"Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." (John 3:29b-30)
In the third chapter of the Gospel of John we read about John's disciples making him aware of the fact that people now were going to Jesus to be baptized instead of him. How would you respond if you were John? Out of jealousy? Envy? Insecurity? Fear? The only way that one could deny the sin nature's desire to "rise up" and compete with this situation would be to understand who Jesus was, who we are, and what part we are to play. John responded to the statement by saying, "I am only here to prepare the way for him." John understood "it wasn't all about him". His role was not to prepare the way for "himself" to be great, but to prepare the way for Jesus Christ to come on the scene to be great and for others to see Him! That's what great leaders do--prepare the way for other's success! They understand that it isn't all about them--but about helping others succeed and ultimately preparing the way for others to encounter the living Christ! John goes on to say, "Therefore I am filled with joy at his success." Are you and I filled with joy when others succeed or are we filled with envy and jealousy? What if God's calling for your life is to help prepare the way for others and to help them succeed? John understood who he was (not the Messiah), who Jesus was (the Messiah), and his part to play (to prepare the way for the Messiah). That's why John wasn't offended, but overwhelmed with joy--why? Because he succeeded in his calling! He prepared the way for the Christ and when Jesus was succeeding, John succeeded in his mission!
In verse 30 John tops it off when he says, "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." Great leaders don't mind "fading out of the scene" when it is time for others to rise up. When we aren't filled with Christ and humility, we are only left with being filled with ourselves! I don't want to be full of it, or full of me, I want to be full of Him!
Who is God calling you to prepare the way for? What can you do to help others succeed? What role do you have in pointing others to Christ?
