“Unto Him be glory in the church” (Eph. 3:21) was the theme of last week’s preaching conference. The opening sermon was from John 3:27-30, where John the Baptist was asked about Jesus’ rise in prominence. John immediately deflected upward, reminding the people that he was not the Christ. Jesus is the Christ. John was the friend of the bridegroom, but not the bridegroom. He said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John didn’t crave glory. He wasn’t competing with Christ. He was the voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord. That was it. John knew his role, and it was to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, John said that it was necessary for Jesus to increase and himself to decrease.
We all would agree that Jesus should rise in prominence, but too often we want to rise along with Him, to a lesser state, but nevertheless rise in man’s esteem. But that is pride, and it is to rival the Lord. For Jesus to increase in glory, we must decrease.
Spiritual growth desires less and less of us, and more and more of Christ. We should want God to be glorified in us, but not us exalted. We should want the Lord Jesus to be preeminent. He is the worthy One. He is the One we should glorify. This mindset brings glory to Christ in the church.