He must increase

Introduction

John the Baptist was sent as a forerunner to point the world to the coming Messiah, Jesus. The 400-year silence after the Book of Malachi was broken by John the Baptist’s cry in the desert for people to repent from their sins and be baptized in water.

Key Scripture

John 3:22–30 (NKJV)

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. 
23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 
24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison. 
25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” 
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 
29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

The Birth and Mission of John the Baptist

The birth of John the Baptist was a miracle, as he was conceived when Elizabeth and Zechariah were well advanced in years. He leapt in Elizabeth’s womb when he heard the greeting of Mary who was carrying Jesus in her womb (Luke 1:41).

John the Baptist fulfilled his calling to point to Jesus, and was not troubled when his followers started following Jesus. To John, Jesus must increase, and he must decrease.

Living a Life for Christ

“The Christian life is not our living a life like Christ, or our trying to be Christ-like, nor is it Christ giving us the power to live a life like His; but it is Christ Himself living His own life through us.” – Watchman Nee

Essentially, we need to step aside and let Jesus take center stage.

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Apostle Paul emphasizes that he is ‘dead’ in Christ, meaning he no longer lives for himself but for Christ. A person ‘dead’ in Christ does not envy others’ success or worry about the future. He is a new creation in Christ Jesus.

Three Steps to Let Christ Increase

1. Carry the Cross Daily

   Matthew 16:24–25 (ESV): Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

   God wants us to die to self before we can experience the life He has in store for us.

2. Separate from the World

   1 John 2:15–16 (ESV): Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

   We are born into the kingdom of darkness. When we hear the gospel and choose to follow Christ, we are translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light. This requires separating ourselves from worldly desires and influences.

   2 Corinthians 6:14–18 (ESV): Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make My dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”

3. Seek to Do His Will

   Hebrews 10:35–36 (GNT): Do not lose your courage, then, because it brings with it a great reward. You need to be patient, in order to do the will of God and receive what He promises.

   The model prayer taught by Jesus starts by glorifying God and seeking His will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Obedience to God’s will is central to our faith, as demonstrated by Jesus even unto death.

   Luke 22:42 (ESV): "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done."

Conclusion

John Sung Zhu En (1901–1944) was a modern-day John the Baptist who became one of the greatest evangelists in the 20th century, impacting China and South East Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. He threw away all his credentials and dedicated his life to preaching the gospel. There is an exchange when we come to Jesus; we give up our own lives for the eternal, abundant life from Jesus. He must increase, and we must decrease.