22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23-24 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).

25-26 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 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. 28-29 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 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.” John 3:22-30 English Standard Version

Michael Faraday is regarded as one of Britain's greatest scientists. One of his pioneering works was that of generating electric current by using magnets. He was also a God fearing man of great humility. Towards the end of his life he turned down an offer to be buried with Britain’s kings and queens and famous scientists, such as Sir Isaac Newton, within the 'national mausoleum' of Westminster Abbey. This would've been one of the highest tributes to a man of his standing. Instead, he was inclined toward a humble burial in London’s Highgate Cemetery, interred next to Sarah, his wife of 46 years. (From an article in the publication “Tomorrow's world.”)

True humility makes a person stand out from the crowd. People who are always blowing their own trumpet are hard to put up with. Today's reading shows that in the time when the ministry of Jesus and the ministry of John the Baptist overlapped, they both had bands of disciples following them. Verses 25-26 describe a problem that arose when the disciples of John were concerned that more people were moving over to follow Jesus. But what was John's response in vs 27 and vs 30?

Despite the popularity he had gained, John affirmed that any abilities people have are God given, and are best used in humble submission to His will. He reminded his disciples of what he had been telling them early on in his ministry, namely, that he was NOT the Messiah they were expecting, but just the one who had come to point Him out to the people. (vs 28-29)

In his letter to Christians at Philippi the apostle Paul stressed the importance of true humility. He wrote: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:1-4) He urged them to look to Jesus Christ for inspiration to adopt the humility which sees the needs of others as more important than their own.

What was it about Jesus that ought to make humility our response to His gospel?

Paul tells us that “though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant.” If ever anyone possessed true greatness it is surely the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet He did not grasp or parade His greatness. He humbled Himself to come to the aid of those in desperate need. No wonder John the Baptist could say what we read in vs 30!

Whatever abilities or prominence God might entrust to anyone in this world, his or her ultimate longing should be that their accomplishments lead to greater praise of their Saviour. Their joy is not in the applause of the world, but in hearing the Bridegroom's voice saying: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.”