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There’s a hidden Slip N’ Slide in the Bible—I Found It!

by | 84 comments

My hair almost feels damp. My heart full. My soul refreshed.

Once again, we find ourselves splashing. Today we dive into Day 7 of the #LentChallenge. It’s not too late to grab Beloved: 40 Days in the Gospel of John PDF Download and dive in with us.

Have you noticed how much water we’ve been wading through in these opening chapters?

Splash. Splash. Drip. Drop. Spray. Sponge. Douse. Drench. Sprinkle. Spatter.  

With the Color Method, we’re soaking in the life-giving Word, sipping the Living Water.

In John 3:22-36, we find John and Jesus and his disciples with pruned toes.

People enter the water one person and emerge someone new.

Droplets fly. Smiles beam. Joy bubbles.

But the religious leaders cast a dark cloud. John’s disciples are leaving in droves.

“Everyone is going to Him,” they complain.

If John was a small business owner, he’d be calling his accountant, bank manager, and an emergency meeting for his employees.

Freaking out.

Stressed out.

Maxed out.

Yet John’s business is God’s business.

He knows all is God’s—including his followers, his faith, his future.

Instead of fear or panic, John feels…Joy.

Num. Num. My favorite word.

Then John speaks 7 breathtaking words:

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Gulp. Double gulp.

John introduces us to the Slip N’ Slide of the Bible. Many prophets and leaders and poets had discovered and ridden it before.

But now the ultimate heralder of the Messiah steps on the Slip N’ Slide.

John is on the path of downward ascent.

He will continue to decrease, smaller and smaller, until he’s gone.

Most of us spend our lives trying to escape the Slip N’ Slide, this path of downward ascent.

Yet this is the path John goes down and the one Jesus will soon follow.

Which means that you and me, we too, must prepare to make the journey.

We shuffle toward downward ascent when we look to those we live with and work with and ask, “How can I decrease that others may increase?”

We move toward downward ascent when we survey our lives and begin making changes in our finances and lifestyle as we ask, “How can I decrease that others may increase?”

We make the brutiful journey of downward ascent, when we lived palms open, kingdom bound, determined to embrace the reality of Christ by living out, “How can I decrease that others may increase?”

This is the hidden Slip N’ Slide of the Bible.

It’s scary. Confession: it terrifies me.

Yet with every step, every movement, every slip downward in sacrifice and service, I can’t contain the inner glee.

Perhaps that’s what John was getting at when he said, “This joy of mine is fulfilled.”

Now let me ask you:

What did you least want to read but most need to hear in today’s reading?

(If you have any questions post them below. We’ll be collecting and gathering responses for insight from New Testament scholar Craig Blomberg in the upcoming weeks).

Day Seven: John 3:22-36 Discussion Questions:

  • Why do you think John’s disciples were so concerned with the loss of followers? In what area of your life are you most struggling with someone else’s success?
  • What surprises you most about John’s response to the decrease?
  • Describe a time when you felt joy over your decrease and some else’s increase that wasn’t related to you.
  • The reading notes that this happened when “John had not yet been put in prison.” Why do you think that’s significant?
  • What do you find most challenging about today’s reading? What do you find most comforting about today’s reading?

Recommended Resources

Need to catch up? See below for previous blog post during our Lenten season: 

 

Day 1 | John 1:1-18 | Ash Wednesday: Your Invitation to Discover the Beloved

Day 2 | John 1:19-34 | This One Question Will Leave You Undone

Day 3 | John 1: 35-51 | What to Tell Your Children Before It’s Too Late

Day 4 | John 2:1-12 | The Shocking Miracle of Water Becoming Wine

Day 7 | John 3:22-36 | There’s a Hidden Slip N’ Slide in the Bible — I Found It!

Day 9 | John 5:1-17 | How to Overcome Jealousy

Day 12 | John 6:15-35 | What to Do When You Doubt God

Day 14 | John 7:1-39 | What’s the Difference Between Dead and Living Water?

Day 16 | John 8:1-1 | You Stumped Me… Again

Day 17 | John 8:12-59 | 7 Surprises in the Gospel of John

Day 18 | John 9 | What does spiritual blindness really cost you?

Day 22 | John 12:1-11 | What’s Your Signature Spiritual Scent?

Day 23 | John 12:12-50 | Here is a Method That is Helping Me Relinquish Control

Day 25 | John 15:1-11 | What Does a Vinter See in John 15?

