Yesterday was different. The clouds seem to have their shining luster, stirred as if brought nearer into the clouds of heaven, full of stars. The Jordan river was not full and overflowing at the day nor it flooded its banks. This is the place where many come to refresh themselves and gather some water for washing their camels and donkey. Few have ever imagined that this River would still continue its coarse running for more than 4,000 years feeding Israel and the Jordan valley for the needed water supplies keeping thousands of farms and plantations of barley, wheat bananas, oranges and other citrus fruits irrigated. Yet though this river meanders and gives life on its bank, it still empties to the dead sea where no living thing, not even a fish of the ocean could live. Many tourists try to stay afloat on its salty water but this poisoned water has never been colonized by any plant or animal life.

Because of the concentration of most plants and greeneries on the banks of the Jordan, it is here where most farmers and fishers get their living. It is also here where most people meet daily to visit their farms, at least for the farmers, this is very true. When we finished our breakfast and the crowds started to gather, a group of John’s disciples came and recalled to him that Jesus was already baptizing nearby and they said, coming to John,  “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.”
John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
“You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’

“He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.
“He must increase, but I must decrease. “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
“What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.
“He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.
“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.
“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:26-36)

We were beholding the facial expressions of John when he was telling these things to us and to those who were being baptized and no single wicked schemes would permit to come out from those gracious lips. He was true to the very end, the greatest example of what it means to serve others before putting one’s personal interests. No wonder the praises of the great King were exhuberant to his servant, sparing no superlatives, He spoke, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? “But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces!
“But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.
“This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’
“I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Luke 7:24-28)

John has testified before the hordes of people, always pointing at them that he is not that Light or even that Prophet to come but was just sent ahead of Him to prepare His Way. There are indeed many lofty mountains that need to be leveled, crooked paths that need to be straightened. The piercing voice of the Baptist has quickly turned around the tables in the plans of satan, he had been watching about the coming of the Seed of God. It was almost 30 years before that he has instructed Herod the Great to murder the innocent children of Bethlehem and until now he was unsuccessful in locating and finding the very One who would crush his head.

God’s divine protection

The Lord has covered both His messenger and His Son until the full day that they would appear to all, bringing the message of hope and deliverance that His people needed. Since the time that John has pointed to Jesus, as the Lamb of God, the Father has been delighted at what has just transpired. “He must increase, but I must decrease” is the constitution of a man who has placed all his interests and longings for the fulfillment of the plans of God.

To everyone who has been preaching and preparing the Way of God in their towns, cities, and villages, sometimes it is harder to actually loosen the grip that we have especially when a younger and more gifted person comes and begins doing the same things that we do. Unlike most of us, John and Jesus were pretty secure in their calling, there was no overlapping; there was only reinforcing of the truth already laid by the Baptist. “You don’t need to be baptized by me, It is I who needs your baptism,” he told the Lord when He came to see him. But He simply said, “Do it to fulfill all righteousness.” Being cousins, it is hard to think that both of them do not really know each other; rather, at the last minute, the Father did not reveal to His servant that Jesus is the One whom he has been preparing for His coming.

Thus he also mentioned that “I did not recognize Him” until the time that the Holy Spirit descended and remained upon Him. To this day, what transpired in the river Jordan that day is the testimony that “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.” Every time his disciples had curious doubts of Jesus, whether He is true or not, John was ready to point to them that He has received his Testimony from God. For He Who receives this testimony bears truth and there is no need to worry if He is lying or not. God loves His Son and has put everything into His disposal, with the Spirit living in Him without measure. “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” He continued to baptize people that day with no one asking him questions any more. John felt no agitation or the race to perform more things that day or even tomorrow.

He must increase but I must decrease

The burst of flame that came from his words have waned, there is only the feeling of abiding in what the Lord has to tell. Obviously, this made every one of us restless. What are we to do next? Andrew and John had already crossed the line even bringing Peter with them. They have been with the Lord’s select group of disciples already. He did not push everyone to go to Jesus, but only those who discerned the Lamb of God in Him. A few of us continued to stay with him though the actual numbers of the people surrounding him has decreased.  I continued to walk with this great servant as the Lord has tasked me to learn as much as I could from his life. Studying his ways, and living with him has made me admire the Baptist even more.

Simple life, I sighed. It does not have to be more complicated; ministry does not have to be a conjecture of formulas. It simply is abiding in God, hearing His voice and walking with Him, all the days of your life. Who could have said that the desert wildman is the greatest man born of woman? Who could have told us that he is the harbinger of truth honored by God in all the gospels for all time? Humility does collide against the pride of man whether this is in ministry or in works. The first one allows us to receive from God, correction and truth. But the other one prevents us from hearing His voice or even associating with the needed people God is connecting us with. If only we know that He has all prepared everything in its time, we will not be restive, we will rather keep still and wait on God.

Waiting on God

Waiting seems hardest to the worker. But it does not have to be this hard if only we also understand that God works with us and in us. Martha and Mary fought against each other because the passionate lover is often on her bended knees seeking her Lord, contented to be just with Him. Contrary to our ways, God works, and He works in us to help us fulfill our tasks. Just as He descended on Jesus that day and remained upon Him to allow the Baptist to see Who is the One whom he has prepared His Way, He still set signs and talks to us. The voice of God is clear like torrent and waters to those who wait on Him. You can hear Him by giving Him all your agitations and fears for He cares for you. For the inward man to grow and mature like a tree that dances in the wind of His voice, like a flute where the sound and music passes through without strain, it must like clay in the hands of the Potter, pliant and supple.  Our call to maturity, is to be molded in His Son’s image, to reflect His nature and bear His face to this world.