“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.”
― Saint Patrick
Humility
John 3:28-30
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 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. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
What about pride is attractive?
What draws us to it personally?
Why does the world (society) seem to love it?
What does scripture tell us?
We’re continuing our series on the Gospel of John.
So far we’ve seen that Jesus is the one and only (one of a kind) Son of God, that He is God and that He was from the beginning. We’ve seen that He’s grace and truth. We’ve seen that He knows what’s in our hearts, so our faith cannot be shallow. We’ve seen that Jesus performed signs and wonders to validate who He is and that some understood and some wanted more or something else (even a teacher of the Law Nicodemus). The highlight is that we’ve seen that God so loved the world that He sent Jesus to save us. As we continue in John let’s look at how John the Baptist handles this fact (that Jesus is Lord) even though he’s being pushed into the background.
———
John 3:22-30
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
[22] After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. [23] John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized [24] (for John had not yet been put in prison).
[25] Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. [26] 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.” [27] John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. [28] You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ [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. [30] He must increase, but I must decrease.”
——
So we see here John’s disciples noting (are they jealous) that John’s followers are starting to move toward Jesus. John quickly let’s them know that Jesus is the focus. NOTE: Jesus should always be the focus in everything. He’s the hero in our story here, he’s the focus in this gospel and in the New Testament and even the Old Testament is pointing all things toward him. We should feel the same way about him in our lives. Everything pointing toward Him.
Pastor, sounds a bit radical. Maybe a bit crazy or cultish, I mean I love Jesus, but I’ve got other priorities. …….? That’s part of our problem. We reject Him as Savior because not enough signs or miracles or proof. And even if we recognize Him as Savior we reject Him as Lord because we have other priorities, right? The cause of both of those deficiencies is control or maybe to put it this way (who’s in charge, or on the throne)…..maybe one word can define that? Pride.
Pride is lifting ourselves up over others, thinking too much of ourselves, being self-serving, snooty, full of ourselves, not just thinking too much of ourselves, but also thinking of ourselves too often all consuming, even a pity party can be prideful.
Watch how John handles it.
John had a clear simple reply to the jealous disciples. He meant that no one can receive anything unless God in His sovereignty permits it. Regarding Jesus his statement expressed belief that God had permitted Jesus to enjoy the popularity that He was experiencing. It also expressed John’s satisfaction with that state of affairs. John demonstrated the attitude we should all have. He recognized that God had assigned different ministries to Jesus and himself and that it was wrong for him and his disciples to wish things were otherwise.
3:28 John proceeded to remind his disciples that he never claimed to be the Messiah but only Messiah’s forerunner.
3:29 John’s illustration showed that his attitude and behavior were consistent with normal conduct. In the illustration Jesus is the bridegroom and John is the bridegroom’s friend.
“The assistant acted on behalf of the bridegroom and made the preliminary arrangements for the ceremony.”
The “friend of the bridegroom,” the shoshben, had a unique place at a Jewish wedding. He acted as the liaison between the bride and the bridegroom; he arranged the wedding; he took out the invitations; he presided at the wedding feast. He brought the bride and the bridegroom together. And he had one special duty. It was his duty to guard the bridal chamber and to let no false lover in. He would only open the door when in the dark he heard the bridegroom’s voice and recognized it. When he heard the bridegroom’s voice he was glad and he let him in, and he went away rejoicing, for his task was completed.
The bride is probably a reference to Israel. John was implying that he played a supporting role in Messiah’s union with Israel. This was a testimony to Jesus’ identity as Messiah whom John said he rejoiced to hear.
There’s no church on the scene yet, but later in the NT the church is the bride of Christ. Israel had spurned her bridegroom when He came for her, and consequently He had taken a different bride for Himself. John’s joy was complete or full (Gr. pleroun) because he knew that he was fulfilling his role faithfully. Jesus’ increasing popularity filled John’s disciples with resentment, but it filled John with joy. True godliness and Christian maturity is found when we can genuinely be happy for others without thoughts of self.
3:30This expression of humility arose out of John’s acceptance of His God-given role as Messiah’s forerunner. Far from discouraging people from following Jesus, as his disciples implied he should, John would continue to promote Him. He viewed this as God’s will and therefore said it “must” be so. Would that all of us who are God’s servants would view Jesus’ position and our own similarly. Submission to God’s will and the exaltation of Jesus, not prominence in His service, should bring joy to His servants.
- What about pride is attractive?
Nothing. Prideful arrogant people are annoying and toxic. Their purpose seems to always be to lift themselves up and many times it means putting others down. It can mean they try to leap over you at work or bully you in a relationship.
- What draws us to it personally?
Our sin nature, our flesh, Love of self, insecurity, fear of being unknown or unseen, not being the center of everything. You know that’s all a lie of the devil right? “Did God really say?……” Why did Satan fall? Impatient action…..I can’t wait on God I need to do this myself because I can. Being “strong in the flesh”
- Why does the world (society) seem to love it?
Who else do they have to worship? It’s fleshy nature. We like the guy who is the highlight and the girl on the magazine cover. Even if it’s airbrushed and not real. Look at all of the self help books, life hacks and talk shows telling you how to fix yourself. Fix what?
2 Timothy 3:1-5
[1] But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. [2] For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, [4] treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
What does scripture tell us?
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 29:23
One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
James 4:6
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
How do we combat it?
Humility isn’t being down on yourself all the time. Humility isn’t self hatred or self loathing. Humility is having the strength to do the right things and not get puffed up. Doing the right thing is the minimum no reason to exalt ourselves or want praise.
Merriam-Webster defines humility as “freedom from pride or arrogance.” But that leaves us needing another definition — one for pride. And we need the Bible’s authority, not the dictionary’s, to help us most. Humility is not thinking of yourself more highly than you ought but with sober judgment, according to what God says in his word. Thus, growing in humility is a lifelong process as you increase in knowledge of God’s word and in appreciation for God’s work through Christ
Eph 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
James 4:7
[7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
*****That means submitting to God is the only way to defeat the devil.
Philippians 2:1-11
Christ’s Example of Humility
[1] So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, [2] complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. [3] Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [4] Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. [5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1 Peter 5:6-11
[6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. [8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. [10] And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. [11] To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
———
“The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.”
-Tim Keller
—–
So, humility is not hiding what you can do, or hating who you are. It’s the joy of thinking about yourself less, and about Jesus more.
