How do you interpret it when you seem to be on the losing side or when things are unraveling – and it is clear to everyone around? In John 3:22-36, we learn that John the Baptist is losing his following. His disciples are now following Jesus. How will John respond to this reality? Our scripture focus on Sunday morning reveals to us how John interpreted it and how he responded to it. What is the essence of John the Baptist’s joy in life? Simply, it is resting in the conviction that God is in control and the satisfaction in knowing that Jesus Christ is exalted.  He says “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” and that he “rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice,” and that “this joy of mine is fulfilled,” and that “He must increase and I must decrease.”

Doxology
Look, Ye Saints, the Sight Is Glorious
Crown Him with Many Crowns
By Grace Alone
Before the Throne of God
The Power of the Cross

Look, Ye Saints, the Sight Is Glorious
Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious;
See the Man of Sorrows now;
From the fight returned victorious,
Ev’ry knee to Him shall bow:
Crown Him! crown Him!
Crowns become the Victor’s brow.

Crown the Saviour, angels, crown Him;
Rich the trophies Jesus brings;
In the seat of pow’r enthrone Him,
While the vault of heaven rings:
Crown Him! crown Him!
Crown the Saviour King of kings.

Sinners in derision crowned Him
Mocking thus the Saviour’s claim;
Saints and angels crowd around Him,
Own His title, praise His Name:
Crown Him! crown Him!
Spread abroad the Victor’s fame!

Hark! those bursts of acclamation!
Hark! those loud triumphant chords!
Jesus takes the highest station;
O what joy the sight affords!
Crown Him! crown Him!
King of kings, and Lord of lords.

Crown Him with Many Crowns
Crown Him with many crowns
The Lamb upon His throne
Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own!
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him who died for thee
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Thro’ all eternity

Crown Him the Lord of Love!
Behold His hands and side –
Rich wounds, yet visible above
In beauty glorified
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For Thou Hast died for me
Thy praise and glory shall not fail
Thro’out eternity

Crown Him the Lord of life!
Who triumphed o’er the grave
Who rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save
His glories now we sing
Who died and rose on high
Who died eternal life to bring
And lives that death may die

Crown Him the Lord of Heav’n!
One with the Father known
One with the Spirit thro’ Him giv’n
From yonder glorious throne
To Thee be endless praise
For Thou for us hast died
Be Thou, O Lord, thro’ endless days
Adored and magnified

By Grace Alone
Out of the depths I cry to You,
Lord, hear my voice of pleading;
Bend down Your gracious ear, I pray,
Your humble servant heeding.
If You remember each misdeed,
And of each thought and word take heed,
Who can remain before You?
Only by grace, by grace alone.

Your pardon is a gift of love,
Your grace alone must save us,
Our works will not remove our guilt,
The strictest life would fail us.
Let none in deeds or merits boast,
But let us own the Holy Ghost
For He alone can change us:
Only by grace, by grace alone.

Though great our sins and sore our woes
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our utmost need it soundeth.
Our kind and faithful Shepherd He,
Who will set all His people free
From all their sin and sorrow:
Only by grace, by grace alone.

Before the Throne of God
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God

The Power of the Cross
Oh, to see the dawn of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev’ry bitter thought, ev’ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Now the daylight flees; now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life;
“Finished!” the vict’ry cry.

This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see my name written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death; life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

This, the pow’r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.