John’s testimony

by Ruth Olsen

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

He must become greater; I must become less (John 3:30).

Read John 3:22–36

Have you learnt to walk in humility? What helped you learn that?

I am struck in these verses by the humility of John the Baptist. He does not claim centre stage, where his disciples think he should be, but steps aside and points people to the One he describes as ‘the Bridegroom’, the Christ. What’s more, John is full of joy when he hears what Jesus and his disciples are doing.

Any parent of a 2- to 4-year-old knows the challenges of helping their little one learn that they are not centre stage in everything. As adults, we still tend to struggle as we learn that ‘it’s not all about me’ – that there is a bigger picture of what God is doing in the world, even in our time. Discipline is needed to help us learn to let go of our own wants, to instead give room to others. Paradoxically, submitting to discipline helps us discover that we really are sons and daughters; we are loved when healthy boundaries are applied. Enduring hardship is part of the process of discipline (Hebrews 12:4–11). It’s not fun at the time, but it helps us grow in humility.

Jesus also walked this road (Philippians 2:1–11), even though he is ‘the one who comes from above’ (John 3:31,32). Humility is needed for us to be willing to trust the Lord in the little and big things that happen in life. Humility does not happen automatically but requires our participation. Maybe one day we can ask John the Baptist, and Jesus, how they learnt to walk in humility? Jesus knows what it is like. And John the Baptist demonstrated it too.

John the Baptist gave totally submitted testimony to Jesus, and declared that Jesus testifies to what he has seen, heard and lived, in the Father’s love of him and for the world. John’s testimony acknowledges that Jesus was sent by God and spoke the words of God, that anyone who believes Jesus has eternal life.

 Father, by your Spirit’s power, please inspire millions more people to receive and believe the message of Jesus, to discover the life you give through him.

Ruth is Steen’s other half, lives in Adelaide, and loves reading. From the Bible, books on Christian living, biographies, especially of someone’s journey of faith, through to Reader’s Digest, the Inquirer section of The Weekend Australian, or travel information etc., many things are opened through reading. That’s also why she enjoys helping Afghani women learn to read and write in English, when they were denied that opportunity with their own language as children.

• Click here to read previous devotions.
• We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
• Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.