Greater
Read John 3:22-36.
Transitions are never easy. When a CEO retires, the speculation is always on who is next. When Steve Jobs handed over the reins of Apple to Tim Cook, there was a lot of speculation as to whether or not Apple would still be able to innovate. The same thing happened with Bill Gates stepped down as the head of Microsoft. Lately, the eyes of the Christian world have been on several large (mega) churches whose senior (and often founding) pastors are on the verge of retiring. What will happen when the first one to lead moves on?
Being a United Methodist pastor, I have been through several transitions, and it's not any easier on the one coming in than it is on the one leaving. Every one of the four transitions I've been involved in have had its own peculiarities. It's hard for us (on all sides) to "move on" or to adapt to change.
Knowing all of that, it's surprising to see how easily John the Baptist lays aside his own influence and "glory" so that Jesus can take center stage. John's disciples are certainly not ready for him to step aside! They know if he steps aside, their own influence and power goes away. When they find out that Jesus and his disciples are out baptizing (how cool would it be to have your baptismal certificate signed by Jesus?) and that people are going to him instead of coming to John, they go to John to complain. "He's stealing our thunder," they say.
But John isn't worried. He knows the role God has called him to play. He's the "best man," preparing the way for the groom to come, and now that the groom has arrived, he's more than willing to step aside and allow the groom to have center stage. "He must become greater," John says, "and I must become less."
John's role is really the role all of us play. Even though Jesus has already come in the flesh, we are still called to point toward him. Our role is of one who is constantly becoming "lesser" in the grand story so that more and more of Jesus can shine through us. He must become greater, and we must become lesser. It's not about our own glory; it's all about his.
Transitions are never easy. When a CEO retires, the speculation is always on who is next. When Steve Jobs handed over the reins of Apple to Tim Cook, there was a lot of speculation as to whether or not Apple would still be able to innovate. The same thing happened with Bill Gates stepped down as the head of Microsoft. Lately, the eyes of the Christian world have been on several large (mega) churches whose senior (and often founding) pastors are on the verge of retiring. What will happen when the first one to lead moves on?
Being a United Methodist pastor, I have been through several transitions, and it's not any easier on the one coming in than it is on the one leaving. Every one of the four transitions I've been involved in have had its own peculiarities. It's hard for us (on all sides) to "move on" or to adapt to change.
Knowing all of that, it's surprising to see how easily John the Baptist lays aside his own influence and "glory" so that Jesus can take center stage. John's disciples are certainly not ready for him to step aside! They know if he steps aside, their own influence and power goes away. When they find out that Jesus and his disciples are out baptizing (how cool would it be to have your baptismal certificate signed by Jesus?) and that people are going to him instead of coming to John, they go to John to complain. "He's stealing our thunder," they say.
But John isn't worried. He knows the role God has called him to play. He's the "best man," preparing the way for the groom to come, and now that the groom has arrived, he's more than willing to step aside and allow the groom to have center stage. "He must become greater," John says, "and I must become less."
John's role is really the role all of us play. Even though Jesus has already come in the flesh, we are still called to point toward him. Our role is of one who is constantly becoming "lesser" in the grand story so that more and more of Jesus can shine through us. He must become greater, and we must become lesser. It's not about our own glory; it's all about his.
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