Things That Only Jesus Can Give YouSýnishorn

Only Jesus gives you a humble heart to put him first

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

When John came preaching in the wilderness, the crowds flocked to him. People came from everywhere to hear John and to be baptized by him. He was an overnight success. God’s favor was on him. 

But when Jesus began his ministry, the crowds started leaving John and going to Jesus. John’s disciples were concerned: “Rabbi, what do we do? They’re all going to Jesus!” John’s response: “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30).

In other words, John exclaims: “Not only am I not worried that the crowds are going to Jesus, but I am overjoyed. I am thrilled. That’s the whole reason I came. He, Jesus, must increase. I, John, must decrease.”

Here is John’s greatness: profound and genuine humility. No wonder Jesus would later say: “Among those born of women none is greater than John” (Luke 7:28).

John understood that he was not the point of the story. Jesus was the point. It’s all about Jesus. So if the crowds left John, no big deal. “They don’t belong to me. The point is Jesus, not me.”

When we learn that nothing belongs to us, that everything we have belongs to Christ, that we are not the point, that it’s all about Jesus, when we have the heartfelt attitude that Jesus must increase and I must decrease; then, like John, we will find real joy, and we will experience the favor of God. 

“He must increase. I must decrease.”