call each of us also to a specific purpose. We are all chosen to be His children, to love,  worship and fellowship with God. Our callings though are as different and unique as we are. God has gifted and called each one of us for a specific reason and purpose. Just as Jesus carefully selected those He called to be part of His inner circle, God has carefully selected and prepared each of us for His purpose. The question is not whether  God has a purpose and a plan for our lives.     He says:  I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.(Jeremiah 29:11)     His plan also includes a purpose for each of us to serve Him in a way that only we are uniquely created, qualified and prepared to serve. The question that remains is, will we?

We will remain humble and focused like John the baptist?    Will we say Jesus must increase, but I must decrease?      Will we lay aside our own preconceived ideas, our own intentions and even our successes for the greater purposes of God?       Will we go through each day as Jesus did seeking to do the things the Father is doing, listening to His voice, yielding to Him?

Jesus says of us:Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. ¹³ Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.(John 14:12-14)

The call the purpose and the qualification are not in question. All that remains is will we humbly yield to the call?   Will we remain focused and purposeful to do the things the Father is doing?

Join with John and say He must increase, but I must decrease.  Amen