John 3:22-26: a reflection

22After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them and baptized. 23John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came and were baptized; 24for John was not yet thrown into prison. 25Therefore a dispute arose on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification. 26They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, he baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”

As both John the Baptist and Jesus are baptizing, John's disciples come to him troubled: Rabbi, the one to whom you testified is baptizing, and everyone is coming to him. Their concern is plain: Jesus is drawing the crowds away from John; John's following is shrinking while Jesus' grows. They expect John to be troubled by this, to resent being eclipsed. But John, as the account goes on to show, rejoices rather than resents; he is glad that Christ is increasing, even as he himself decreases. He does not begrudge Christ's growing influence, but welcomes it.

Notice the disciples' concern, and the response it calls for. The disciples were troubled that Jesus was eclipsing John, drawing away the crowds; they saw it as a loss, a cause for resentment. It is the natural response: to resent being eclipsed, to begrudge another's growing success. But the right response, which John gives, is to rejoice: to be glad that Christ increases, even at the cost of one's own prominence. John did not cling to his own following, resenting Christ's growth; he welcomed it, glad that Christ should increase.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can resent it when others are exalted and we are eclipsed. When someone else grows in influence, success, or standing, especially at the cost of our own, we can be troubled, resentful, begrudging their rise; but John rejoiced that Christ increased, even as he himself decreased. Do not resent it when others are exalted and you are eclipsed, begrudging their rise; where Christ is exalted, rejoice, even at the cost of your own prominence, as John rejoiced that Christ should increase. Welcome the increase of Christ and the good of others, even when it means your own decrease, rather than resenting being eclipsed, as John did not begrudge Jesus the crowds but was glad that Christ should increase, content himself to decrease; seek Christ's exaltation above your own prominence.

Lord, as both John the Baptist and Jesus are baptizing, John's disciples come to him troubled: Rabbi, the one to whom you testified is baptizing, and everyone is coming to him. Their concern is plain: Jesus is drawing the crowds away from John; John's following is shrinking while Jesus' grows. They expect John to be troubled, to resent being eclipsed. But John rejoices rather than resents; he is glad that Christ is increasing, even as he himself decreases. He does not begrudge Christ's growing influence, but welcomes it. Show me the disciples' concern, and the response it calls for. They were troubled that Jesus was eclipsing John; they saw it as a loss, a cause for resentment. It is the natural response: to resent being eclipsed, to begrudge another's growing success. But the right response, which John gives, is to rejoice: to be glad that Christ increases, even at the cost of one's own prominence. John did not cling to his own following; he welcomed Christ's growth. Take that to my heart, for I can resent it when others are exalted and I am eclipsed. When someone else grows in influence, success, or standing, especially at the cost of my own, I can be troubled, resentful; but John rejoiced that Christ increased, even as he himself decreased. Keep me from resenting it when others are exalted and I am eclipsed; where Christ is exalted, help me rejoice, even at the cost of my own prominence, Lord. Help me welcome the increase of Christ and the good of others, even when it means my own decrease, as John was glad that Christ should increase.