John the Baptist was pronounced by our Saviour the greatest of prophets. Yet what a contrast between the language of this man of God and that of many who profess to be ministers of the cross. When asked if he was the Christ, John declares himself unworthy even to unloose his Master’s sandals. When his disciples came with the complaint that the attention of the people was turned to the new Teacher, John reminded them that he himself had claimed to be only the forerunner of the Promised One. To Christ, as the bridegroom, belongs the first place in the affections of His people. “The friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all.” “He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.” {5T 224.1}

Men hvilken modsætning er der ikke mellem dette Guds menneskes sprog og så det sprog mange bekendende korsets tjenere taler! Da han blev spurgt om han var Kristus, erklærer Johannes selv sig som uværdige endog til at binde sin Mesters skorem. Da hans disciple og beklagede sig over at folkets opmærksomhed var vendt til den nye Læremester, mindede Johannes dem på at han selv havde sagt, at han kun skulle være den Forjættedes forløber. Som brudgom, skal Kristus have hans folks førsteplads - i al deres hengivenhed. »Brudgommens ven, som står og hører på ham, glæder sig inderligt over brudgommens røst. Så er nu denne min glæde blevet fuldkommen. Han bør vokse, men jeg blive mindre. Den, der kommer ovenfra, er over alle; den, der er af jorden, han er af jorden og taler af jorden. Den, der kommer fra himmelen, er over alle.« »Men den, der tager imod hans vidnesbyrd, har dermed beseglet, at Gud er sanddru.«