The church I go to has been reading through the Gospel of John together. As I have been reading chapter after chapter I am amazed at one of the first characters presented in the book. His name is John. He isn’t the same John who is listed in the title of the book. But he is a big deal and not at the same time. How’s that?

John is one of my heroes. He was a big deal, but he chose not to be a big deal. It is hard to find many big deals not interested in being a big deal. I want to be a big deal. It is why I don’t respond well to criticism and I crave approval. I have a lot to learn from John.

John was a big deal. He was Jesus’ cousin. That’s a big deal. He was in Jesus’ family. Imagine that on his Facebook profile! Family….Jesus. He had a big ministry before Jesus came on the scene. He had a sweet location for his group of disciples. His church plant had a killer view of the Jordan River. You could show up just as you were. After all, the preacher was dressed pretty casual. Check it out (it’s in Matthew 3:4). Dressed like that, his Instagram would have been crazy good. He had a lot of new believers in his group. That would have given him credibility on Twitter. He preached a message of repentance. The bloggers would have been down with that. Then Jesus showed up.

You know what John did? He bowed out and left the scene for Jesus to take up the message. Jesus hung out for a while in the area, but then he moved to Capernaum in Galilee. People follow Him. John loved it. He still had questions, but he was convinced of one thing. Jesus was the Messiah and because of that, “He must increase and I must decrease.” (John 3:30). Drop the mic. Close the curtain. Exit stage left. Cue the credits. I’m out. Follow Jesus.

Jesus, do for me what You did for John. Make me a man who wants nothing more than for you to increase in my life, and in the life of those I lead. Deliver me from status seeking, approval sucking, and grandstanding. You are all I need. You are enough. Amen.