He must become greater, I must become less

Friday, March 6

Psalms 40 and 51
Deuteronomy 10:12-22
Hebrews 4:11-16

John 3:22-36 NIV
John the Baptist's Testimony About Jesus
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24 ( This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."

27 To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.

31 "The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

The entire purpose of the life and ministry of John the Baptist was to point the way to Jesus - the one sent by the Father. He was the last of the Old Testament prophets who were anointed by the Holy Spirit to reveal the will of God to the people Israel. The Holy Spirit had come upon him even as he was in the womb when he leapt for joy at the encounter between his own mother Elizabeth and Mary the mother of Jesus. He called people to repentance as a fiery forerunner of the One that was to come.

The report of his disciples reveals that they had completely missed the point. They were loyal followers of John and were grumbling in resentment and envy concerning the increasing following they had witnessed in the ministry of Jesus. But John, true to his calling tells them, "He must become greater, I must become less". A best man at a wedding makes the practical preparations for the groom. The success of his role is revealed in how the groom is able to take his rightful place when he has arrived. This was so in the life of John. He saw the success and completion of his role and calling in leading people to Jesus.

He explained the dramatic difference between himself and "the One whom God had sent". He was earthly and spoke from an earthly perspective. This was in spite of the anointing of the Spirit on his life. The one whom God had sent came from heaven and testified to what he had seen and heard. He spoke the words of God because of the limitless presence of the Spirit in his person. He was the Messiah. the One who was to come, the One whom God had sent.

It was in this humility and prophetic insight that the greatness of John was revealed. This is why Jesus says in Matthew 11:10 "This is the one about whom it is written: I will send my messenger ahead of you, and will prepare your way before you." I tell you the truth. Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist" (Luke 7:26-28)