More of Christ and Less of Me

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).

Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it 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.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:16-21).

Some of John the Baptist’s disciples noticed that their numbers were dwindling. They reported to John that everyone was crossing over the Jordan River to follow Jesus Christ. They remembered Jesus was the one the Baptist had identified as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Our Teacher included this event in John’s gospel to provide us a revelation of the condition of the hearts of some of John’s disciples. Why were they concerned about the increasing number of Christ’s disciples? What was the motivation behind bringing this report to the Baptist? Were they comparing the success of Jesus’ ministry with their own shrinking ministry? Why had they not gone over to follow Jesus? John’s response to their report was humble and joyful. His answer revealed the condition of his heart and the position of his life in Christ. He remained committed to being the messenger of the Messiah, and he rejoiced as others came to Christ, even those who left him. The Baptist acknowledged that Christ must increase, but I must decrease. John’s personal joy increased as the work of Christ increased. As truth seekers read today’s scripture the Holy Spirit guides us to the precious truth that our hearts will be filled with real fulfillment and joy when there is more of Christ and less of me.

What is it that brings joy to your heart? How much time, attention, and energy do you spend pursuing that person or thing that brings you joy? How long does that kind of joy last? How much does that joy depend upon the success of your own efforts? Whatever it is that brings you great joy can become a priority in your life. It can be a person, a place, or a thing. It can be a job, a position, or even a ministry. It can consume your thoughts, your time, and your money. It can take over your life and become the one great thing that you are living for. The problem is that because nothing that brings joy in this life lasts forever, there is nothing in this temporal world worth living an eternal life for.

When we become a Christ follower we stop living for our self and to start living for Christ… “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’” (Matthew 16:24). When we are born again we surrender our former self-centered life and begin a new life in Christ… “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). The Spirit of Truth challenges Christ followers to imitate David as we mature in the faith to let go of everything and everybody that we depend on for joy and look to the Lord alone as our source of strength and joy… “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:25-26). The Spirit moved Paul to teach this truth by his own personal example… “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). When we die to self and live for Christ a marvelous transformation takes place in our heart and our joy increases as His work in and through us increases… “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

As we grow up into Christ our joy and fulfillment increases as in our hearts are filled with…

More of Christ and Less of Me.