John 3:25-30
Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

The voice of the one in the wilderness was being replaced by the voice of the Son of God.

Matthew 10:37-38
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Jesus demands that we:

1. Treasure Him above all things.
2. Trust Him more than anyone else.
3. Enjoy Him more than anything else.
4. Obey Him over all others.
5. Delight in Him above all things.

Jesus is the only one completely justified in being self-centered.

John 3:29
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete.

Do you enjoy obeying Christ?

Jesus taught that we must die to:

1. Ourselves
2. Our preferences
3. Our dreams
3. Our comfort

Laying our lives down for Jesus leads us to true joy.

The demand of Jesus to lay down our lives is the most loving thing He could do for us because it leads to our full joy.

The more we fade, the more our joy explodes.

John the Baptist was willing to stand for truth.

John the Baptist made demands based on the Bible, instead of traditions.

Matthew 11:2-3
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

John the Baptist didn’t lose his faith, but he needed his faith strengthened.

John the Baptist cried out to Jesus in his darkest moments.

Stop walking in shame, and start reaching out to Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7
[…] casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

Matthew 11:4-6
And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepersare cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Jesus answered John with truth.

Matthew 11:11
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Mark 6:25-29
And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John'shead. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Temporary trials are inferior to eternal rewards.