What rust is
to iron, and mildew is to plants, and moth is to the
cloth it breeds in, so is envy to the unhappy heart
in which it dwells. Blessed is the one who has
victory over envy, as did John the Baptist.
Let's consider
the trouble. With much feeling John the Baptist
preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is
at hand." Thousands of folk flocked to him and
were baptized, even Jesus. But a little while later
the Lord Jesus engaged in the same ministry and a
greater crowd was coming to Him. He administered the
ordinance of baptism, but only at the hands of His
disciples. This led to a discussion between the
disciples of John and a cantankerous character about
the matter of being cleansed. So they went to John
the Baptist, enraged with envy and said, "Rabbi,
He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to Whom thou
bearest witness, behold the same baptizeth, and all
men come to Him." Which meant, "John, your
star is sinking. His star is rising. It won't be long
until the people will be forsaking you and following
Him." The attitude displayed in that jealous
complaint is witnessed today. There are many who are
more concerned about the increase of their own
churches, than for the increase of Christianity. They
can't rejoice in the salvation of sinners or the
consecration of Christians if these blessings are
experienced anywhere except within their own
boundaries. They seem ready to shut men and women out
of heaven if they'll not enter under their banner.
Not so, John the Baptist. He wasn't concerned about
his popularity, only about preparing the way of the
Lord. He wasn't concerned about his glory, only about
the glory of God. Such was the case with Paul. He
declared, "If Christ be preached, I
rejoice!" If souls are saved and God is
glorified, we ought to rejoice, whatever be the
messenger or the means God may use. Think of Moses.
Two of his elders were prophesying. Joshua was
jealous for Moses, so he said to him, "Forbid
them." Moses replied, "Enviest thou for my
sake? Would God that all the Lord's people were
prophets."
Let's consider
the testimony. Though his popularity was declining,
his crowds dissolving, and his light being eclipsed
by a greater, yet he didn't become weary in well
doing. He did the will of God faithfully, and
testified, "A man can receive nothing, except it
be given him from above." He meant, "Fame
and fortune, popularity and promotion are gifts of
God. All success is of God." Therefore, if a
certain minister's popularity recedes, while
another's rises, it's of God. Our text continues,
with John declaring in chapter 3, verses 29 and 30,
"He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but
the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and
hearest him, rejoiceth greatly because of the
bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is
fulfilled." With humility and happiness John
calls himself the friend of the bridegroom. Today we
call that person "the best man." What's his
duty? To stand by the groom and help in everything!
When the minister asks at the wedding ceremony,
"Who giveth this woman?" he answers,
"I do." Then he retires to his seat. That's
to signify, "I've handed over this woman to this
man. He now becomes her husband." In like
manner, John the Baptist testifies, "Christ is
the Bridegroom. I'm the friend of the Bridegroom. The
bride belongs to Him, not to me. I've done my task.
Now I'll step aside so that the beloved Bridegroom
may be all in all. 'He must increase, and I must
decrease.'" To decrease, as I see it, is to be
less and less occupied with self, and more and more
occupied with the Savior. And the closer one is to
Christ, the less he thinks of self and the more he
thinks of the Savior; the less he talks about self
and the more he talks about the Savior. Michelangelo
used to say, "The more the marble wastes, the
more the statue grows." It's only as our selves
waste, that our Savior is seen and wanted. When
that's done, our work is done. Oh, no work is so
honorable and joyful as talking about the Lord. None
are so highly honored as those who are permitted to
labor with the Lord. A medical student went into an
operating room to watch a surgeon at work. The
assistant failed to come, so he was asked to help
him. "How proud I was," he said, "to
help this great man save a life." The Lord Jesus
has called us to help Him save souls, for the Bible
says, "We are laborers together with God."
Shouldn't we be proud of this glorious honor?
copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic
Association
All Scripture verses are
quoted from the New King James Version.
Click here to go to the next message in this Sower
Scripture Study on the book of John.
This series of messages on the
books of the Bible were originally written for
broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The
Sower." They are collected and reprinted here
for your enjoyment and spiritual edification.
