Useful to GodSample

Humble

John was “sent from God” to “as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light but came to bear witness about the light” (Jn 1:6-8). When questioned about who he was, John admitted that he was not the Christ (1:20) but “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’” (1:23; cf. Isa 40:3).

As Jesus’s ministry began, Jesus and John were baptizing in the Judean countryside. When Jesus began drawing bigger crowds, some of John’s followers expressed their concerns to John (3:26).

John notes that his ministry is a gift and reminds them that he is not the Christ (3:27-28). He offers an analogy of the bridegroom and the bridegroom’s friend. The friend does not have the bride but “rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice” (23:29).

Jesus is the bridegroom sent from heaven and is above all (3:31). He offers testimony that many reject, but those who receive it affirm that “God is true” (3:32-33). To believe in the Son is to have eternal life (3:36).

John cannot offer what Jesus is offering. As such, “He [Christ] must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn 3:30).

John understands his role well. He is to point to Jesus. Having accomplished his mission, he has no concern about taking a backseat to Christ. He rejoices that Jesus has come and is pleased to acknowledge that “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me” (1:30).

John offers a picture of humility. Humility is not about discounting God's gifts or diminishing the role He has asked us to play. Instead, humility is embracing our lot in life, exercising our gifts to build up Christ’s body, and pointing others to Jesus Christ. We are humble because we recognize that we have nothing that has not been given to us. Even our most impressive attributes were given to us by God for His use.

So, like John, we should seek to see Christ increase as we decrease. In making much of Christ, we affirm that “all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col 1:16-17).