He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease – A Message from John 3 with Rodney Brown
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In this episode of the Sunday Devotion on Radio Cape Pulpit, Rodney Brown delivers a Bible message from John 3:26-30, focusing on the powerful words of John the Baptist: "He must increase, but I must decrease."
Rodney notes that this is the third time the word "must" appears in John chapter 3:
Verse 7 – "You must be born again" (Jesus to Nicodemus)
Verse 14 – "The Son of Man must be lifted up"
Verse 30 – "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John the Baptist)
He explains that John the Baptist was a man sent from God (John 1:6), and his entire ministry was about pointing to Christ – not elevating himself. When John's disciples came to him, concerned that people were leaving him to follow Jesus, John rejoiced and said his joy was fulfilled. He understood that he was the friend of the Bridegroom, not the Bridegroom Himself.
Rodney emphasizes that a true man or woman of God does not point to themselves but points others to Jesus. He explains how John presented Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36) – the one who takes away the sin of the world. Unlike the Old Testament animal sacrifices, which could never fully remove sin, Jesus – the perfect Lamb – removed sin entirely through His death, burial, and resurrection.
The message is a call to humility and Christ-centered living: "He must increase, but I must decrease." Rodney closes with the words of a hymn: "Not I, but Christ be honored, loved, exalted; not I, but Christ be seen, be known, be heard."
He invites listeners to trust in Christ personally – not just as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, but as the one who takes away my sins.
Rodney notes that this is the third time the word "must" appears in John chapter 3:
Verse 7 – "You must be born again" (Jesus to Nicodemus)
Verse 14 – "The Son of Man must be lifted up"
Verse 30 – "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John the Baptist)
He explains that John the Baptist was a man sent from God (John 1:6), and his entire ministry was about pointing to Christ – not elevating himself. When John's disciples came to him, concerned that people were leaving him to follow Jesus, John rejoiced and said his joy was fulfilled. He understood that he was the friend of the Bridegroom, not the Bridegroom Himself.
Rodney emphasizes that a true man or woman of God does not point to themselves but points others to Jesus. He explains how John presented Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36) – the one who takes away the sin of the world. Unlike the Old Testament animal sacrifices, which could never fully remove sin, Jesus – the perfect Lamb – removed sin entirely through His death, burial, and resurrection.
The message is a call to humility and Christ-centered living: "He must increase, but I must decrease." Rodney closes with the words of a hymn: "Not I, but Christ be honored, loved, exalted; not I, but Christ be seen, be known, be heard."
He invites listeners to trust in Christ personally – not just as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, but as the one who takes away my sins.
