JESUS > I

Dec. 16

Read: John 3:22-36

JESUS > I

During a season of giving and receiving, what a poignant reminder of how dependent we truly are! There is no opportunity to “receive” without first a movement and gift from “heaven”.

“A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” (John 3:27)

“…every good and perfect gift comes from above” (James 1:17)

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4,5)

“For by (Jesus) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Col.1:16,17)

“Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” (Ecc. 5:19,20)

In this passage today, John the Baptist is speaking directly to the shift from his ministry of preparing to the ministry of Jesus and those “accepting” Christ as the anointed one of God. What John points out is that the greatest gift ever - in this case the gift of redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ - is a gift “given to us from heaven”. It is humbling when we realize that ALL OF LIFE comes to us from the Lord. We have NOTHING other than what comes from Him. From the most precious gifts to the utterly mundane… it is from above… a gift given to us from heaven…whether we realize it or not. Again, everything… I mean EVERYTHING… comes from above in one way or another. Even the capacity to enjoy the gifts we receive comes from God. (Did you see that in the passage above from Ecclesiastes?) You cannot even enjoy the gifts you receive if God doesn’t first give you the capacity to enjoy them! John the Baptist understood this… he understood the preeminence of Christ. What was his response?

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

When faced with a shift in his ministry… in his notoriety… in his prominence and role… John the Baptist declares… “Less of me and more of HIM”. How how do we “accept” or “receive” what comes to us in life, both the good and the bad? We declare with JTB, “Less of me and more of you Jesus…Christ must increase and I must decrease”. In doing this we “accept” or “receive” greater and greater amounts of the gifts that come from God. God’s working from heaven always precedes our receiving. In this way - in this radical dependance - we actually bear more and more “fruit” in our lives. (cf. John 15, again above) It is just as important that we learn how to receive what God gives us in life as it is for us to give out what God has given to us.

So what does this mean for us today?

• Give thanks for the gifts that you have been given… and ask the Lord to grant you the capacity / power to actually enjoy what you have received.

• Realize that EVERYTHING comes form “above”… from your Father in Heaven. Celebrate his “daily bread” that he gives each day… our breath… our food… our life… all of it. Pray with Jesus, “give us this day our daily bread” and then receive these good gifts from the Lord.

• When faced with what may seem like a setback… or a “loss of popularity”… or even a shrinking of influence… turn to the Lord and declare “Jesus, you must increase and I must decrease” (This is precisely what JTB was experiencing in this passage. His followers were observing the growing attention placed on Jesus and diminishing attention on JTB… and he was celebrating!)

• Be wary of those who make much of themselves. One is not fit to receive any gifts from above while in this state. (John realized the most precious gift he had been given was to be one who prepared the way for Jesus and nothing more!)

• We need not be afraid when there is more of Jesus in our lives… because he is indeed the source of all things to begin with! We can do nothing apart from him. When there is less of us and more of him, we bear much fruit… and the reality is that the Father, Son, and Spirit are working towards that end… the branches abiding in Christ bearing MUCH FRUIT. (cf. John 15)

Whatever place you find yourself in this season, I pray that you will be able to receive what is given from above. I am trusting that God is bringing you rich gifts… “daily bread”… and that you will be receiving more of HIM this Christmas. Write that phrase from JTB on a note card or post-it. Put it on your phone as a screen saver… “Jesus must increase and I must decrease”. Father, make us fit to receive the gifts you are giving. FIRST AND FOREMOST, we thank you for the gift of your SON. Make us fit to “receive” the gift of your Son anew each day! Love you guys. - JDP