John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."
John the Baptist made this beautiful statement when some of the Jews came to
him with questions concerning the efficiency of baptism. We can know they
really were not interested in efficiency; rather, they were trying to create
confusion and division. They first questioned John about purification. Which is
better, John? baptism or the purifying according to the law? What do you
think about the fact that "all men" are going to Jesus and His
disciples to be baptized? One of Satan's greatest tools is trying to separate
children of God through confusion and jealousy. They were hoping John would be
jealous that more people were going to Jesus. But in reality, we will see in
chapter 4 that Jesus did not actually baptize. His disciples were baptizing
those who came to Him.
Let's look at John's replies to the words of the Jews who came to him. His
answer can apply to the question concerning purification and the interjection
of thought that Jesus was baptizing more people than John. His first answer to
them was a beautiful truth. "John answered and said, A man can receive
nothing, except it be given him from heaven." (John 3:27) He, first, was
acknowledging his gift to be from heaven. In this statement, he was saying God
sent me to do this work. The Jews did not associate the very last chapter of
the Old Testament with the current events of that day. Malachi had prophecied
concerning John, though he was not mentioned by name. So, we can know that if
John was sent from God, then that work which he did was efficient in its
purpose. John's baptism was a statement of repentance unto God.
Secondly, we can see John's contentment with the work that was given him to do.
The Jews: "Jesus is baptizing more people than you." John's reply:
"Praise God! I'm doing what I was sent to do. He is doing what He
came to do. All is well." Remember just before Jesus' ascension back into
heaven, there was a question concerning what the disciples were supposed to do?
Jesus had told Peter what he was to do and then Peter looked at John, the
beloved (writer of this book) and asked, "But what about him?"
(Steve's version) Jesus politely told Peter not to worry about John, but do
what you are being sent to do. If we all could see ourselves as being directly
sent from God to do a work, then we would understand that if it came from
heaven, then it is that which God has qualified and called us to do. We would
not need to worry about the work of anyone else if we are busy doing what the
Lord calls us to do.
Then we come to the capstone of this conversation. "He (Jesus) must
increase, but I (John the Baptist, Steve Taylor, you who are reading this) must
decrease." You see, our life is to be about Jesus. Whatever gift has been
given to us is to be used to honor our Lord. Wherever God places us, we should seek
to diminish ourselves and maximize the presence and power of the Lord
Jesus. God has called me to preach, I am to seek to do the very best I
can in order to honor the Lord. If God has called you to be a teacher, then do
the very best you can to honor the Lord. If your position in life is to be a
farmer, a factory worker, a business person, doctor, nurse, or whatever your
line of work might be, John's words would serve each of us well. Wherever we
are and whatever we do, "He (Jesus) must increase, but I must
decrease."