John the Baptist was a rock star. Crowds poured into the wilderness to see this wild man who preached a powerful message of repentance.
When the Pharisees came, John confronted them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matthew 3:7. He also had the guts to rebuke Herod for his adultery (for which John would later be beheaded). Crowds followed John wherever he went, and he baptized them as a sign of their repentance under Old Testament law.
But after he baptized Jesus and his Cousin began preaching and healing, John’s ministry—which began in his mother’s womb—quickly became yesterday’s news. John’s disciples came to him with a report: “Rabbi, the One you testified about … is baptizing and everyone is flocking to Him. John answered them:
“I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of Him’…. So [seeing this makes] my joy complete. HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE” John 3:26-30.
Was John jealous of Jesus? No!
Seeing the early days of Jesus’s ministry made his joy COMPLETE. He was sent to bear witness to Jesus, to prepare the people. Now his task was fulfilled. John had served God faithfully and God blessed him with the joy of seeing his work completed.
Our role as parents is similar. God calls us to lead our children to Jesus, to prepare their hearts, to teach them right from wrong, and to teach them that God loves them and provides forgiveness through Jesus.
But as you grow older, our role grows smaller. As children become adults, parents take on the role of consultants.
Jesus Himself is your Teacher now, and when you seek Him it makes our joy COMPLETE.
The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. God the Father will speak to you with answers and guidance and His Wonderful Counsel. We pray that you will go to God more and more. Dig into His word for help for EVERY problem and strength for every challenge. Talk to Him about EVERYTHING. Nothing could bring your parents more joy.
“HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE.”
ΑΩ
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