He Must Become Greater
John 3:30
30 He must become greater; I must become less.
I. Baptist John
The word of God came to Baptist John son of Zechariah in the wilderness (Luke 3:2). He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3).
Gloriously, so many people came to Baptist John. See Mark 1:5.
The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him.
II. Temptation for Vain Glory
The devil tempted them for vain glory [3] (‘you will be like God’) in Genesis 3:5.
“…when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…”
The devil tempted Jesus for vain glory in Matthew 4:5-6 by asking to throw himself down from the temple top and in Matthew 4:8-9 by promising the kingdoms of the world and their splendour.
III. God’s Will
See v30a (NIV).
“He must become greater
Many translations said, “He must increase”.
“Jesus must increase” is nothing less than God’s will that he does so [4]. We should put God’s will first before rivalry or jealousy.
For your reference, some verses on vain glory are 2 Corinthians 10:17-18, Philippians 2:3, Galatians 5:26, Proverbs 25:6, Galatians 6:14, and 1 Corinthians 1:28-29 [2].
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011), Revised and updated edition. (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2011).
[2] "Vain Glory." Retrieved 27/11/2022, from https://www.openbible.info/topics/vain_glory.
[3] John Chrysostom, “Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on the Gospel of St. John,” in Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and Epistle to the Hebrews, ed. Philip Schaff, trans. G. T. Stupart, vol. 14, A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, First Series (New York: Christian Literature Company, 1889), 102.
[4] Beauford H. Bryant and Mark S. Krause, John, The College Press NIV Commentary (Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co., 1998), Jn 3:30.