Day 29 | John 16:1-15 | Little Known Ways to Be of Good Cheer

Day 31 | John 17 | The Truth About Soul Talk

Day 33 | John 18:12-40 | Was it Judas or Satan Working through Judas?

Day 35 | John 19:16-30 | What’s a Woman’s Role?

Day 39 | John 21:1-14 | Why is the Weight of the Wait So Heavy on Good Friday?

Day 40 | John 21:15-25 | The Most Powerful Lesson I Learned During Lent

84 Comments

  1. Farol Foster
    Farol Foster on March 8, 2017 at 5:04 am

    I haven’t been able to find days 5 and 6. I now have day 7, but what happened to the other days? From what I can see I have up to day 4 and then day 7. Not sure if I know exactly where to look for the daily studies. Help…..:)

  2. Elizabeth
    Elizabeth on March 8, 2017 at 5:37 am

    Same here.

  3. Arlene
    Arlene on March 8, 2017 at 6:00 am

    Was just wondering the same thing. I was a little behind, and just finished Days 5 & 6 and was searching to comment/ask and can’t find them.

  4. Candi
    Candi on March 8, 2017 at 7:23 am

    Margaret–thank you for obeying Jesus as you facilitate this study of John. God is using it in a mighty way at this time in my life. Frankly, it’s what I’m clinging to through the torrents. God’s timing is SO perfect, and He obviously knew I would be the beneficiary of your obedience. Thank you SO much.

  5. Paula M. Rakes
    Paula M. Rakes on March 8, 2017 at 7:49 am

    Good Morning …

    I wanted to share about the same phrase John spoke in humility. First, many years ago to read the phrase “He must increase, but I must decrease”, I understood it to be John laying down his ministry so that Jesus could excel in His. Later years, the Lord showed me from these words that I must do the same in my own calling for His Kingdom. Then after some time passed the Lord once again took me deeper into this phrase revealing that over the years of my life, He has helped me to decrease myself in many areas of life’s journey so theat He Himself could not only increase through me but more importanly within me. Now comes the present.

    When the Lord lead me to do this wonderful challenge, I asked for fresh insight and depths of who He is. He is answering. The Lord is having me to study in a different version of the Bible ~ Complete Jewish Bible in which He is revealing fresh nuggets and unlocking old mysteries. John’s phrase here reads as “He must become more important, while I become less important.” WOW … how this phrase pierced to a depth of my spirit revealing new revelations into my life’s history, present and future for He and I to continue to become one.

    In society’s warped philosophies, one’s worth is based on importantance and acceptance and status amongst other things. However, in the Kingdom of Father God, importance of one is already there for the Lord found us each important when He created us before time began. In the world’s system, importance is earned. In the Kingdom of Heaven importance is a gift given at the moment of creation.

    From this new insight, the Holy Spirit unto my heart has shown me myself afresh and new in that I need lay down my desire and my striving to be important in this world down on the altar of the Cross where my Beloved Lord took it upon Himself so long ago crucifying this crippling factor so it no longer robs me of my relationship with Christ Jesus ~ My Beloved King. Now the Lord Holy and True Reigns me unto the deeper fathoms of my existence.

    Joy in the Journey …
    Paula

  6. Adie
    Adie on March 8, 2017 at 8:51 am

    I really need to hear this as I’m learning so much about who I am, but I don’t want that to lead to self worship. The only thing I find I alter as I read your post is that the question asked should be “how can I decrease so that Christ may increase?” He may choose to increase others as a result of my decreasing, but I’ve got to keep Him front and center or I’m more easily distracted and discouraged.
    Thank you.

  7. Margaret
    Margaret on March 8, 2017 at 8:53 am

    Hey Farol! I’ll be posting on the blog once per week on Mondays (with some extra surprises scattered along the way) :).

  8. Margaret
    Margaret on March 8, 2017 at 9:03 am

    Hey ladies! So glad you’re joining us. 🙂 I’m only posting once per week (on Mondays), but you may discover some surprise gems in your inbox. 🙂

  9. Dale carroll-coleman
    Dale carroll-coleman on March 8, 2017 at 4:40 pm

    I adore this study! Ladies, order it if you can . I did and can’t wait to get it!

  10. Gayla
    Gayla on March 9, 2017 at 5:52 am

    Hey Margaret! Thanks for this! I would really appreciate your thoughts on how you and other Christian authors live this out in our culture (even Christian culture!) where self promotion is so prevalent and arguably necessary to sell your products. I can only imagine this to be hard!

  11. Margaret
    Margaret on March 9, 2017 at 1:35 pm

    So blessed to know the study is touching you so deeply! Thank you for sharing. Huge hug!

