Christmas Letters: Week 3

The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, a Latin phrase meaning “rejoice.” The title comes from the Apostle Paul’s exhortation in Philippians 4:4: “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”

By the third week of Advent, the season’s tone begins to shift. The penitence and preparation of the first two weeks give way to joy; a joy that is not rooted in emotion but in the unshakable assurance of God’s redemptive work. Joy is why the candle lit today is pink rather than purple: it symbolizes the dawning of joy as the coming of Christ draws near.
This type of joy is not escapist or shallow; it is joy amid a broken world. It is the joy of knowing that the coming of the Lord is near, that His promises are true, and that His light is breaking through the darkness.

This Sunday’s passages remind us that joy comes not through self-promotion but through surrender. The passage from John 3:22–36 tells the story of John the Baptist’s ministry fading into the background as Jesus’ ministry expands. When John’s followers worry that the crowds are leaving him for Jesus, John responds not with jealousy but with joy: “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” (John 3:30)

That single sentence captures the heart of Advent. We do not find true joy in self-promotion but in self-forgetfulness, not in being noticed, but in making room for Christ to be glorified.

Before we look at John’s testimony, it’s worth remembering that this theme of joy did not begin in the Gospels. Long before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Zephaniah proclaimed a vision of rejoicing that would one day come to God’s people:

Zephaniah 3:14–15 reads, “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! For the Lord will remove His hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord Himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster.”
This prophecy paints a picture of restoration, of God dwelling among His people and removing their fear and shame. It anticipates the incarnation: the moment when “the Word became human and made His home among us.”

Zephaniah’s words remind us that joy is not the denial of suffering but the announcement that suffering will not have the last word. The Lord’s presence among His people transforms despair into hope, judgment into grace, and fear into rejoicing. That same promise rings true in Advent, as we remember Christ’s first coming and await His return.

John 3:22 - 36

At this point in the Gospel of John, both Jesus and John the Baptist are preaching and baptizing. John’s disciples begin to notice that Jesus’s following is growing, while their own influence is waning. They approach John with a tone of anxiety: “And everybody is going to Him (Jesus) instead of coming to us.”

Their concern reflects a deep human instinct, the desire to hold onto importance, recognition, and control. But John’s response reveals a heart fully surrendered to God’s purpose. He reminds them that his role was never to be the center of attention but to point others to the One who truly is.

John says: “‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for Him.’”
John’s words are beautiful and freeing. He compares himself to the friend of the bridegroom—the one who rejoices when the bridegroom arrives. His joy is complete when the bride and groom are united. Likewise, John’s ministry finds fulfillment when Christ takes center stage.
Then comes the statement that defines John’s life and ministry: “He must increase, and I must decrease.”

These words are not false humility or sorrowful; they are joyful. They express the freedom that comes from knowing one’s place in God’s plan. Christ’s increase does not diminish John’s joy; it fulfills it. He understands that his role was temporary and preparatory, and that the spotlight must shift from John to Jesus.

This freedom and fulfillment invite us into this same pattern of joyful surrender. We are not the center of the story; Christ is. The closer we draw to Him, the more we learn to rejoice in His greatness rather than our own. Our decrease is not loss; it is liberation.

This kind of joy stands in contrast to the world’s definition of it. The world says joy comes from self-assertion, achievement, and recognition. The Gospel teaches that true joy comes from humility, service, and worship. When Christ increases in us, when His love, peace, and truth take root in our hearts, our joy becomes full.

The Supremacy of Christ
John’s joy is grounded in theology. He knows who Jesus is and why He must increase.
“He has come from above and is greater than anyone else.”

John acknowledges that his own ministry, as important as it was, could only point to the truth. Jesus is the truth. He speaks the very words of God because He is God’s Son. “For He is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives Him the Spirit without limit.” (John 3:34)

John’s testimony reaches its climax in verse 36: “Anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

In these verses, we see why Jesus’ increase is not just preferable, it is essential. He alone has the power to give eternal life. To cling to anything else, our pride, our status, our own strength, is to miss the very source of life and joy.

During this season, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we are reminded that the manger was only the beginning of a greater story. The baby in Bethlehem is the eternal Son from heaven, the One who holds all things together and whose presence fills the world with light and life.

Advent Joy: The Fruit of Humility
The joy we celebrate today is not noisy or boastful; it is the quiet gladness of hearts aligned with God’s will. It is the satisfaction that comes to us when we say, “He must increase.”
Joy grows as humility deepens. The more we make room for Christ, the more we can live and respond to Christ with gratitude and peace. As we decrease, God fills us; as we surrender, we find rest.

This is why the third week of Advent reminds us that repentance leads to rejoicing. When we submit to the purifying work of God in our lives, when we confess our sins and give them to God, joy rushes in to take its place.

John the Baptist’s words mirror the Christian life: less of self, more of Christ. As we prepare for Christmas, we are not simply waiting for a day; we are making space for a King.

Application
John’s declaration calls us to practice joyful humility in real ways. Here are five disciplines that can help us embody this truth:

1. Prioritize Christ
   • Spend time each day talking with God and reading the Bible, especially the stories and words of Jesus.
   • Be intentional about saying no to unnecessary noise and busyness so your heart stays focused on Him.
2. Embrace Humility in Relationships
   • Celebrate the wins and blessings you see in other people’s lives.
   • Serve without needing recognition; quiet, faithful service still matters to God.
3. Share the Good News
   • Use this season to point others to Jesus. Share your faith naturally in conversation, over meals, or through invitation.
   • Live with joy that is visible to others and will draw people to this joy.
4. Practice Gratitude and Contentment
   • Reflect on God’s faithfulness. Let thanksgiving and gratitude replace your anxiety and worry.
   • Find joy in simple gifts: life, loved ones, creation, and God’s grace.
5. Live with Eternal Perspective
   • Remember that Advent looks forward as much as it looks back. Christ is coming again.
   • Let this future hope shape your present obedience and renew your joy.

When we live this way, our daily choices become a testimony of Christ in us and among us. We become small lights pointing toward the great Light of the world.

The Church’s Mission
John’s humility also offers a model for the Church. The body of Christ exists to make Him known, not to promote itself.

• Christ-Centered Worship: Every song we sing, every sermon we preach, and every prayer we offer should lift up Jesus and draw hearts toward Him, not toward personalities or platforms.
• Mission-Oriented Ministry: The measure of faithfulness is not institutional growth or visibility, but lives changed by the Gospel and people growing in their walk with Christ.
• Unity in the Body: We resist comparison and competition by celebrating wheneverChrist is proclaimed—even when others receive the credit—trusting that God is at work beyond our own circles.

When the Church learns to decrease in pride and increase in love, it becomes a bright witness to the world. That is where true joy is found, not in our accomplishments, but in His glory,

Conclusion
Today, we are called to rejoice, not because life is easy or perfect, but because Christ is coming and He is the hope of the world.

Like John the Baptist, we are invited to prepare the way for the Lord, to live lives that point others to Him, and to find joy in His increase.

As we conclude our time together, may it remind us that humility and joy are forever intertwined. We rejoice not in what we achieve, but in what God has done and will do. We celebrate His greatness, not ours.
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Let us rejoice! The King is coming! And in that preparation, may our joy be made whole and complete.

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