Overlap

Is it time to step down?

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized -- John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison. Now a discussion about purification arose between John's disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him." John answered, "No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:22-30

John, the evangelist, tells us that there was a brief time when John the Baptist was still active in his ministry even though Jesus had come one the scene.

He starts out by clarifying for those who knew of John's fate that this was before John was put in prison.

That may seem obvious to us, but the point is that there was an overlap in ministry, a time when John and Jesus were both active and baptizing.

When they questioned him about Jesus, they asked John if this guy was legitimate.

John knows that his role is completed.  He must now diminish in importance while Jesus increases.

Imagine what it felt like for him during this period of overlap.  This is where one's humility takes center stage.

Some people find it challenging to fade into the background when it is time to hand over the reins to someone else.

Consider John.  He is slightly older than Jesus, by about six months, and his entire life has been devoted to one cause, to prepare the way for Jesus.

Now, Jesus has begun his ministry, so John knows he must fade into the background.  He will eventually be taken out of the picture and thrown in prison, causing great concern from Jesus.

So, what was it like for these two cousins during these days of overlap?

Remember, John said to Jesus, it is I who should be baptized by you.  

When the time comes, we all need to step aside and make room for the one who is to follow and carry on the mission.  That may be difficult for all involved, but it is necessary.

So, here is the question.

Who among us will pick up the reigns from Jesus and carry on the mission?

More to come...