John the Baptist’s First and Last Word

John 3:22-36, NLT

Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people.

At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism.  (This was before John was thrown into prison.)  A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing.  So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.”

John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.  You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’   It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.  He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

“He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.  He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them!  Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true.  For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.  The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands.  And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

                I’m a big fan of John the Baptist.  He is a fearlessly confident preacher who doesn’t hold back to save himself trouble.  He’s at home in the wilderness.  He attracts large crowds, but he doesn’t let it go to his head.   He’s completely at home with a mission that makes himself obsolete as soon as Jesus shows up.  I picture his moment of martyrdom being received with joy, knowing that he had done all that he had been called to do. 

                The author of John’s account of this story differs from the other gospels in that John had been arrested before Jesus’s ministry begins.  But here in the fourth gospel, there is enough overlap for some controversy to develop.  John the Baptist’s followers are drawn into a … let’s say discussion ….about John losing followers to Jesus.  The questions afford John one last opportunity to say what he has been saying from the beginning.  This last witness from John also is given greater power by the fact that Jesus has just talked about the importance of being “born from above” and “born of the Spirit.”

                John is thrilled that he is decreasing and Jesus is increasing.  For him, it means that what he has been called to do is almost done and he receives this with joy.  He points out that Jesus is “from above,” and John confesses that he is not.  John claimed the presence of the Spirit in his ministry, but describes Jesus possessing the Spirit “without limit.”  This is the last time we will hear directly from John the Baptist in the this gospel account, so this message of humility is his swan song.

                I long to be more like John the Baptist.  We live in a time when churches and, by association, pastors are judged by the size of their flocks.   I wish I could say that I’ve never been drawn into giving such comparisons more credence than they deserve, but anyone who knows me well would know that is lie.  However, my observations have been that most people are unduly affected by similar comparisons. 

                What seems to keep John the Baptist out of that fray is his crystal clear understanding of the role he is called to play and he remains laser-focused on that alone.  In addition, what has been reinforced multiple times in these beginning chapters of the gospel is that the “teacher from God” (3:2) can’t take credit for those who embrace the teaching because that is always a gift from God.  John has internalized this truth perfectly.

                I’ve come a long way in this regard, but I’ve still got a long way to go.  I’m fairly certain I’m not alone in that.

Question:  How have comparisons to others robbed you of the joy that you would have otherwise had in your work/calling?

Prayer:  Thank you God for the work you have given each of us to do.  Save us from the toxicity of comparisons and deliver us to the joy of doing what you created us to do.  Amen.

Prayer Focus:  Pray for the success of those you feel tempted to compare yourself (or maybe even the people others compare you to). 

Song:  Grass is Greener – Fearless Soul