He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30
As “the voice of one crying in the wilderness,” John the Baptist proclaimed the sufficiency of the Christ. He made straight the way of the Lord (John 1:23). He truly defined that, “it is all about Jesus.” And John the Baptist decreased. He did not accept even the slightest recognition, so that Jesus Christ would be announced properly as the Bridegroom who has come for the Bride. This beautiful imagery of marriage defined the majesty of the Bridegroom- Jesus, and the perfect love He brings to the world. And John the Baptizer took his rightful place to the side, as the friend of the Bridegroom (John 1:29), for nothing or no one stands in the way of Jesus Christ being revealed for who He is – the One who has come to redeem. And spoken to his own followers at the time, John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “He must increase, and I must decrease.”
Westcott writes, “these last words of John are the fullness of religious sacrifice as they fitly close his work.” The Scriptures do not reference John again until his inquiry from prison concerning Jesus’ demonstration as the Messiah (Matthew 11:2, Luke 7:19). John the Baptist then went from imprisonment to martyrdom, and the public ministry of Jesus began. In a true literal sense, John decreased and Christ increased. But more so spiritually, John demonstrated the deep satisfaction of one who truly recognized the majesty of the Christ and desired that all things in life point to the Savior and not to self.
This is what John the Baptist has demonstrated for us. First, our place in this life (whatever that position is of our exercise of faith, spiritual giftedness, and calling) is not the reward. Jesus is! Until one is successful with this resolve, there will always exist a personal struggle with being dissatisfied. But, if Christ Jesus is truly our reward, the greatest experience in life is that He would increase, and self would decrease. Second, life’s gain can only truly be defined in loss of self. Jesus said, “whoever loses his or her life for My sake will find life,” (Luke 9:24). John gladly stepped back as the one who points to and does not compete with the importance of the Bridegroom. This is indeed the emphasis: demonstrating the significant of the Christ through denouncing self-importance, refusing self-notoriety, and truly becoming nothing in one’s own eyes and the eyes of others. In this way, Jesus Christ is seen for who He is as God’s Son and the world’s Savior.
Today, we must take upon ourselves the relentless disposition exemplified in John the Baptist, and we must say at all costs, “He must increase, and I must decrease.” I am not sure what such a resolve will look like in your home, before your friends, or in your career. But this resolve is a must. For, if we cling to our life we will lose it; but if we lose our life for His sake we will find life.
He must increase and I must decrease! How did you do with this resolve yesterday, and what adjustments must be made in your day ahead if indeed this is your heart’s desire?
Blessings
READ
Read the final testimony of John the Baptist, John 3:22-36.
