“Kudos to John”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Tuesday, August 9, 2022
John 3:22-36 (Forward, p. 11) CEV p. 1103
Kudos to John the Baptist: he really deserves this honour and praise, even though he never ever focused on himself or asked for any honour or praise or acknowledgement. Instead, John focused only one his mission, on the work that he had been called to do, which was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah.
We see them ‘brought out in spades’ in today’s passage. People are coming to John with a certain kind of misplaced grievance—the kind that we see all too often these days. It is a grievance for him, based on a feeling that John is somehow being robbed or at least diminished in some way. They come to him, pointing out that the person he’d previously spoken about, namely Jesus, was now baptizing people, such that everyone was now going to Him. Somehow, they thought that John was thereby being lessened in some way.
But John, the great and conscientious person that he is, doesn’t see it that way. He says that it is the way that it should be, the way that God has intended. He reminds them that he is not the Messiah but was sent ahead of the Messiah to prepare the way for Him. He likens himself to the best man at a wedding, whose function is only to get things ready for the groom.
As he so tellingly puts it, “Jesus must become more important, while I become less important.”
This little piece of dialogue puts me in mind of three things. Firstly, it reminds me of how often, well-meaning as we might be, we take offence for someone else--when that person may not be concerned about the alleged insult or offence in the least. Secondly—here I speak personally—I think of how hard it is for us sometimes to let other people take the credit or praise or acknowledgement for a job well done, especially when we feel that it should rightfully be going to us! And thirdly, I think of John’s single-minded devotion to his calling—and, this is important—to always put Jesus first. May we, you and I, also be faithful to our callings, whatever they may be, and always be determined to put Jesus first and foremost in everything, in everything that we think or say or do, or even plan. Amen.
Forward notes: “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” (verses 29b-30).
“Years ago, I was privileged to join a research seminar taught by a well-known scholar. Although he had written numerous books and articles, what mattered to him was not his own prestige but rather sharing knowledge and encouraging us to become scholars in our own right. Another participant invited me to contribute to an essay collection, and my new research path began. The seminar was, for me, life-changing.
“These scholars followed in the footsteps of John the Baptist by putting others first. More important than being revered as the baptizer, John the Baptist rejoices that the bridegroom—Christ himself—has come.
“Like John, we, the students, are called to serve by forgetting our own status. We are asked to roll up our sleeves and become teachers, helping others see the true Christ by rejoicing in the one who ‘gives the Spirit without measure.’ In so doing, we are invited to eternal life.”
Moving Forward: “Do you celebrate the success of others or worry that their bright light might dim your own?”