Upstaged by the Lamb of God

John the Baptist was a guy I would love to have known. He was a man that seems to me to have been a little on the eccentric side. A guy who cared little about what people thought of him personally. A man with eclectic tastes in fashion and cuisine. Unique and individual indeed, but also a man with a singular passion - the proclamation of the coming Messiah - the son of God, Jesus Christ. And he was enthusiastic about it. The mission which he undertook was the presentation of the Savior to the world around him. When questioned by the religious leadership regarding his own identity, John was quick to point out that he was not the Christ but merely the voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord!" He goes on to emphasize that, although John had baptized many with water, this One, this Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

In chapter 3 of John's Gospel, the followers of John the Baptist came to him and said, "This one to whom you bore witness - He is baptizing. And all are going to Him!" It is as if they were saying to John the Baptist, "Jesus is stealing your audience." What a tremendous example for us is found in John's reply. He said, "My joy is complete." Complete in that he was witness now to the gathering of the people to the One whom he had so passionately proclaimed. He goes onto to encapsulate his thoughts with these words; "He must increase, but I must decrease."

What a challenge to us as ones that God has commissioned to make disciples. One of the most important principles in the making of disciples (or learners as the word means) is that the function of the disciple maker is to point a learner to Christ. It is so easy to try to win and persuade people to be followers of something other than Jesus - a philosophy or psychology, a dynamic leader, an ideal about which people can become passionate. But how is God glorified in that?

"Lord, as I serve, may you ever increase above all things."