Daily Lectionary Reading
Psalm 40
Deuteronomy 10:12-22
Hebrews 4:11-16
John 3:22-36
John 3:22-36 New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
John the Baptist’s Testimony About Jesus
22After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24(This was before John was put in prison.) 25An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew[a] over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ[b] but am sent ahead of him.’ 29The 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. 30He must become greater; I must become less.
31″The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God[c] gives the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”[d]
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John the Baptist comes back into the picture long enough to be pushed out of the picture. Jesus and his followers are now baptising and some folks come to John basically saying, “It look’s like that guy you baptized. The special one. Is stealing some of your thunder.”
John responds in a Godly manner. He does not become indignant. He does not put down Jesus’ ministry. Rather he reflects on how God’s plan is unveiling itself. He sees himself as a helper in God’s plan and not as the central figure. He refers to the joy he had in helping get things ready for Jesus’ coming and now he states, “He must become greater; I must become less.”
I wish that some of us could have that same humble attitude toward serving God. We’ve all know of persons that have for years served in a particular role in the church. Everyone around can see that the time has come for the person to step down. Yet he or she doesn’t. They want to remain in center stage rather than let the person with the true gifts and graces take over. Perhaps, we can all learn from John the Baptist.
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Prayer: Lord, help me to understand my role in your plan and help me to step aside and let others lead when my role is completed.
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