John the Baptist handles ministry success or failure by pointing people to God and Jesus Christ. When questions arise about his ministry, John accurately answers that everything comes from God and that his role is to decrease so that Jesus may increase. John finds his greatest joy in knowing Jesus, not in self-promotion or criticism of others.

1. Pointing at
Him
handling ministry success or failure like a Baptist

2. Identifying John
“Saints are often depicted with
symbols, items that signify an
abstract quality like piety, purity,
or fortitude, or that are emblems
of martyrdom. [Symbolic]
attributes are items that refer to
the saint's historical (or legendary
role) or career.” Paula Russell

9. Identifying Jesus
John is a
powerful pointer.

10. Parallel Paths
• Jesus was baptizing with His
disciples (3:22)
• John was also baptizing with his
disciples (3:23-24)
– People were coming
– People were being baptized
– There was no hold on the
ministry

11. Success!
ministry “going well”, positive growth

12. Comparative Criticism
• An argument about purification
was raised (3:25)
• A question of loyalty was raised
(3:26)
– “You are our rabbi”
– “We are supposed to be partners
with Jesus”
– “He is stealing our success”

13. Failure?!
ministry not “going well”, losses in numbers

14. Accurate Answers
• Everything that I have is from
God (3:27)
• I am just a pointer (3:28)
• I am only the best man (3:29)
– I get excited about hearing Him
– I am made full of joy by His joy
• I must decrease, so that He
might increase (3:30)

15. Ministry Movements
• In ministry success or failure, I
will NOT…
– Worry about how to keep it going
or make it happen
– Point at others, finding fault with
or detracting from their ministry
– Expend my energy on self-service,
protection nor aggrandizement

16. Ministry Movements
• In ministry success or failure, I
will…
– Worship (put my attention on)
God from whom all things flow
– Point others to focus on Christ
above all else
– Find my greatest joy in knowing
the groom