He Must Increase But I Must Decrease

After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. John 3:22:31



Steps: 1, 2, 3, 11, 12


Jesus and John the Baptist, and their disciples were baptizing people seeking recovery from their sins. A question came up between the disciples of John and of Jesus about purifying. The basic question was who was better Jesus or John, and to whom should people come to to get help, and thus who had the better baptism. This question could have caused a split in the cause of recovery but John answered in a manner that brought a blessing to all who wanted to know the truth. John said “He must increase and I must decrease.” John bowed out of the way so that the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One could stand forth as the standard and as the goal. John was willing to move out of the way so that all would come to Jesus, and not to him. This posture was a testimony that John had accepted recovery in it’s fullest sense. He proclaimed his experience with God and it was true.

Prayer for Today: God, You know that our pride and vanity will always attempt to get in the way of truth. Please help us to have an experience like John’s. Help us to recognize that we are not God, but that Jesus is. Help us to get help from Him and not to try to distract people to us. Thank You for this witness, help it to bless us with a true awareness of what recovery is.