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“He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease”
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showed how gladly he welcomed the One for whom he had prepared
the way.
He said, “No one can receive anything except what is given 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; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and
hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.” RSV. John
represented himself as the friend who acted as a messenger between
the betrothed parties, preparing the way for the marriage. When
the bridegroom had received his bride, the mission of the friend
was fulfilled. He rejoiced in the happiness of those whose union he
had promoted. So it was John’s joy to witness the success of the
Saviour’s work. He said, “This my joy therefore is fulfilled. He
must increase, but I must decrease.”
Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John had risen to the height of
self-abnegation. He had been only a voice, a cry in the wilderness.
Now with joy he accepted silence and obscurity, that the eyes of all
might be turned to the Light of life.
The soul of the prophet, emptied of self, was filled with the light
of the divine. John said, “He that cometh from above is above all... .
For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God
giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.” Christ could say, “I seek
not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.”
John 5:30
.
So with the followers of Christ. We can receive of heaven’s light
only as we are willing to be emptied of self and consent to bring into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. To all who do
this the Holy Spirit is given without measure.
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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 still greater power to attract the multitudes.
Those leaders in Israel were not willing to say with John, “He must
increase, but I must decrease.”