JOHN 3:22-30 GETTING OUT OF THE WAY

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.)

25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” 27 To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.

Old habits are hard to break. We do not have to be imprisoned by addictions to experience the bondage to habitual ways of thinking and doing. In their milder form we explain them as our natural reactions to certain circumstances and stimuli. For example, we tend to be competitive. Generally this is a good trait in that it provides the energy behind what we promote including the Church, various missions and ministries, and our faith in Jesus. It is also the fuel for our loyal support for our leaders and friends. On the negative side it can blind us to the truth and promote division through a “party spirit” (1 Corinthians 3:1ff). Also, it is far too easy to dismiss the message of one who is not one of us or like us.

The problem with such competitive thinking is that it places the focus on us rather than the other. At its root, competition is self-promotional. Our inherent self-centeredness inhibits our ability to hear the word of transformation. We tend to live looking down into the well of water-baptism and never lifting our eyes to the baptism of the Spirit. John was the transitional figure in moving baptism from ritual purification, through symbolic spiritual cleansing and rebirth, and into transformation by the Holy Spirit. That is a transition required of all Christians (the transformation with or without manifestation of the charismatic gifts, but always manifesting the fruit; Galatians 5:22-23). But in order to make the change we must take on John’s attitude: “He must become greater, I must become less.”

May I, O Lord, be able to maintain my zeal for you without closing my mind to the voices you send to call me to be transformed. Drive out my prejudice and make me open to the work of your Holy Spirit no matter from where you send it. Liberate me from my selfishness and cultivate in me an otherness that focuses on you. Increase yourself in my life. Amen.