I was reading in John 3:22-36 about John the Baptizer. It is a great story about John baptizing at Aenon ("because there was much water there" - that's funny to me) and that people were constantly coming to be baptized. John's disciples came to him and said,
"Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan - the one you testified about - well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."
You can almost hear the strain in their voice. The concern of losing people to a competitive baptizer. The thought of their status dwindling as the only baptizing agent in town. The idea of their career's as potential rabbi's being tarnished by the potential loss of appeal to those seeking to have their sins washed away. You can also hear the question in their statement. "Rabbi, what are you going to do?"
John's response,
"A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ 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."
Wow! John tells his disciples that he is the servant of Christ and nothing more, and his joy is in serving Jesus, not being concerned about his rise in popularity. And here is the verse that really spoke to me,
"He must become greater; I must become less."
Oh how I want this in my life. I want Jesus to become greater and greater in my life and for my own selfish sinful ways to become less and less. To live as Jesus lives. To love as Jesus loves. To serve as Jesus serves. Cause let's face it, left to myself I can be pretty self absorbed.
