597. JOH 3:30. THE CERTAIN INCREASE OF THE GLORY AND KINGDOM OF JESUS
Joh_3:30. The Certain Increase of the Glory and Kingdom of Jesus
By Rev. John Ryland, D. D., Bristol.
"He must increase."’97Joh_3:30.
It was not subject of regret to that burn ing and shining light, that his Lord should so greatly outshine him; he was willing to be concealed, or withdrawn, that the Saviour might shine forth with greater splendor. He had no wish that the manifestation of the Redeemer’s glory should be delayed, that he himself might have the more time to shine, and that his disciples might rejoice in his light for a longer season. He was glad to recommend them to a more excellent teacher. He rejoiced greatly in the increasing discovery of the Divine glories of Jesus, and wished to direct every eye to behold "the Lamb of God." And, verily, this is the best and noblest ground of joy to all the friends of God and man. All other lights that have shined in the church, have soon arrived at their zenith, and have then declined and disappeared out of our hemisphere; but He who is eminently "the light of the world," Joh_8:12, must still increase, till this whole benighted globe is illuminated with his brightness; and he will be the light and glory of the upper world forever.
I. It is proposed to consider the nature of that increase, which the Baptist confidently expected should attend his blessed Lord.
Doubtless, he principally refers to the manifestation of his spiritual glory, and to the establishment of his kingdom of grace. He could not intend an increase of wordly greatness, pomp, and power; for we know by the subsequent history of the life of Christ, that he never possessed these objects of human ambition, while he abode on earth. They are things he never aspired after while here below, nor was it designed that he should attain them.
1. It was announced, that "he must increase;" and, lo! in the midst of poverty and reproach, of apparent weakness, and of cruel sufferings, Jesus exhibited an increasing display of Godlike fortitude and resolution; of spotless purity and rectitude; of infinite zeal for his Father’s honor; and of the riches of grace and compassion for wretched ruined man. "He was numbered with transgressors" himself, that he might justify the ungodly, and make them associates with angels, and inheritors of celestial glory.
2. On these transactions all the future increase of his kingdom absolutely depended. But now the purchase of redemption has been completed, what shall prevent the Saviour from receiving his full reward? When his last sufferings were approaching, he said to Andrew and Philip, "The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit," Joh_12:23, Joh_12:24.
3. Well then might John the Baptist affirm, "He must increase," when he foresaw that his shameful death would be followed by so glorious a resurrection; when he, who "was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death," should be "crowned with glory and honor;" and after "he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they," Heb_1:3, Heb_1:4.
4. And how much more did the transactions of Pentecost justify this blessed prediction. Then was so copious an effusion of the Spirit bestowed on the apostles, that they, who had lately hid themselves in secret chambers for fear of the Jews, were filled with courage and boldness, to testify to all the house of Israel, that the same Jesus whom they had crucified, was assuredly the Lord Messiah, Acts ii.
5. The extensive donations of the Father to his incarnate Son had been long since recorded by David and Isaiah. "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."’97"It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth," Psa_2:8; Isa_49:6.
6. That though the church below has not been always increasing in numbers, the church above is continually increasing. The gates of the New Jerusalem, which are never shut day nor night, are perpetually admitting some happy spirit, transported from a state of imperfection and conflict, to the perfection of holiness and bliss.
II. Let me proceed to lay before you some considerations which may confirm our faith in the assured expectation that he must increase.
(1.) I may briefly remark, before I specify the positive grounds of this conclusion, that it was not founded upon the prospect of his employing a military force to propagate his religion with the sword.
(2.) Nor was this expectation built upon the rank and influence of his adherents.
(3.) Nor is it on the multitude of Christ’s genuine followers, in any period of time already past, that we ground our hope cf his future increase.
(4.) We are far from building our hopes upon any nattering promises of worldly gain, and sensual indulgences, by which our Master would draw followers after him.
1. Because he is the Son of God, in the highest and most absolute sense, and therefore heir of all things. For, as John the Baptist observes, Joh_3:35, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand."
2. We are persuaded, therefore, that he must increase, because he hath all power to overcome every enemy that opposeth his blessed reign. But "it hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell," Col_1:19; and out of his fulness have all his people received, and grace for grace. Still shall his cause be carried on; nor will the blessed Spirit grow weary of his beloved work, in taking of the things of Christ, and revealing them to the souls of men.
3. He must increase, for the decrees of heaven ascertain the great event. God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began that eternal life should be imparted through him, to an innumerable multitude, who were chosen in him, and predestinated to the adoption of sons.
4. A great part of Scripture consists of promises of the increase of the Messiah’s kingdom, and it is evident that the season of their chief accomplishment is yet future. See Isa. xl.; lx.
5. We conclude that Jesus must increase, since this world and all others were "made by him, and for him." This earth especially had been made in vain, or had been used only as a place of punishment, had not the kingdom of grace been erected here by the glorious Immanuel. But here he has determined that "Mercy shall be built up forever"’97not at the expense of righteousness, God forbid! but that "grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord," Rom_5:21. What inferences further shall we draw, my Christian brethren, from these premises?
(1.) Have they not abundant ground for joy and gratitude, who are decidedly on Christ’s side? You, my dear brethren, were once aliens from the commonwealth of Israel; you were once enemies in your mind? to the King of Zion!
(2.) How shall we all, my Christian friends, and especially we, my honored fathers and brethren, who have been called unto the ministry of the word, be excited to activity and resolution in our Redeemer’s cause? "He must increase;" and so he shall, whether we are faithful or not. But oh! what an honor, what a pleasure, will it be, to be employed as instruments in promoting his blessed kingdom!
(3.) Brethren! seek the increase of Christ’s kingdom in your own souls. Let it be our daily prayer, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done," in us, and by us.
(4.) And oh! let us seek the increase of his kingdom all around us, by the conversion of souls to God, by their being "turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan," to subjection to the Redeemer.
(5.) Nor let us confine our efforts, and much less our ardent prayers, to the increase of true godliness at home.
Finally,
Let all my hearers examine, whether they are yet the genuine subjects of Christ’s kingdom. There can be no neutrality in this case: if we are not for him, we are against him. And oh! how awful will be the lot of them that oppose his government, and despise his grace!
Autor: JABEZ BURNS