John 3:22-30
Afterwards Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and stayed
for a while in Judea and baptized there. At this time John the Baptist was not
yet in prison. He was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty
of water there. One day someone began an argument with John’s disciples,
telling them that Jesus’ baptism was best. So they came to John and said,
“Master, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River—the one you said
was the Messiah—he is baptizing too, and everybody is going over there instead
of coming here to us.” John replied, “God in heaven appoints each man’s
work. My work is to prepare the way for that man so that everyone will go to
him. You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I
am here to prepare the way for him—that is all. The crowds will naturally
go to the main attraction — the bride will always go where the bridegroom is! A
bridegroom’s friends rejoice with him. I am the Bridegroom’s friend, and I
am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I
must become less and less.
Food for thought!
John replied, “God in heaven appoints each man’s work. My
work is to prepare the way for that man so that everyone will go to him. I
am here to prepare the way for him—that is all.
Like John, each one of us was made for a mission. Indeed, our mission is a continuation of John’s mission: to take Jesus to the people, and to take the people to Jesus. John told his disciples that his was not the leading place, but that he was merely sent as the herald, the forerunner and the preparer for the greater one to come.
It would ease life a great deal if more people were prepared to play the subordinate role. So many people look for great things to do. John was not like that. He knew well that God had given him a subordinate task. It would save us a lot of resentment and heartbreak if we realized that there are certain things which are not for us, and if we accepted with all our hearts and did with all our might the work that God has given us to do.
These words of John are a great reminder. They tell us that God appoints each man's work; that no one is doing everybody's work. One thing is certain — this passage shows us the loveliness of the humility of John the Baptist. It was clear that men were leaving John for Jesus. John's disciples were worried. They did not like to see their master take second place. They did not like to see him abandoned while the crowds flocked out to hear and see Jesus.
John's task had been to bring the people and Jesus together; to arrange the marriage between the two. When that task was completed he was happy to fade into obscurity for his work was done. It was not with envy that he said that Jesus must increase and he must decrease; it was with joy. It may be that sometimes we would do well to remember that it is not to ourselves we must try to attach people; it is to Jesus Christ. It is not for ourselves we seek the loyalty of men; it is for Jesus. And as John put it, He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
Like John, each one of us was made for a mission. Indeed, our mission is a continuation of John’s mission: to take Jesus to the people, and to take the people to Jesus. John told his disciples that his was not the leading place, but that he was merely sent as the herald, the forerunner and the preparer for the greater one to come.
It would ease life a great deal if more people were prepared to play the subordinate role. So many people look for great things to do. John was not like that. He knew well that God had given him a subordinate task. It would save us a lot of resentment and heartbreak if we realized that there are certain things which are not for us, and if we accepted with all our hearts and did with all our might the work that God has given us to do.
These words of John are a great reminder. They tell us that God appoints each man's work; that no one is doing everybody's work. One thing is certain — this passage shows us the loveliness of the humility of John the Baptist. It was clear that men were leaving John for Jesus. John's disciples were worried. They did not like to see their master take second place. They did not like to see him abandoned while the crowds flocked out to hear and see Jesus.
John's task had been to bring the people and Jesus together; to arrange the marriage between the two. When that task was completed he was happy to fade into obscurity for his work was done. It was not with envy that he said that Jesus must increase and he must decrease; it was with joy. It may be that sometimes we would do well to remember that it is not to ourselves we must try to attach people; it is to Jesus Christ. It is not for ourselves we seek the loyalty of men; it is for Jesus. And as John put it, He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
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