"THE CHRIST!"

John 3:26-30                    (ESV)
"26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, HE who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness-look, HE is baptizing, and all are going to HIM."
27 John answered, "A person cannot receive EVEN ONE THING unless it is given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not "THE CHRIST", but I have been sent before HIM.'
29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
30 HE must increase, but I must decrease."


People can give other people honor and praise when those people don't deserve the attention.  When I used to serve on a local school board, the employees of the school district would seemingly go out of their way to honor board members when we attended their school or function.  School Board members were elected to a Non-Payed position "to serve" others, and wound up trying to be served by the school district!  Keeping the perspective of who we really were was a challenge!

John the Baptist was being hailed as something more than he knew he was.  John understood that every good thing comes from Heaven (James 1:17).  John realized that THE CHRIST was someone whose "sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie" (Acts 13:25). The crowds were trying to elevate John to a position he knew he did not deserve.  But John would not allow himself to draw any glory or praise away from "THE CHRIST", as he understood JESUS to be the Son of GOD (John 1:29-34).

John had to be a unique individual to deflect all the praise and attention people were trying to lavish upon him.  He always wanted to make sure that the focus of the people remained on "THE CHRIST" and never migrated to him.  "THE CHRIST" was GOD in the flesh and he didn't deserve or desire any attention to be upon himself.

The practice of elevating people is something we must be careful with. Appreciation and thankfulness for the actions of others can be, and should be given.  "THE CHRIST" should be the ONE we honor and praise.  HE performs miracles we are not even aware of.  HE even performs miracles when others are given credit for them.  Just as John the Baptist made certain "THE CHRIST" received the glory HE deserved, we need to make sure "THE CHRIST" is the only ONE glorified in our lives.