For the last several years I have opted into choosing a word for the new year versus a resolution. I have a few reasons for this, and you can read about it here. Mostly, my decision for selecting a word is to keep me more focused on my Savior – Jesus.
This week I read a meme that really resonated with me from @myjarsofclay.
“New Year, New Me”
“New Year, Less Me
and More Jesus.”
I felt this deep within my bones. And not just because I heard it spoken out loud over a couple dozen times the weeks leading up to the arrival of 2024.
This resonated so deeply in my marrow because this is our human nature at its finest.
I actually wrote a devotional for Proverbs 31 Ministries Encouragement for Today with almost this exact title; More of Jesus, Less of Me.
Hymnodists have sang this for centuries, scripture shouts this truth, and it’s preached from the pulpit regularly (or at least it should be).
More Jesus. Less Me.
So, I thought it would be fun, for this Theology Thursday, to do a deep exegetical dive into the scripture that inspired this text; John 3:30 (ESV).
"He must increase, and I must decrease."
Drop the anchor and get your Bible ready. Today, we study!
First, Let me Pray for Us!
Heavenly Father, I thank you so much for the opportunity to study your Word. What an incredible gift it is to know you so intimately and personally. God, I ask that you would meet us where we are, that you would forgive us of anything that is causing our hearts to draw away from you instead of near you. I ask this in confidence that when we confess our sins, you are just and faithful to forgive us. Lord, as we dive deep into this study, I pray that these words would provoke the heart of the reader to seek more of you and less of ourselves. May you be glorified through this, today. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Learning the Background Information
To thoroughly study a book or verse of the Bible, background information is always a good idea. This is how we come to understand the context, author, and any other useful information to help us approach the text with His eyes and not our own.
The best place to find this information would be a commentary or at the beginning of an ESV study Bible. Not sure what to use? Below are some of my personal favorite recommendations that I trust:
- How to Read the Bible Book by Book by Douglas Stuart and Trevor Thompson
- How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Douglas Stuart and Gordon D. Fee
- The Bible Handbook by The Daily Grace Co.
I find these resources to be the least overwhelming for novel Bible study and more seasoned study alike.
Author
Who wrote this verse?
John the Baptist
What do we know about the author from the text itself and Biblical commentary?
Biblical Text:
- Prophesied Birth: The birth of John the Baptist was foretold by the angel Gabriel to his father Zechariah, a priest, while he was serving in the temple (Luke 1:5-25). His mother, Elizabeth, was a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:36).
- Role and Ministry: John the Baptist is described as a prophet who came to prepare the way for the Messiah (Matthew 3:1-3, Mark 1:2-4, Luke 3:2-6). He preached a message of repentance and baptized people in the Jordan River, including Jesus Himself (Matthew 3:13-17).
- Lifestyle: John lived an ascetic life in the wilderness, wearing clothes made of camel’s hair with a leather belt, and his food was locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4, Mark 1:6).
- Death: John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod Antipas because he reproved Herod for divorcing his wife and unlawfully taking the wife of his brother. He was later beheaded at the request of Herodias’ daughter (Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-29).
Biblical Commentary:
- Prophetic Figure: Many biblical scholars view John the Baptist as the last of the Old Testament prophets. He bridges the Old and New Testaments, fulfilling prophecy about a messenger who would prepare the way for the Lord (Malachi 3:1).
- Baptism: John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. It was a symbolic act, representing a desire to turn away from sin and be cleansed. This was different from Christian baptism, which is associated with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Relationship with Jesus: John consistently pointed people toward Jesus, emphasizing that He was the promised Messiah. He stated, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30), highlighting the supremacy of Christ’s ministry over his own.
- Imprisonment and Death: John’s imprisonment and death demonstrate his commitment to speaking truth to power, regardless of personal cost. His willingness to die for the truth has led many to regard him as a martyr.
Audience
Who was John speaking to?
John the Baptist’s immediate audience in John 3:30 were his own disciples and possibly other Jews who were questioning him.
What information about the audience can we gather from the text and/or Bible commentaries?
The broader Book of John (or Gospel of John – the apostle, not the Baptist) was written to a Christian community (or communities) well known to the author. John wrote to reassure believers of the truth of what they believe (in light of defections and rejection) – that through the incarnation God is fully and finally known. Here is God’s love in full and open display.
(How to Read the Bible Book by book, p. 304)
Date
When was the book written?
The date of the Gospel of John as a whole is unknown but suspected ca. A.D 90-95.
Our verse, John 3:30, takes place during the period of early first-century AD in the Roman province of Judea.
What important historical events might impact the way you read this book/verse?
This specific verse takes place around the Passover celebration. The passover celebrates the Hebrews escape from Egypt by the Angel of The Lord passing over the doors that had the blood of the unblemished lamb across it.
Genre
What is the Genre of the book?
