Every evening, one step closer to Jesus.

August 22

He Is Greater Than I Am

Matthew 3:11

“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.”
Matthew 3:11

By now, John had become well known far beyond the wilderness. People from Jerusalem, Judea, and the entire surrounding region came to him, listened to his sermons, confessed their sins, and were baptized in the Jordan. It would have been easy for anyone to be impressed by all this attention. John could have been proud that so many people made the journey into the wilderness because of him. He could have begun enjoying his own importance, building a great movement around himself, or considering himself indispensable.

But John did exactly the opposite. In the middle of his success, he directed attention away from himself and said: “After me comes one who is more powerful than I.” John knew that his ministry was important, but he also knew just as clearly that he was not the center of the story. His task was to prepare the way. The goal was Jesus.

John Knew His Mission

John knew why God had sent him. He was the forerunner of the Messiah, but he was not the Messiah himself. He could make people aware of their guilt and call them to repentance, but he could not take their guilt away. He could baptize them with water in the Jordan, but he could not renew their hearts through his own power. He could point them toward the right path, but Jesus himself was the way.

This is precisely where John’s humility becomes visible. Humility does not mean thinking badly about yourself or belittling your abilities. John did not say: “I am useless and can do nothing.” On the contrary, he preached courageously, faithfully fulfilled his mission, and allowed neither religious leaders nor powerful people to intimidate him. At the same time, he knew that his importance had limits. He was God’s servant, but Jesus was the Lord.

True humility therefore means seeing yourself as God sees you: neither more important nor less valuable than you truly are. John knew his place and did not need to try to take the place that belonged to Jesus.

The Desire to Be the Center of Attention

Our world does not make it easy for us to think this way. So much revolves around being seen. We share our most beautiful pictures, talk about exciting experiences, and post our achievements. We watch how many people react to what we have shared and quickly compare ourselves with others. Perhaps it hurts when someone seems more popular, attractive, athletic, or successful. Perhaps we secretly wonder why others receive more attention than we do.

The desire for recognition is human. It becomes a problem when it begins to control our hearts. Then we no longer do things primarily because they are right, but because we want other people to notice them. We help while simultaneously hoping for praise. We talk about our successes but prefer to hide our mistakes. This desire can even conceal itself within our service for God. A person can speak about Jesus while secretly hoping that the listeners will mainly admire the speaker.

John could easily have said: “Look how many people are being changed through my ministry!” Instead, he essentially said: “Do not look at me. Look at the one who is coming after me.” His success did not make Jesus smaller. On the contrary, John used his influence to make Jesus greater.

Not Even the Sandals

John went even further. He said about Jesus: “I am not worthy to carry his sandals.” At that time, carrying or untying someone’s sandals was considered one of the lowest forms of service. With these words, John was not claiming that he was worthless as a human being. He wanted to make clear just how great Jesus is.

To many people at that time, Jesus appeared to be nothing more than a man from Nazareth. He wore no crown, was not accompanied by soldiers, and possessed no palace. But John knew that behind this outward simplicity stood an incomparable reality: the Son of God had come to live among humanity. The King of heaven was living in the middle of his creation. The sinless One had come to save sinners.

When you truly recognize the greatness of Jesus, you no longer need to make yourself appear artificially important. You do not need to keep proving how important you are when you know to whom you belong. You do not need to be the center of attention when Jesus is at the center of your life. His greatness does not take away your value. On the contrary, precisely because you belong to him, you can know how valuable you are.

A Signpost Is Not the Destination

Imagine a road sign pointing toward a city. The sign is important. Without it, some people might take the wrong road. Nevertheless, no one would stop in front of the sign and say: “At last, I have arrived!” The sign is not the destination. Its purpose is to point toward the destination.

This is how John understood his ministry. He was a signpost. His sermons, his way of life, and his baptism were meant to prepare people to meet Jesus. If people had ended up admiring only John, he would have failed in his mission.

Your life can also become such a signpost. You do not need to be a pastor or a missionary, nor do you have to speak before a large crowd. Perhaps your life points to Jesus when you remain honest even though others cheat. Perhaps it happens when you refuse to laugh at someone whom everyone else mocks, when you apologize after doing something wrong, or when you calmly explain why your faith is important to you. Perhaps a friend hears about God’s love for the first time because you listen and pray for them.

The decisive question is not: “Do people admire me?” Far more important is: “Does my life help them see Jesus?”

Jesus Is More Than an Example

John did not merely say that Jesus was a better teacher or a greater prophet. Jesus was incomparably greater because he could do something no human being is capable of doing. John could call people to repentance; Jesus could grant forgiveness. John could baptize with water; Jesus could renew a heart through the Holy Spirit. John could announce the coming King; Jesus was that King.

