Scripture reveals John the Baptist as the forerunner who prepared people for Jesus through radical repentance and humility, knowing his role was to decrease so that Christ could increase.
Scripture on John The Baptist
Matthew 3:1-6
New Testament
"In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.' This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: 'A voice of one calling in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River."
Matthew 11:11
New Testament
"Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
Matthew 3:11-12
New Testament
"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
John 1:29-30
New Testament
"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'"
Mark 6:17-29
New Testament
"For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.' So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to have him executed. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod's birthday came, his daughter danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her anything she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.' The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison."
The Bottom Line
John shows us what it looks like to surrender your life's purpose to point others toward Jesus, even when it costs everything.
Try Today
Identify one area where you're tempted to draw attention or credit to yourself. Tomorrow, deliberately redirect that moment toward Jesus—in a conversation, on social media, or in your own thinking.
Prayer
Jesus invites us to come to Him with honest hearts, as John called people to honest repentance (Matthew 11:28).
Father, John the Baptist showed us what it means to have a singular focus—to decrease so You could increase. I confess that I often want recognition, comfort, and control. I ask You to give me John's courage to speak truth even when it's costly, and his humility to point people toward Jesus rather than toward myself. Help me see that my greatest joy is not in being noticed, but in being faithful. In Jesus' name, Amen.
📚 Read Matthew 3 and John 1 to see John's baptism of Jesus and his own testimony about who Jesus is.
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