  12. Margaret
    Margaret on March 9, 2017 at 1:38 pm

    Thank you for sharing how deeply God is working in and through you, Paula! Hugs!

  13. Margaret
    Margaret on March 9, 2017 at 1:39 pm

    Great reflection, Adie! It is a constant growth area. Hugs as you strive to focus more on Him!

  14. Nancy
    Nancy on March 9, 2017 at 3:14 pm

    I too loved the part about John decreasing so Christ could increase and the personal application that, that presents. But what I saw fresh this time is the response of the Samaritan woman …”Many of the Samaritans from that town BELIEVED IN HIM BECAUSE OF THE WOMAN’S TESTIMONTY.” And they go on in the passage to experience Jesus for themselves. Oh how I want that to be my story…that others would say they believed because of my testimony.

  15. Nicole Walker
    Nicole Walker on March 9, 2017 at 5:07 pm

    Me too! I am so encouraged. The questions are challenging but I am answering the best I know how. Thank you so much for sharing the word of God with us ladies. It is so important that we apply this to our lives with prayer and focus. Sometimes we loose focus but then we know that we must concentrate on the word of God so he can guide us through these steps.

  16. Nicole Walker
    Nicole Walker on March 9, 2017 at 5:23 pm

    He who believes in the Son has eternal life. He who does not believe the Son hall not see life but the wrath of God remains on him. I am struggling with encouraging people to come to church. I have often tried and that’s all I can do. I don’t understand the words increase or decrease. When I was hospitalized for 3 days I felt lost and broken. It helped me bring joy cuz people visited me and made me feel welcomed. When i hear a testimony from a friend and they tell us that GOD healed them I get so overwhelmed with Joy. It encourages me. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! He has cured me of my disorder when I was pregnant and afterwards. Praise God! I don’t know why John was not in prison but I do know that he baptized his disciples in the spirit. The challenging part of todays reading was He bears witness of what He has seen and heard, yet no one recieves His testimony. He who has received is testimony has certified that God is true. The most comforting part about todays reading was that John was baptizing the disciples and so did Jesus. They believed that he was the messiah. How amazing is that when you hear Gods voice speak to you and then you respond to his calling. Blessings my friend and thank you so much for sharing the word of God.

  17. Nicole Walker
    Nicole Walker on March 9, 2017 at 5:28 pm

    ok thank you Margaret Feingberg

  18. Nancy
    Nancy on March 9, 2017 at 6:43 pm

    One more thing I loved… Jesus said to the official, “Go; your son will live.” The official’s response was: The man took Jesus at His Word and departed. He totally trusted Jesus would do what he said He would do!! Oh how I need to believe that Jesus is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do and simply act on it with the kind of faith the official did.

  19. Nancy
    Nancy on March 9, 2017 at 6:47 pm

    Another thing I loved… Jesus said to the official, : “Go; your son will live.” The official’s response: The man took Jesus at His word and departed! He totally trusted Jesus would do what He said He would do. Oh how I need to believe Jesus is who He says He is and He can do what he says He can do and respond with the kind of faith the official had.

  20. Farol Foster
    Farol Foster on March 10, 2017 at 4:43 am

    Thank you so much! 🙂

  21. Paula M. Rakes
    Paula M. Rakes on March 10, 2017 at 5:25 am

    Most welcome and Thank You for allowing me to share my heart and walk with my Beloved. Many Hugs unto you Margaret. Joy in the Journey …

  22. Cristovao
    Cristovao on March 10, 2017 at 7:17 am

    thanks Margaret and the rest of sisters,
    I haven’t been able to find days 5 and 6. I now have day 7.
    Anyway thanks may God bless all of us . let me encourage all of you by keeping
    trust God, because yesterday my wife and I, were envolved in a terrible accident where we survived and we believe in God’s protection. He is good,lovely and great God.
    Gloryyyyyyy to our God.

  23. Cathy
    Cathy on March 10, 2017 at 7:32 am

    This made me rethink what Jesus said about John — “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”. Maybe He’s saying that John’s greatness is His embracing of his decrease but that we are called to decrease even more that John — decrease to the be the “least”. What a goal!

  24. Candi
    Candi on March 11, 2017 at 9:22 am

    Me too, Nancy! My prayer is like the man in Mark 9:24, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

  25. Sam Dlamini
    Sam Dlamini on March 11, 2017 at 3:21 pm

    verses 31-36 seem to echo Jesus’words in verses 10-18

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