He must increase; I must decrease
1 John 5:14-21
John 3:22-30
Today's gospel reveals to us the great humility of John. His disciples were hurt to see him lose followers as they went over to Christ. They had come to love their master and even though he had told them that his mission was to point out the Christ, the latter they had not known. But in answer to them John showed that he was above ambition and self-pity.
John told his disciples: "No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven." The first sin, and indeed the root of all sin consists in trying to take what has not been given by heaven. And from this comes all sorts of misery: dissatisfaction, envy, avarice, guilt, etc. We would spare ourselves a lot of pain if we would accept that sometimes it is not given to us to take first place. John knew this and taught it to his disciples. John compared himself to the friend of the bridegroom where Jesus was the bridegroom. This was a familiar image to Jews. We know how often in the Old Testament Israel was compared to the bride of God. Now the bridegroom had come to assume his place. The religious leaders of Jesus' time would have made his work and their life much easier if they had discovered the wisdom of John: that their honor and calling was to be the friends of the bridegroom. By wanting to usurp the place of the bridegroom they made themselves his enemies instead.
John concludes with the great statement: "he must increase, I must decrease." This should be the prayer and attitude of everyone called as a minister of Christ. His or her role is to make Christ known, so that Christ, and not the minister, may increase in the hearts of his people. May we learn from John to know the glory of God and our place in his design.
