LESS OF SELF – Part 2
Lessons from John 3:30

The blog posts for this and next week center around 8 words from John the Baptist found in the book of John.

“He must become greater; I must become less.” -John 3:30.

In this powerful passage of scripture, John the Baptist gives us the greatest principle of humility for our relationship with God.

Let’s look at this passage in a little more detail. John the Baptist did not retire when Jesus began his ministry. John 3:23, says “Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized.” It was a little late in the game to be baptized by John, because the attention and thus the crowds had switched to Jesus, yet he still was serving God.

John’s disciples, however, were engaged in an argument with a Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing. If they were like John, this would have been a non-issue, but as it was, it had become contentious. They took the issue and the argument to John the Baptist.

Look at verse 26. “They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” This is somewhat predictable when you consider that John’s ministry was once an exciting movement. These disciples of John had been filled with awe at the work God was doing, bringing so many people out to repent of their sins and be baptized. People’s lives were changed. God’s hand of blessing was upon their work.

But perhaps they had not really heard what John was saying. From the beginning, John made clear that he was not the Messiah, and that there was one to come after him. He taught repeatedly that the kingdom of God was near, and that they should be ready.

Jesus’ ministry began to eclipse John’s. So, in a real way. John’s work was successful because people’s hearts had been prepared for the coming of the Lord. But to some people, probably like today, many people were merely following the crowd. Like fickle fans, one day they followed the crowds to John, and then the next they followed the crowds to Jesus.

Either way, John’s ministry was in decline. They had given their lives to follow John. They were loyal. But, nobody wants to work for a losing cause. They wanted things the way they were.

John’s response is in verse 27. “To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.” John simply points to what God was doing, and what God had given.

Look at verses 28-29. “You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah 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.”

John uses an effective analogy. The responsibility of the groomsman is to prepare the way for the bridegroom so that he can receive his bride and be united with her. He had accomplished that purpose and his joy was complete.

Part 3 – What Does This Mean For Us Today?