Unlike many teachers of his day, John the Baptist did not seek to build a following for himself, but to prepare the way for Jesus. Although he preached in the desolate wilderness, word about him spread so rapidly that people flocked to the desert to see and hear this strange man. His message gained ground to such an extent that neither the Jewish leaders nor King Herod could ignore his powerful influence.

After Jesus was baptized by John, John’s following began its steady decline. Some of John the Baptist’s disciples expressed dismay that Jesus was gaining greater influence than John:

“They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”

~ John 3.26, ESV

Can you hear their despondency?

John answered, “A person cannot receive even one…