John 3:22-30
He Must Increase
Read the passage
22After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.
23Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.
24(For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
25Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.
26So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”
27John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’
29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30He must increase; I must decrease.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Jesus and His disciples go into the Judean countryside, where people are being baptized. John 4:2 later clarifies that Jesus' disciples perform the baptisms. John is also baptizing at Aenon near Salim because there is much water, and people are coming to him to be baptized.
A discussion arises between John's disciples and a Jew about purification. John's disciples come to him and say that the One who was with him across the Jordan is baptizing and everyone is going to Him.
John answers that a person cannot receive anything unless it is given from heaven. He reminds them that he said he is not the Christ but has been sent before Him.
John calls Jesus the bridegroom and himself the friend who stands and hears him. John's joy is complete because the bridegroom's voice has come. He says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend would misunderstand his place if he tried to keep the bride's attention for himself. John therefore hears good news in the report his disciples bring: people are going to the One he was sent to announce. His work was a gift from heaven, and its purpose is being fulfilled as Jesus receives the attention. John can rejoice because he has not lost the thing he was serving for.
Questions
1 Where are Jesus and His disciples?
AnswerThey are in the Judean countryside, spending time together while people are baptized. John 4:2 explains that the disciples, rather than Jesus Himself, do the baptizing.
2 Why are John's disciples concerned?
AnswerThey are concerned that Jesus is baptizing and that everyone is going to Him, which sounds like a threat to John's ministry.
3 How does John describe himself?
AnswerHe says he is not the Christ but has been sent before Him. He is the friend of the bridegroom, not the bridegroom.
4 What is John's joy?
AnswerHis joy is complete when he hears the bridegroom's voice. He accepts that Jesus must increase while John's prominence decreases.
What This Means for Us
John's ministry is successful precisely when it directs people to Jesus, even if that means John receives less attention. Faithful leadership measures success by the Master's honor, not personal share of the crowd.
Families can practice this humility when another person's gift, testimony, or success receives attention. Celebrate what God is doing without turning every good thing into competition.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, increase in our household while our need for recognition decreases. Give us John's joy when others see You, and make our service content to point beyond itself. Amen.