The Book of John is one of the four Gospels.
What are some characteristics of this genre?
The word “gospel” comes from a Greek word euangelion, which literally means “good news.” The Gospel books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are all predominantly declaring that Jesus Christ is the son of God who came to reconcile sinners with their creator by being born fully God and fully man, living a sinless life, dying on the cross as punishment for our sins, and His resurrection, which secures our promise of eternity.
Is there anything to note about this specific passage?
Our specific verse, John 3:30, is one of “four specific narratives (Nicodemus, John the Baptist, The Samaritan, the Officials Son) which continue motifs already in place – the exaltation of Jesus as Son of God in the context of some who do and do not believe.” (Fee and Stuart, P. 309)
Themes
The supremacy of Jesus Christ, Jesus as the only means of Salvation
Purpose/Emphasis
Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God; in his incarnation and crucifixion, he both revealed God’s love and redeemed humanit; discipleship means to “remain in the vine” (Jesus) and to bear fruit (to love as He loved); the Holy Spirit will be given to his people to continue His work.
(Fee & Stuart, p. 304)
Contending with the Context
Now that we have a little more information and education on what and who we are reading, we can better contend with the context to gain the most insight into God’s living and active Word.
Historical Context
The Gospel of John was written in a context where the early Christian community faced opposition from the outside world – from both Jewish and Roman authorities.
This isn’t much different from what John the Baptist was experiencing in the scope of the narrative of our verse. Let me explain.
In the historical context, this verse takes place during the period of early first-century AD in the Roman province of Judea.
Luke 3:1-3 gives us even more detail;
"In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."
As John continued to preach repentance for sins, Pharisees had come to witness what he was doing. Here is his response from Luke 3:7-9;
He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Biblical Context
John 3:30 comes as a response to his disciples noting that Jesus, who was also baptizing people, was attracting more followers than John.
The context of this passage is important.
In the preceding verses (John 3:22-29), John’s disciples came to him with concern about Jesus’ growing ministry. They said to John, “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 3:26).
In response, John explains that he is not the Messiah, but was sent ahead of Him. He uses the metaphor of a bridegroom and his friend (the best man) to make his point. The bridegroom, he says, is the one who marries the bride, and the friend rejoices at hearing the bridegroom’s voice. This joy, John says, is his: “Therefore this joy of mine is now complete” (John 3:29).T
John 3:30 is a powerful testament to John’s humility and understanding of his role in God’s plan: he was there to prepare the way for Jesus, not to be the central figure.
How Does the Context Impact the Meaning of the Verse
We learn a lot from John and how we, too, can recognize and accept our role in the larger narrative of God’s plan, and understanding that all glory belongs to Jesus, the Messiah.
Seeing Jesus
Because the Word was with God and the Word is God (John 1:1), all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (1 Timothy 3:16).
This means that every Word of the Bible reflects Jesus in some way.
The Supremacy of Christ
John knew that Jesus wasn’t just another teacher or prophet. Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. His ministry was far more significant than any other.
By saying, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” John was acknowledging the supremacy of Christ. He knew that Jesus deserved to be at the center of attention, not him.
And this is a key message of the Gospel: Jesus is superior to all others. He is the Savior, the one who deserves our full devotion and love.
Humility and Self-Denial
But there’s more to John’s statement.
It’s not just about recognizing Jesus’ importance; it’s also about humbling ourselves. John was modeling an attitude of humility and self-denial. This is a theme that runs throughout the New Testament.
Jesus Himself taught, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26). When we choose to decrease, to humble ourselves and put others first, we’re following in the footsteps of both John the Baptist and Jesus.
Conclusion & Application
Finally, John’s words offer a beautiful picture of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. As disciples, our role isn’t to draw people to ourselves but to point them toward Jesus. We’re called to make Him greater in our lives and in the world around us.
So, how can we live out this call? Here are a few practical suggestions:
- Spend Time with Jesus: Make it a priority to spend time with Jesus each day. This could be through prayer, Bible reading, or simply sitting in His presence.
- Serve Others: Look for opportunities to serve others in love. Remember, when we serve others, we’re serving Jesus (Matthew 25:40).
- Share Your Faith: Don’t be shy about sharing your faith with others. Let them see how much you love Jesus and how He’s changed your life.
- Surrender to Jesus: Continually surrender your will to Jesus. Ask Him to increase in your life, even if that means you must decrease.
So sisters, this new year, let’s strive to learn more about our savior and less about ourselves.
In doing so, we actually will cultivate a new heart and mind and become exactly who the Lord has created us to be.
It may seem so counterproductive in our current culture, but take time to study His Words and reflect on your personal relationship with Jesus.
Then, you will not only be more satisfied, but you will be a new you in this new year.
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Thank you so much for being here. I hope you found value in this post and learned something new and encouraging today! I would love to hear your thoughts so comment below or send me a message!
