Less is More - John 3:22-36
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Life is difficult.
M. Scott Peck - “Once we truly know that life is difficult - once we truly understand and accept it - then life is no longer difficult.”
Consider & Respond
John 3:25-27 - 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.”
John 3:27 - “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.”
Greif
Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning - “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.”
John 3:27-30 - 27 “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.”
Dr. E. Jim Wilder - “Many definitions of joy are static descriptions of a “state” similar to what we might say for a flavor like “salty.” From the human brain perspective, joy is more of a dynamic relational experience. Joy is a “glad to be together” state amplified between two minds that are glad to be together at that moment. Joy is relational… the signature of joy is that we are sharing the moment with someone who is glad we are there.”
Joy is a relational experience of gladness.
Thomas Merton - "Despair is the absolute extreme of self-love. It is reached when a person deliberately turns his back on all help from anyone else in order to taste the rotten luxury of knowing himself to be lost.”
John 3:31-33 - 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.
John 3:34-36 (MSG) - 34-36 “The One that God sent speaks God’s words. And don’t think he rations out the Spirit in bits and pieces. The Father loves the Son extravagantly. He turned everything over to him so he could give it away—a lavish distribution of gifts. That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn’t see life. All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that.”
John Chrysostom - “Nothing can be clearer or mightier than the truth, just as nothing is weaker than falsehood, though it be shaded by ten thousand veils. For even so it is easily detected, it easily melts away. But truth stands forth unveiled for all that will behold her beauty; she seeks no concealment, dreads no danger, trembles at no plots, desires not glory from the many, is accountable to no mortal thing, but stands above them all, is the object of ten thousand secret plots, yet remaineth unconquerable, and guards as in a sure fortress those who fly to her by her own exceeding might, who avoids secret lurking places, and setteth what is hers before all men.
James K.A. Smith, Encountering Jesus, Encountering Scripture - “To submit oneself to the encounter with Jesus is not to arrive at some iron-clad certainty that solves all of your problems. You don’t have to set aside your questions. You only have to stop letting those questions be a defense, an excuse to not take a leap. Because sometimes we want answers to those questions precisely to avoid encountering the Jesus who would rock our world.”
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Each Sunday we come together we offer an open invitation into the way of Jesus. An invitation to enter into sacred rhythms - to draw near to God through singing, giving, learning, and praying.
As a community that desires renewal in Des Moines as it is in Heaven, we recognize that we cannot offer what we ourselves do not have. We cannot lead where we ourselves have not been led; in turn, these questions aim at reflection. Reflecting on God’s word and making space for his leadership.
After watching or listening consider the following discussion questions as a large group or in groups of three to four:
What stood out from the teaching?
How does the statement “life is difficult” square with the Christian life?
When difficulty arises in your life, what is your reflex reaction?
How does John the Baptist’s response to difficulty show us another way forward in the face of difficulty? (Consider reading John 3:27-30 to help)
Take time to consider the difficulty in your life and what Jesus might be inviting you to receive the moment.