Context No. 2719 of 4322 · John

John 3:27-36: in context

27John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. 28You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’ 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore my joy is made full. 30He must increase, but I must decrease. 31“He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. 33He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

John the Baptist's disciples come to him uneasy: the crowds that were coming to John are now streaming to Jesus. John's answer is a model of humility. A man can receive nothing, he says, unless it is given from heaven. I told you plainly I am not the Christ. I am only the friend of the bridegroom, and my joy is complete just to stand and hear his voice.

Then the line that says it all: he must increase, but I must decrease. John has every earthly reason to protect his following, and instead he rejoices to be eclipsed. His greatness is precisely that he knows he is not the center and is glad of it. The friend of the bridegroom does not envy the groom; he delights in the wedding and would not dream of taking the bride.

When someone God is using begins to eclipse me, can I rejoice like the friend of the bridegroom, or do I quietly compete?

Sources

John 1:20: "He confessed, and didn't deny, but he confessed, I am not the Christ."
Philippians 2:3: "In humility, each counting others better than himself."
1 Corinthians 4:7: "What do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?"