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We Must Decrease: Giving way to Christ
by Phil Maxwell May 8, 1999
Something has been troubling me for a long time, and has been particularly strong lately.
If I can find the words, I'll draw upon the illustration afforded by the contrast between
John the Baptist and Yahshua the Messiah.
Little more need be said of the greatness of John’s ministry than to repeat
Yahshua’s words of him, “Among those that are born of women there is not a
greater prophet than John the Baptist.” (Luke 7:28) For those who aspire simply to
hear the Lord say, “well done, thou good and faithful servant,” (Matt. 25:21)
such a testimony speaks volumes. John, according to the prophecies written of him long
before, had a single prevailing purpose, to announce the coming King, Yahshua the Messiah.
For his work in this, John received the highest praise from Yahshua Himself and no doubt
accumulated riches to be received in the kingdom to come.
After an indeterminate time of preaching the message of repentance in the wilderness,
preparing the way for the Messiah, John’s mission came to a climax one day when he
looked up and saw Yahshua heading towards him at the river Jordan. Seeing the one he had
said was far greater than himself coming, he exclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of
God!” From that point on, John’s role was best described in his own words,
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) Even much later,
John’s testimony lived on, as the Scriptures say, “And many resorted unto him,
and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.”
(John 10:41) Though a simple one and unaccompanied with no great miracles, John’s
ministry had truly been effective.
When John came along, there was a general sense of expectation amongst the Jews and their
neighbors regarding the Messiah of prophecy, largely because of (ironically) the
Pharisees. John not only testified of the coming Messiah, but repeatedly made it clear
that he was not the one, but only a forerunner. His eyes were set on the Messiah, and his
testimony was directed at turning others’ attention to the same. In a nutshell, John
pointed to the King and His kingdom, calling people to repent of their sins because it was
nigh. Yahshua, the King, also pointed to the kingdom He would establish and called people
to repent. Yahshua’s disciples were then commissioned to spread the gospel of the
same forthcoming kingdom and, likewise, call people to repentance. In all these instances,
the coming kingdom of heaven is the great event these ambassadors of God proclaimed and
dedicated their lives to, and that kingdom is yet to be established.
We live in a day that is very much like John the Baptist’s time. Particularly, there
is a general sense of anticipation of the coming Messiah and the establishment of His
kingdom amongst those who consider themselves Christians and many who don’t. Given
this, it would seem that the primary focus of all those who name Yahshua as Lord ought to
be the same as it was for John, Yahshua, and the Apostles - to call men to repentance for
the kingdom of heaven is near. Specifically, as John and the Apostles, attention should be
drawn away from ourselves and whatever groups we may be affiliated with, for there is a
kingdom coming of which even the least member is far greater than anything we have or have
witnessed. The contrast between even the greatest of ministers of this generation and
those of the kingdom of heaven is as John compared to Yahshua - none are even worthy to
loosen the shoe latchets of the least member of this kingdom.
Even after Yahshua was baptized, John continued for a time and had disciples who remained
with him, so I’m not saying there is no place for ministry that more or less centers
on things near and present. However, the greatest ministry of all is the gospel of the
kingdom, and it is one that draws attention to Yahshua and His kingdom, not any person or
group. It is a ministry that says follow Yahshua, not follow me or us. It proclaims that
whatever good you may see here, look further, for it is nothing compared to what is yet to
come.
When I listen to the many voices representing Yahweh in the world, I hear far too much of
what amounts to ‘we are the greatest’ rather than ‘even the least in the
kingdom of God is greater.’ I cringe as I listen to the prospective children of the
kingdom clamoring for attention, like all the ladies vying for the role of queen in
Esther’s day, except for her. She adorned herself only in what had been given her and
never sought the king’s attention for her own sake. Whereas the heart of the children
of God ought to be as John’s, joyfully accepting that we must decrease so that
Yahshua might increase, the opposite seems pervasive - almost all are seeking their own
gain in one way or another. It is a grave error to take the blessing and anointment of
Yahweh’s Spirit and use it for the sake of elevating ourselves or our ministries in
the name of Christ. John knew this and so should we. The kingdom may be taken by force,
but ultimately it is the meek who will inherit the earth.
I am convinced that if the true children of the kingdom of heaven would set their hearts
on their riches in heaven rather than their work here on earth, they would turn the world
upside down. When our voices proclaim in unison, ‘follow Yahshua,’ rather than
‘follow me/us,’ then, and only then, will we be as a candle set on hill, the
salt and light of the world.
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