Scripture: John 3:22-36 (ESV)
“After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison). Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 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." John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' 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. He must increase, but I must decrease." He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
I grew up in South Africa and athletics is a big thing there. Our schools gave you merits to attend athletic events so you can cheer for your school team. Now one of the things I enjoyed watching the most was the relay races. In a relay the runners have to pass a baton from one runner to the next. Once you have done your lap of the arena, you literally pass the baton to the next runner so they can have their turn. Once this happens, the first runner’s role changes. They don’t run any more, they simply cheer from the sideline. This is what happened to John the Baptist in our passage. You see John’s disciples come to him and they are worried. “This Jesus guy is getting more disciples than you. He is gaining more followers. What shall we do?”.
But John understood his mission. He knew that he had come, not to become popular, not to gain the biggest following, not to impress the most amount of people, but to prepare the way for Jesus. He knew his place in God’s plan and so with great humilty John says “He must increase, but I must decrease”. John wasn’t upset that Jesus’ influence grew. He rejoiced!
Notice how he describes himself. He says in effect: “I am the best man at my best friend’s wedding”. Jesus is the bridegroom who had come to claim his bride and so now that the bridegroom had arrived, there is nothing to do but be happy for the bride and for the bridegroom. In his commentary on this passage John Calvin writes:
By this expression he declares that the office assigned to him was temporary, for the purpose of rendering Christ glorious, and that therefore he must give way to Christ, that Christ alone may be heard. And in this he gives an example to all ministers, that they ought to endeavor to gather disciples not to themselves, but to Christ.
Our culture really values self-promotion. Our identity often gets tied up in our own achievements, but in our passage we see what true fulfilment looks like for a Christian. In diminishing, we give Jesus all the more glory, and in so doing our joy multiplies. We are called to use the spotlights that shine on us to hold up Jesus so that the world can see him. I have seen many Christian Athletes do this well. In their post-win interviews they often say something like, “This victory belongs to Jesus for what he has done for me”. They take the spotlight that has been shone on them and they point it to Jesus.
How can you do the same today?
Prayer
Dear Holy Spirit living in me, please remind me that I am the best friend at the wedding and that it is all about Jesus. Help me shine the spotlight that shines on me onto him so that he may increase and I may decrease. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge
When someone gives you a complement, redirect the praise to God and then see what happens.
Humility says "He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease”