The Desire of Ages
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 18: "He Must Increase"
This chapter is based on John 3:22-36.
For a time the Baptist's influence over the nation had been
greater than that of its rulers, priests, or princes. If he had announced
himself as the Messiah, and raised a revolt against Rome, priests and people
would have flocked to his standard. Every consideration that appeals to the
ambition of the world's conquerors Satan had stood ready to urge upon John the
Baptist. But with the evidence before him of his power, he had steadfastly
refused the splendid bribe. The attention which was fixed upon him he had
directed to Another. {DA
178.1}
Now he saw the tide of popularity turning away from himself
to the Saviour. Day by day the crowds about him lessened. When Jesus came from
Jerusalem to the region about Jordan, the people flocked to hear Him. The
number of His disciples increased daily. Many came for baptism, and while
Christ Himself did not baptize, He sanctioned the administration of the
ordinance by His disciples. Thus He set His seal upon the mission of His
forerunner. But the disciples of John looked with jealousy upon the growing
popularity of Jesus. They stood ready to criticize His work, and it was not
long before they found occasion. A question arose between them and the Jews as
to whether baptism availed to cleanse the soul from sin; they maintained that
the baptism of Jesus differed essentially from that of John. Soon they were in
dispute with Christ's disciples in regard to the form of words proper to use at
baptism, and finally as to the right of the latter to baptize at all. [179]
{DA 178.2}
The disciples of John came to him with their grievances,
saying, "Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest
witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to Him." Through
these words, Satan brought temptation upon John. Though John's mission seemed
about to close, it was still possible for him to hinder the work of Christ. If
he had sympathized with himself, and expressed grief or disappointment at being
superseded, he would have sown the seeds of dissension, would have encouraged
envy and jealousy, and would seriously have impeded the progress of the gospel.
{DA 179.1}
John had by nature the faults and weaknesses common to
humanity, but the touch of divine love had transformed him. He dwelt in an
atmosphere uncontaminated with selfishness and ambition, and far above the
miasma of jealousy. He manifested no sympathy with the dissatisfaction of his
disciples, but showed how clearly he understood his relation to the Messiah,
and how gladly he welcomed the One for whom he had prepared the way. {DA 179.2}
He said, "A man can receive nothing, except it be given
him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the
Christ, but that I am sent before Him. He that hath the bride is the
bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him,
rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice." John represented
himself as the friend who acted as a messenger between the betrothed parties,
preparing the way for the marriage. When the bridegroom had received his bride,
the mission of the friend was fulfilled. He rejoiced in the happiness of those
whose union he had promoted. So John had been called to direct the people to
Jesus, and it was his joy to witness the success of the Saviour's work. He
said, "This my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must
decrease." {DA 179.3}
Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John had risen to the
height of self-abnegation. He sought not to attract men to himself, but to lift
their thoughts higher and still higher, until they should rest upon the Lamb of
God. He himself had been only a voice, a cry in the wilderness. Now with joy he
accepted silence and obscurity, that the eyes of all might be turned to the
Light of life. {DA 179.4}
Those who are true to their calling as messengers for God
will not seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be swallowed up in love
for Christ. No rivalry will mar the precious cause of the gospel. They will
recognize that it is their work to proclaim, as did John the Baptist, [180]
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
John 1:29. They will lift up Jesus, and with Him humanity will be lifted up.
"Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is
Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite
and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart
of the contrite ones." Isaiah 57:15. {DA 179.5}
The soul of the prophet, emptied of self, was filled with
the light of the divine. As he witnessed to the Saviour's glory, his words were
almost a counterpart of those that Christ Himself had spoken in His interview
with Nicodemus. John said, "He that cometh from above is above all: he
that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from
heaven is above all. . . . For He whom God hath sent speaketh the
words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him." Christ
could say, "I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which
hath sent Me." John 5:30. To Him it is declared, "Thou hast loved
righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed
Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows." Hebrews 1:9. The Father
"giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him." [181] {DA 180.1}
So with the followers of Christ. We can receive of heaven's
light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We cannot discern the
character of God, or accept Christ by faith, unless we consent to the bringing
into captivity of every thought to the obedience of Christ. To all who do this
the Holy Spirit is given without measure. In Christ "dwelleth all the
fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in Him ye are made full." Colossians
2:9, 10, R. V. {DA 181.1}
The disciples of John had declared that all men were coming
to Christ; but with clearer insight, John said, "No man receiveth His
witness;" so few were ready to accept Him as the Saviour from sin. But
"he that hath received His witness hath set his seal to this, that God is
true." John 3:33, R. V. "He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life." No need of disputation as to whether Christ's baptism
or John's purified from sin. It is the grace of Christ that gives life to the
soul. Apart from Christ, baptism, like any other service, is a worthless form.
"He that believeth not the Son shall not see life." {DA 181.2}
The success of Christ's work, which the Baptist had received
with such joy, was reported also to the authorities at Jerusalem. The priests
and rabbis had been jealous of John's influence as they saw the people leaving
the synagogues and flocking to the wilderness; but here was One who had still
greater power to attract the multitudes. Those leaders in Israel were not
willing to say with John, "He must increase, but I must decrease."
They arose with a new determination to put an end to the work that was drawing
the people away from them. {DA
181.3}
Jesus knew that they would spare no effort to create a
division between His own disciples and those of John. He knew that the storm
was gathering which would sweep away one of the greatest prophets ever given to
the world. Wishing to avoid all occasion for misunderstanding or dissension, He
quietly ceased His labors, and withdrew to Galilee. We also, while loyal to
truth, should try to avoid all that may lead to discord and misapprehension.
For whenever these arise, they result in the loss of souls. Whenever
circumstances occur that threaten to cause division, we should follow the
example of Jesus and of John the Baptist. {DA 181.4}
John had been called to lead out as a reformer. Because of
this, his disciples were in danger of fixing their attention upon him, feeling
that the success of the work depended upon his labors, and losing sight of the
fact that he was only an instrument through which God had wrought. But the work
of John was not sufficient to lay the foundation of the [182]
Christian church. When he had fulfilled his mission, another work was to be done,
which his testimony could not accomplish. His disciples did not understand
this. When they saw Christ coming in to take the work, they were jealous and
dissatisfied. {DA 181.5}
The same dangers still exist. God calls a man to do a
certain work; and when he has carried it as far as he is qualified to take it,
the Lord brings in others, to carry it still farther. But, like John's
disciples, many feel that the success of the work depends on the first laborer.
Attention is fixed upon the human instead of the divine, jealousy comes in, and
the work of God is marred. The one thus unduly honored is tempted to cherish
self-confidence. He does not realize his dependence on God. The people are
taught to rely on man for guidance, and thus they fall into error, and are led
away from God. {DA 182.1}
The work of God is not to bear the image and superscription
of man. From time to time the Lord will bring in different agencies, through
whom His purpose can best be accomplished. Happy are they who are willing for
self to be humbled, saying with John the Baptist, "He must increase, but I
must decrease." {DA
182.2}
Click here to read the next chapter:
"At Jacob's Well"
|
