He must increase, but I must decrease.

Joh 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease. 

The humility of John the baptiser can be seen in his testimony about Jesus. John was baptising disciples at the River Jordan. Jesus was also baptising disciples. John’s disciples asked him: “Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him” (verse 26). They saw it as a threat and a competition to their master that someone else was drawing disciples away from him. They were saying that John would have had more disciples if not for Jesus who was taking away his “business.” But John replied:

1. Compliment - “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven” (John 3:27).

John saw the heavens opened and the voice of God testifying to Jesus as His beloved Son (Matthew 3:16-17). From then on, John knew Jesus was the Lamb of God which was come to save mankind (John 1:29).

By his statement, John affirms that Christ’s work has God’s approval. John would not discredit the work of another but endorse it. John would pay compliment to Jesus and not compete with Him.

                                         

2. Honest - “I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him” (John 3:28).

John was honest. He knew he was only a forerunner for Christ. He was pointing to his disciples that that man who was baptising more disciples than him was the Christ they had been waiting for.

John gave honour when honour is due. He did not try to be someone he wasn’t.

3. Not Jealous - “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled” (John 3:29).

John wasn’t at all jealous of the success of Jesus. On the contrary, he was glad that Jesus had greater success than him.

How many of us would get jealous when another is doing better than us? Most would be jealous and attribute the other person's success to luck, favouritism, or bribery. Only a true friend wishes his friend success even when it means his friend exceeds him in this. Remember David and Jonathan? Jonathan was willing to give the crown to his best friend (1 Samuel 23:17).

4. Humble - “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

John recognised that as soon as Christ started on His ministry, his work would fade away. He had done his work as a forerunner and a forerunner’s job is temporary. John was happy to play second fiddle to Christ.

Humility wishes the other person does better than him. There was a time when the disciples of Jesus were arguing who was the greatest of all (Luke 9:46). John the baptiser would say: “Not me!”

5. Honour - “He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all” (John 3:31).

John knew he was born of earthly parents. He knew Christ to be the Son of God from heaven and His honour exceeded all. John gave honour to the One who came from heaven.

At times, one wonders if God or us who is above all. What do I mean? We assemble to worship to please and honour God. But then we hear complaints like the worship is too boring - the singing is horrible, the sermon is boring and we have not been edified. It means the worship hasn’t pleased us a bit. So, are we honouring God or ourselves? Are we here to please God or ourselves?

Let us learn from John the Baptiser. When we give honour and praise to our friends, that honour and praise will come back to us; we don’t have to strive for it. Our friends will see the goodness that is in us and will return it to us. “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another” (Romans 12:10).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.