The Prophet Who Lived to be Eclipsed

John the Baptizer’s life can be summed up in his own words: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” That sentence is not only the key to understanding John. It is also one of the deepest principles of Christian discipleship. A life rightly ordered before God is one in which self becomes smaller, Christ becomes greater, and everything—gift, influence, voice, work, and witness—is placed in service to the coming King.