Are you like John the Baptist? I don’t mean, is your wardrobe that of camel’s hair and a leather belt, nor do I mean you share his dietary proclivities, but rather are you willing to fade into obscurity so Christ can be lifted up?
John had become fairly famous with many coming to hear his messages of repentance. He had a loyal group of disciples as well, who took up for him when they saw that another man was stealing his followers. I can imagine John’s disciples on Instagram, excited over the growth of John’s following, only to be dashed as Jesus’ surpassed John by the thousands. The jealousy and competition they must have been keenly felt.
John, however, knew who he was in God’s kingdom and his focus was not on self promotion, but rather on elevating Jesus. His now famous statement, “I must decrease, so he can increase”, should also become our personal motto as we live a life of elevating Jesus.
After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (John 3: 22-36).
Our job, as followers of Christ, is not to make a name for ourselves on His coattails, but rather lift Him up, testifying to the world about the One who came from heaven, became a man, and gave His life a ransom for many. There is no room in this storyline for our glory. We who have accepted this free gift have literally no skin in the game as we were once doomed to die because of our sin, but were rescued from hell by the One Who had no sin and gave His flesh to be crucified on a Roman cross.
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (John 3:36).
This is the message we are to promote, using the platforms that God has given us, and continually pointing to Jesus Christ. Stand in the shadow of Jesus and let Him be glorified. This is our job, to bear witness to the One who saved us.