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"Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’ But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’" (Matthew 3.13-17).

It was not a false humility which compelled John to say, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" John made other statements which corroborate his true feelings about Jesus, a sampling of which are noted. "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; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3.28-30). Again John said, "He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry." (Matthew 3.11).

We all have a station in life, or a calling, or talents, or abilities – or whatever one chooses to call it. That place in life sometimes is beyond our power to change; rather, we are limited in some way by circumstances that are beyond our control. Such limitations are never a matter that should lead to self-deprecation or belittlement; we just need to accept who we are in such cases by maximizing our potential and by minimizing our inabilities. Think what a failure John would have been had he insisted on being the "main show" or demanded that he be given the same ability to perform miracles as Jesus had (see John 10.41). In fact, who would have prepared the way of the Lord had John not accepted his role and performed it so wonderfully? Someone had to do the job – even though it was not one of great glory or notoriety – and that in order for Jesus to do what He came to do.

John knew a principle that is sometimes hard for us to accept; Jesus taught this same principle. It might be stated as: "True greatness starts with the willingness to serve and never with the desire to be served." John lived this principle in acting as the harbinger prophet of Messiah. His whole purpose in life was to promote the ascendancy of Messiah and to accept his own diminishing role as Messiah’s ministry gained momentum. This principle is one which recognizes that whatever we have, whatever capabilities we possess, and whatever opportunities come our way, we ought to be thankful and faithful stewards of these things. After all, life does not consist of the things which we possess (see Luke 12.15). Covetousness of things, abilities, position, power, and any other thing of earthly duration is of no value and will lead to our demise spiritually.

John, Harbinger of Messiah, knew that true greatness begins and ends with service to others!

Questions:

1. At the first, why did John not wish to baptize Jesus?

2. What statements did John make which demonstrate that his humility in this matter was genuine?

3. What is covetousness? Whom can it affect? What are its results as regards spiritual matters?

4. Why did God send a harbinger that would recognize this principle of service?

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Inerrancy in History