He Must Increase, I Must Decrease

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized— John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison. Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.’ John answered, ‘No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.” He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.’ The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath. John 3:22-36

Both John and Jesus knew who they were and knew each other as cousins. We have no idea how much time they spent together as children or adults, but they must have had some time since their mothers had a deep bond. John's ministry was to set the stage, he was a stage manager, pointing the focus always on Jesus. Like our ministries today, we are not the focus, Jesus is. Otherwise, we are just empty, missing the living spirit and love sent by God. If we put ourselves first and take over center stage, we are getting in the way of God's healing and forgiveness. Too many like the limelight and overshadow the one sent for all.

Wondrous Creator, you set us in communities of hope

giving us all skills, some to build up, others to welcome

and all of us have the role of making room for Jesus here.

Too often, we like the attention and the singular focus

we love the adoration, the gifts and the many honors

all of them truly meant for the one who died for all to live.

Help us, dear Lord, to get out of the way today and everyday

so people might see Jesus working tirelessly in their lives

and embrace the love, joy and forgiveness which is fully divine. Amen.

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