Even today, some people see Jesus primarily as a good man or a teacher of love. Of course, Jesus is our perfect example. But if he were only an example, we would have a serious problem. An example can show you how you should live, but it cannot bear your guilt. An example can show you what is right, but it cannot give new life to your heart.

You therefore need more than better rules or a higher moral ideal. You need forgiveness. You need a renewed heart. You need someone who can act on your behalf where you cannot save yourself. You need Jesus.

When Others Are More Successful

Later, John would see more and more people going to Jesus. Some of his own disciples became uneasy because of this. They saw that people’s attention was shifting away from their teacher and toward Jesus. John could have become jealous. He could have thought: “After everything I have done, the people are simply leaving and going to him.”

But John reacted in a completely different way. He said: “He must become greater; I must become less.” This was precisely what John had been working toward. When people followed Jesus, John’s mission had not failed—it had been fulfilled.

How do you react when someone else succeeds? When a friend receives a better grade, someone else is praised for an achievement, or another person receives more attention? Can you rejoice with them, or do you immediately feel that this somehow makes you less valuable?

Jealousy often grows from the fear that another person’s success takes something away from us. But your value does not depend on whether you are better than others. Your loving Father sees you, knows your gifts, and knows the task he has given you. He does not demand that you surpass someone else. He invites you to be faithful to him with what he has entrusted to you.

Who Is Sitting on the Throne?

John described Jesus as the more powerful one. But it is possible to call Jesus King with our lips while still wanting to sit on the throne of our own lives. We pray: “Your will be done,” but sometimes we secretly mean: “As long as your will fits my plans.”

We say that Jesus is our Lord, but when it comes to our relationships, free time, habits, or future plans, we would prefer to make all the decisions ourselves. Yet Jesus does not want to take away your joy in life. He is not a harsh king who uses his power to keep people down. He is the King who was willing to go to the cross for his people. That is precisely why you can trust him.

The most important question this evening is therefore not merely: “Is Jesus greater than John?” We already know the answer. The more personal question is: “May Jesus also become greater in my life?” May his voice become more important than the opinions of others? May his Word determine what is right and wrong? May he correct your plans and show you which habits you should let go of? May he truly be King?

Less of Me—More of Jesus

“Less of me” does not mean that you should lose your personality. God does not want to create colorless people who all think, speak, and act in exactly the same way. He has given you your own personality, abilities, and gifts. These things are valuable. The decisive question is simply what you use them for.

Perhaps you can sing well. Then you can use your voice not only so that people will admire you, but also to give them hope. Perhaps you are good at writing. Then your words can encourage people and point them toward Jesus. Perhaps you are athletic. Then you can demonstrate what fairness, respect, and Christian character look like. Perhaps you are especially good at listening. Then that very ability can become a gift from God to someone who feels lonely.

You do not need to become less valuable for Jesus to become greater. When Jesus is at the center, you discover what your abilities were truly meant for. John lost nothing by pointing people toward Jesus. In doing so, he fulfilled his mission.

Perhaps your greatest significance will ultimately not be found in having as many people as possible know your name. Perhaps it will be found in people coming to know the name of Jesus through your life.

Think About It

In which situations do you especially want to be seen or praised? How do you react when someone else is more successful or receives more attention? Is there an area of your life in which you call Jesus your King but still want to make all the decisions yourself?

Challenge for Tomorrow

Tomorrow, intentionally do something good without telling anyone about it. Perhaps you can help someone, encourage someone, quietly complete a task, or pray for a person who currently needs support. Let it be a quiet act of service that perhaps only your loving Father knows about.

As you do it, pray: “Jesus, I do not need to be the center of attention today. Let something of you become visible through my life.”

Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you that Jesus is greater, stronger, and more wonderful than any human being. Thank you that I do not need to make myself appear important because I can know that I belong to you.

Forgive me when I want to be the center of attention too often, when I compare myself with others, or when I become jealous because someone else receives more attention. You know my desire for recognition and how quickly I make my value depend on what other people think of me.

Help me not to base my identity on praise, success, or attention, but on your love. Let Jesus become greater in my life. May his words be more important than my desires, his love stronger than my pride, and his will more precious than my own plans.

Use my abilities, my words, and my decisions so that others can see something of Jesus. Teach me to rejoice sincerely in the good things happening in other people’s lives and to serve you faithfully even when no one praises me for it.

Like John, I do not want to point to myself, but to Jesus.

Amen.

Sleep well.

You do not need to be the center of attention to be valuable. Your loving Father knows you, loves you, and rejoices when your life points toward Jesus.

See you tomorrow.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%8c%99-still-awake-08-22-2026-%f0%9f%91%91-he-is-greater-than-i-am/