The radio show begun in 1949 with Robert Young as Father was called “Father Knows Best”. The TV show that followed in the 1950’s mirrored a rosy picture of American society in the 1950’s suburbs, and ran until Young left in 1960. The show highlighted a father’s wisdom, wit and loving nature.
Tucked into the Gospel of John is another story of a loving father. This picture is found in an obscure, tiny sermon of John the Baptizer, the cousin of Jesus, given to his followers before Jesus really got His popular ministry in "high gear". In the sermon, John shared a pattern of godliness that sustained him through the end of his ministry. In addition, he shared a startling truth that made it possible for John to submit his life's work to Jesus!
Key Principle: Because of the Father's love for His Son, He offered authority and supreme trust. A real follower of Jesus can offer no less!
To understand the content of the message of John's mini-sermon, the writer includes three important details about the setting:
1. Jesus and His Disciples were baptizing at another location at the same time as John, His cousin, continued the baptism work at Aenon near Salim. The crowds to Jesus’ ministry appeared to be increasing, while John’s work was shrinking and giving way to the new work (3:22-24).
2. John’s disciples were feeling on the defensive because they were being questioned by an unidentified man in the crowd about their practices (3:25).
3. John’s disciples apparently felt a disappointment over the shrinking crowds. Remember, they lost some of their own fellow disciples to Jesus (see John 1:37ff).
The mini-sermon is recorded in John 3:27-36. The sermon revealed seven critical character traits that John wanted his disciples to understand about a man and his relationship with God.
Seven Character Traits of a Godly Man
1. CONFIDENCE (3:27): John soothed the envious hearts of his disciples with these words – “You get what God gives you!” Out of context these words could be used for one who was simply hiding laziness, but that isn’t what was going on here! John was acknowledging the reality of a Sovereign God, and the need to be content in His hands. Godly men and women lose their self confidence and gain a God confidence!
2. POSITION (3:28): John knew the purpose and place of his life was not to be the center of anyone’s universe. Only a mature godly man understands this. We all have a deep longing to be the center of someone’s universe – but our place as believers is help others put their relationship with the Lord at the center – not the relationship with US. John knew he was a POINTER not a CENTER. Godly men and women answer the question, “Father, what have you made me to be?”
3. JOY (3:29): John wasn’t simply sure that he wasn’t the center of the world – he learned the secret of taking JOY in being what God created him to be. He didn’t “settle” for his lot in life, he REVELED in the joy that came with an understanding that his very value in life came from his joyful dwelling in his identity as the close friend of the groom. Godly men and women seek to take the joy of the journey on each step with them – the resolute assurance that God has not lost interest in them, nor lost the ability to care for them.
4. CLARITY (3:30): One cannot read the words: “He must increase and I must decrease!” and not recognize the crystal clear sound of a voice that has embraced TRUTH. John knew he wasn’t the main character in the drama being played out. Godly men and women always know this. If the story is about US, then it is not about God’s Son!
5. SUBMISSION (3:31): John answered his disciples’ complaints with a straightforward claim that Jesus is Lord from Heaven, and worthy of all submission. No man or woman can ever truly be considered Godly that does not understand full and complete submission. It doesn’t mean we will live every moment with our spiritual knees bowed, but it means that is the GOAL.
6. DISCERNMENT (3:32-34): John claimed that Jesus spoke that which He knew first hand, that is was the very truth of the Words of God and that it was infused with the limitless power of the Spirit of God. He trusted what Jesus taught, and he had the discernment to see it as truth and label it as such. Godliness presupposes the ability to discern truth from nonsense. No godly man or woman will truly walk as they ought without discernment that acts as a screen to filter out the false and allow the truth to permeate.
7. UNDERSTANDING (3:35-36): John shared the DEPTH of understanding of the larger picture of the world. He was not so ego bound that all he could perceive was how everything affected him – he was a man with a bigger picture in front of him. It is within this larger frame that everything God was calling him to do made real sense. John understood that God was from the beginning a God of relationship. He loved, and because of that, it was easy for God the Father to offer authority to the Son. If the Father could do that, so could John! He loved Jesus, so surrendering crowds and accolades to Him was not a sacrifice he couldn’t accept!
That understanding is where the great truth was revealed from John's lips. Because John saw that the Father in Heaven loved the Son, and trusted the Son completely - John could follow suit and give up any position, title, fame or importance to Jesus. God - out of love - gave the Son authority, how could John give less than his passing fame?
In the end, every believer must surrender his life's fortune, fame, power and pleasure to the One he serves. John saw the pattern from the Father and responded in love. Shouldn't we surrender in love as well?

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