If you are a child of God, you are part of His family and part of His story of redemption. And if you desire to know how your life fits into God’s story, you will need to get to know the God who created you and seek His Kingdom first.
Only when you put God’s Word into practice will you see where your place is and how your story becomes part of God’s story.
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them (John 3:22-36).
What we see in this passage in John 3 is:
Our place in God’s story
Our part in God’s story
The Person of Jesus Christ
Our place in God’s story
John knew the Scriptures, he understood God’s plan of redemption from the Old Testament and also knew why God brought him to this place and specifically for what purpose. John was saying, “I only have this ministry because of the kindness and mercy of God. God brought these people here, and if God wants to take them somewhere else, that’s His decision.”
John was saying,
““It’s not about me - anything and everything that I am or have is because of God’s grace. ”
I’m just called to be faithful to God’s plan and how He wants to use my life in it. I want to be a good steward with what God gave me in order to do His will.”
He was not threatened by Jesus' presence, nor jealous of His ministry, he knew his place. John knew his ministry was winding down, so I think he deliberately brought his disciples to the area where Jesus was. He wanted his disciples to follow Jesus, to know Him - because it was and is all about Him.
Even when John was in prison, he sent his disciples to Jesus to confirm the fact that He is indeed the Messiah. John understood his place in God’s story which has a beginning and an end. He not only knew His place in relationship to Jesus, He also knew in which geographical location He was supposed to be.
Taking our place in God’s story requires humility, steps of faith, and obedience to Him.
It comes from understanding your place in His story - where He has called you and what He has called you to do.
Our part in God’s story
John understood God’s overarching plan of redemption and was content to do his part. John said in vv. 29-30,
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:29-30)
“My pleasure and joy are now complete - it has been my joy to bring people to Jesus, the Lamb of God, this is what I was called to do.” John the Baptist was born for this time so he could do his part in God’s story.
It is the same for every one of us who has been redeemed by Christ - we all have a part in God’s story.
“God has brought us to this place, has given each of us gifts, talents, time, and unique abilities.”
Each of us has been given the responsibility to use what the Lord has given to us to accomplish our part in His story of redemption. We know He wants to use our lives to edify and invest in our local church as vital members of the body of Christ as we see in Ephesians 4.
We all have a part in God’s story, in our various spheres of influence, in the workplace, in the university, everywhere God has called us to in His plan.
The Person of Jesus Christ
As John elaborates in v. 31, no one, no pastor, no priest, no imam, Buddhist monk or anyone else on this earth can save you or guarantee your salvation.
If you want to know what your place and part is in God’s story, you first need to know Jesus personally.
As we heard last Sunday in the beginning of John 3, Jesus said, no one will see or enter the Kingdom of Heaven unless they are born again - born of water and the Holy Spirit. It is only Jesus who comes from heaven that paid the way for you to get to heaven.
Many have and will reject the Person of Jesus Christ and His testimony and only those who have placed their trust in Him as their Messiah will have His promise of forgiveness, peace, and eternal life.
Second,
when you get to know the one who created you, by spending time with Him on a daily basis, through His Word, by conversing with Him in prayer, and by allowing Him to teach you, guide you, you will find what you were created for,
you will find your place in the body of Christ where His fullness dwells. We want our lives to count, not just in time but also in eternity.
This is what John meant when he said, “He must become greater; I must become less.” It means Jesus must have a greater place and part in our lives. The word “must” in this sentence is in the present imperative tense. Jesus’ increasing and my decreasing must be an ongoing process in order for others to see Christ more and more in my life. It means death to self, continually yielding ourselves to Jesus.
