First Friday in Lent

 John 3:22-36 (NRSV)

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized— John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.

Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.’ John answered, ‘No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.” He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.’

The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." To me, this is the most significant phrase in this pericope. I've written about John before and his efforts to point to Jesus with everything that he does. This is another prime example of John playing a good second chair. John must decrease so that Jesus can increase.

Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside and were across from where John was baptizing. The scripture says that Jesus and his disciples were baptizing. John's disciples were obviously thinking that Jesus was trying to take John's followers. So, they rushed to John and told him that Jesus is baptizing and "all are going to him."

John is quick to remind them that Jesus was first and will always be first. He reminds them that he was sent ahead so that he might prepare the way. John compares what he is doing to "the friend of the bridegroom," (John) who rejoices at the bridegroom's (Jesus) arrival. And now that the time has come, John tells them that Jesus must increase, but he must decrease. John must do his part, and in all things John does, get out of the way of the mission that Jesus has.

Today's scene is mesmerizing to the point of watching John, who is highly regarded by his followers, give up his power and position to Jesus. John knows that this is his purpose, and it doesn't worry him that people are going out to be baptized by Jesus. He knows that Jesus offers them life beyond life, in the presence and in connection with the creator. 

John is a model for us today of what it means to give glory to God. In his case, his followers seem to see Jesus as a threat, but not John. John sees it as an opportunity to point others toward God's grace and glory. Today, my lenten questions are: how often do we give up our glory for the glory of God? Do we see ourselves as loved by God so much that we want to share that love with others? Do we think we will lose something if we point others in a direction away from ourselves and toward God? How do we decrease so that Jesus can increase?