He Must Increase (John 3:22-30)

Today's scripture: John 3:22-30

John the Baptist had already baptized Jesus and had witnessed the Holy Spirit's coming down "like a dove" and the Father's proclaiming, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

As we read not too long ago, he himself called Jesus the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29).

He knew who Jesus was, and although he was a forerunner of Jesus' and even though Jesus said that "among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matthew 11:11), John didn't think he was anything special.

No, he knew was merely the messenger. Jesus was the message—He is the message. John was the best man. Jesus is the bridegroom. At a wedding, the best man's job is to make certain everything goes smoothly for the groom, and during the ceremony, he wants all eyes to be on the bride and groom, not himself.

John the Baptist knew his purpose: to proclaim Jesus as Lord. He knew he would need to "decrease" making certain that Jesus would "increase."

And we should seek the same. Our desire should be to see Jesus increase in all things, to make certain that all eyes are directed to Him. We should merely be message-bringers. No matter how we serve—on a platform or cleaning a toilet—we should desire only His glory, His honor.

He indeed should increase while we decrease.