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Humble Hero
how gladly he welcomed the One for whom he had prepared the
way.
He said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to
him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am
not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 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.”
John represented himself as the friend who acted as a messenger
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between the engaged parties, preparing the way for the marriage.
When the bridegroom had received his bride, the mission of the
friend was completed. He rejoiced in the happiness of the couple
whose union he had promoted. In the same way, it was John’s joy to
witness the success of the Savior’s work. He said, “Therefore this
joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John had risen to the height of
selfdenial. He had been only a voice, a cry in the wilderness. Now
with joy he accepted silence and obscurity, so that everyone might
turn their eyes to the Light of life.
John’s soul was emptied of self but was filled with the light of
God. John said, “He who comes from above is above all. ... For He
whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give
the Spirit by measure.” Christ could say, “I do not seek My own will
but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
John 5:30
.
It is the same way with the followers of Christ. We can receive
Heaven’s light only as we are willing to be emptied of self and
consent to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of
Christ. God gives the Holy Spirit beyond measure to all who do this.
The success of Christ’s work, which the Baptist had received
with joy, was reported also to the authorities at Jerusalem. The
priests and rabbis had been jealous of John’s influence as they saw
the people leaving the synagogues and flocking to the wilderness.
But here was One who had even greater power to attract the crowds.
Those leaders in Israel were not willing to say with John, “He must
increase, but I must decrease.”