Joshua Grubbs
He must increase, but I must decrease.
One of my favorite characters in the Bible has always been John the Baptist. When my knees agreed with me a bit more, I would register for half-marathon races. Whenever I had the option to customize my race bib I would have it say, “MATT 3:2” – John the Baptist’s words, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
But as much as I love and admire John the Baptist and his ministry, he makes a powerful statement against focusing on him in the Gospel of John. John’s disciples came to him because Jesus, whose ministry had now begun, was baptizing people like John was. John’s disciples can perhaps be construed as having concern, because John was “losing” out on baptizing folks. But John the Baptist responds in the opposite way that his disciples may have expected. He celebrates.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John the Baptist knew that he wasn’t the end goal of the Kingdom of Heaven. He knew he was the one called to prepare the way for the Christ (Matthew 3:1-11). And he knew who he was in relation to Christ, one who was “not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals,” we read in Luke 3:16b (NRSVUE).
This is not false modesty from John the Baptist. He wasn’t looking for Jesus to come to him and prop him up. John recognized the purpose of his life and ministry. Our purposes today are ultimately the same as John the Baptist’s. To glorify God, proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven with our lives, and to help others come to know Jesus Christ.
There is no room for ego as we serve the Kingdom of God. While not all of us are called to the levels of asceticism that John the Baptist was – I don’t have garments of camel’s hair in my closet or locusts in my pantry – we are all indeed called to echo his words. We must become less and fade into the background so that all the focus and praise is on Jesus.
The praise of men and the recognition of this world mean nothing. The love of Christ, the words “well done my good and faithful servant,” mean absolutely everything. Join me in becoming less, so that we all may watch Christ increase.
