Karen 'Girl' FridayMore of Jesus and Less of Me

More of Jesus and Less of Me

More of Jesus sounds like a good thing for His committed followers. And it IS my heart’s desire.

So I like how the Bible points us to this perspective through John the Baptist when he said,

“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30 (NIV)

But what does this look like in our lives? A closer look at this passage in John 3 sheds some light for us.

(1.) There’s a God and it’s not me: More of Jesus

John the Baptist reiterated this to his listeners, “I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.” John 3:28b (NIV)

When we recognize Jesus as part of the Triune God with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, we know our limits. Because we realize how we are creations, not the Creator. Our humaness dwells in the natural, while Christ dwells in the supernatural realm.

And we realize who He is and who we are in Him—a vessel for His light and glory, not our own.

I let Jesus be Lord in my heart and life.

More of Jesus and less of me means I understand there's a God and it's not me. I let Jesus be Lord in my heart and life. Share on X

(2.) Jesus is from above and above all

“The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.” John 3:31 (NIV)

Jesus left the glory and splendor of heaven to come to earth. Both God and man, Jesus spent His ministry years teaching about heaven and things above.

Jesus, divine in nature, stands above all people, gods, kings, and earthly authority.

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:8-11 (ESV)

(3.) Jesus testifies of the Father and Spirit: More of Jesus

“He testifies to what he has seen and heard.” John 3:32b (NIV)

The purpose and mission of Jesus was to testify of the Father and Spirit. And after His acension into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, some of His followers chose the same purpose.

Questioned about their ministry before the council, “But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.‘” Acts 4:19-20 (ESV)

Do our words and life testify of what we have seen and heard? Do we share our testimony of meeting Jesus as Savior and Lord, knowing the love of the heavenly Father, and being filled with the Holy Spirit? And do we faithfully tell others how they can know Jesus?

Do we share our testimony of meeting Jesus as Savior and Lord, knowing the love of the heavenly Father, and being filled with the Holy Spirit? And do we faithfully tell others how they can know Jesus? Share on X

(4.) Jesus is the way, truth, and life

“God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.” John 3:33b-34 (NIV)

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)

So we speak the truth in love, we read and meditate on God’s Holy and infallable Word, and we walk in the Spirit who reveals truth in our lives.

(5.) Jesus holds everything in His hands, including eternal life: More of Jesus

“The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life.” John 3:35-36 (NIV)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV)

We understand we cannot save ourselves, eternal life only comes through Jesus Christ.

"The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life." John 3:35-36 (NIV) Share on X