“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 ESV1
Read John 3:22-4:3
One day, “Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, and He remained there with them and was baptizing” (John 3:22) … Although Jesus Himself did not baptize, but only His disciples” (John 4:2). Jesus’ ministry was getting more and more visibility. Many of the people who heard Him speak and saw His miracles wanted to get right with God. To show their commitment to a changed life, they desired baptism. Jesus’ disciples were happy to help. But, without their realizing it, their actions began to cause an uproar.
“John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized” (John 3:23). John the Baptist was the primary baptizer. Baptizing was the thing for which he was known. People from all around the area, came to John to hear his message and be baptized by him. John had been commissioned by God for the job (see Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:2-3; Luke 3:4-6 & John 1:6). But, now this new group was encroaching in on his turf.
Outraged, some concerned citizens came to John the Baptist to inform him that the Man whose ministry John had endorsed was now consuming his. “They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, He who was with you across the Jordan, to Whom you bore witness—look, He is baptizing, and all are going to Him’” (John 3:26). But, to their surprise, John wasn’t the least bit offended!
Why is it that John was not disgruntled? Didn’t he have every right to be upset? How did pride and hot anger not rise in his heart? How could he soothe the indignation of others on his behalf? How could he be so excited about the success of another? And what can we learn from John’s example, heart, and perspective, that will help us react appropriately when our ministries are threatened?
John realized he was commissioned by God.
John hadn’t chosen his profession, but he had accepted it. Though he was fully committed to that calling, he kept the focus on God, not himself. When informed about the others baptizing, John answered, “‘A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from Heaven’” (John 3:27). Too often, when we get involved in ministry, instead of drawing near to God and discovering from Him what He would have us do, we look at our skills and preferences to help us decide what we will do for God. Then, it is about us, and when that ministry is threatened, we can’t help but be defensive.
John wasn’t about popularity.
Don’t get me wrong, John was popular, but gaining popularity was not his pursuit. He wasn’t into fashion. He lived in the wilderness wore camel’s hair and ate bugs (see Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6). He didn’t say things to make people like him. He told off the religious leaders (see Matthew 3:7-12). He even confronted King Herod about his adulterous immorality (see Mark 6:17-18). Frequently, in our ministries, we get our encouragement and direction from observing the reactions of other people. Instead of looking up and getting direction and power from God, we literally, or figuratively, take opinion polls and make determinations based on the wisdom of man, not God.
John understood his position.
“‘The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete’” (John 3:29). John knew he wasn’t the Honored One; he was just glad to be a friend of the Honored One. He reminded those who came to him, “’You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, “I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him’” (John 3:28). They had been there the day Jesus was baptized. As much as they had heard John’s endorsement of Jesus, they had heard John say he wasn’t the Christ (see John 1:20). As the Church, we are the Bride of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 11:2). We are also the Body of Christ (see Romans 12:5 & 1 Corinthians 12:27). We each have our Kingdom responsibility, but no one is any better than anyone else. It is when we work together that the Body of Christ is healthy. We each have an honored position in Christ, but none of us is in charge, Christ is.
John saw the bigger picture.
John told his audience, “‘He who is of the Earth belongs to the Earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from Heaven is above all. He bears witness to what He has seen and heard … Whoever receives His testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent utters the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. Whoever believes in the Son has Eternal Life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see Life, but the wrath of God remains on him’” (John 3:31-36). True ministry exalts God, and through that, brings people to salvation. We often make ministry too complicated. Paul’s ministry strategy was this: “I came to you … proclaiming … Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2). When we make ministry about anything else, in all or part, it is about our goals, not God’s, and we can’t help but experience frustration at some point.
John was filled with the Holy Spirit.
John knew where he got the power and the authority to do the things he did. Unlike us, he had the distinct advantage of having been filled with the Holy Spirit since before birth (see Luke 1:15). But like John, there is no way we can do that which God has called us to do in our own strength. We too need the filling of the Holy Spirit. Just because we weren’t filled before birth doesn’t mean we are missing out on anything. Jesus said, “‘Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he’” (Matthew 11:11). Somehow the filling of the Holy Spirit which we have available to us now, because of Jesus’ work on the cross, is greater than what John had. Surprisingly, Jesus said it should give us the ability to do even greater things than what He did (see John 14:12).
John wasn’t afraid to be replaced.
“‘He must increase. I must decrease’” (John 3:30). Think of the peace that would pour over us and the joy that would exude out of us, if we were so close to God in our ministries that we would feel confidant to, at any time, release them into to the hands of another whom God had raised up to take over. Though John’s ministry may have only lasted six months, he had a very successful ministry, because he did exactly that for which he had been chosen. If our lives are devoted to God and His plans, it won’t really matter how long or to what extent we minister. We can feel content we are right where God wants us “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14b).
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). “Apart from [Christ], you can do nothing” (John 15:5b). Your ministry isn’t supposed to be about you at all. That doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it. God’s will and the specific plan He has for you is good and pleasing and perfect (see Romans 12:2 & Ephesians 2:10). But your ministry is supposed to be all about Christ. How on track are you? Pray asking God to search your heart to help you discover if there is any prideful, self-centered, human manipulated, or short-sighted thing in your ministry … anything you are doing in your own power—anything that is distracting from Christ. Then repent, and ask Him to remove what is wrong and get you on the right path again. You will be surprised at the peace and fruitfulness which then surrounds you. And like John the Baptist, your “joy will be complete” (John 3:29b).
1Scripture quotations marked with ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All Scriptures are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted. To aid in understanding, I have capitalized references to God.