John 3:26-31

And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”^[1]

What an incredibly special man was John the Baptist. He had his own ministry, people who looked to him for leadership, and who probably suspected, like others, that he was the messiah. He no doubt had an ego like any other, but rather than allow the esteem and applause of those who had committed themselves to him and were now indignant because of the growth of his ministry, John steadfastly maintained the subordination he knew to be true. He understood that he was the best man and not the bridegroom. He understood that whatever influence, popularity and even authority he had must now be submitted to the one for whom he had been preparing the way. His response to the protests of his disciples was direct, “He must increase, I must decrease.”

It was clear that John knew and thoroughly comprehended the scope of his ministry and was content with it. Granted John’s situation was drastically different from that of those called into ministry today, but the Church would perhaps have greater influence and credibility if more of God’s people knew that to which they had been called, and were comfortable walking in it. Far too many believers mimic the methods and patterns of the calling of others rather than walking in their own. Far too many are seduced by the applause and flattery of others that prevents them from prosecuting their own calling and that may very well call them to submit to the leadership of another. Perhaps one of the reasons there are so many ineffective ministries is because leaders, blind to the specificity of their calling, are unable to decrease so another may increase. What an incredibly special man was John the Baptist! We need more like him today.

Gracious Heavenly Father, how we long for a submissive spirit like that of Your servant John the Baptist. Instead of submitting and subordinating ourselves to those You have set over us, we push and shove to be recognized and celebrated. We crave the limelight and are not content to follow when called to do so. Help us, like John, to decrease so that Christ may increase, but also so that the ones You deign to use in this season may increase. We ask it all for Your honor and glory. Amen.

^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 3:26–36.