“He Must Become Greater;
I Must Become Less”
After
this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he
spent some time with them, and baptized. Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there
was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. (This was
before John was put in prison.) An argument developed between some of John’s
disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 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—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is
going to him.”
To this John replied,
“A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can
testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 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. He must become greater; I must become
less.”
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.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.
Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom
God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes
in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for
God’s wrath remains on them.
John
3:22-36
When John’s disciples
heard that a new rabbi named Jesus was gaining followers, they thought John
might be jealous.
It was nothing of the
sort. John was like the best man waiting to serve the bridegroom and he knew
his place was to serve Jesus, and to prepare the way for Jesus.
An attitude of
humility should also characterize us. Rather than desiring attention for
ourselves, everything we do should bring glory to our Savior.
If we
want an increase of Christ, there must be a decrease of self.
Our Daily Bread –