John the Baptist’s entire mission in life, given by God, was to make way for Jesus. He was to bring people to Jesus and make it known to everyone that the Messiah had come. He was a rabbi, like Jesus was, and had his own followers. One day, Jesus’ disciples were helping Jesus baptize in the Jordan River. John’s disciples pointed this out by saying, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” His disciples were worried that John’s ministry and popularity were decreasing, since everyone was instead going to Jesus to be baptized.

John, knowing this, responds by saying, “I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him. The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

John is happy that people are going to Jesus, not jealous or envious, as his disciples came across as being. We are to become less. We are to humble ourselves. Everything we have is from God. Jesus is to become more. He is to be praised above everything else. It’s a powerful verse, John 3:30: “He must become greater; I must become less.” Be humble, and exalt the Lord!

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