Success Is Staying True to Purpose
Christmas story is also about another baby who leaped for joy in his mother’s womb. John leaped for joy when Mary who had conceived Jesus in her womb came to greet his mother Elizabeth.
When this baby grew up, he said about his relationship to Jesus that it was like, “The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater, I must become less.”
This reveals the fact that John popularly known as John the Baptist was intensely focused on his purpose in life. He came to witness to the true light that was coming to this world. Even though he himself was like a burning lamp attracting popular attention, there came a time when he simply turned the focus of people’s attention on to Jesus saying, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
John was content to be just the “voice” calling in the desert. His desire was that Jesus must become greater and he must become less. He knew that he was just sent ahead like a pilot vehicle to prepare the way. He was content to play that role and found great joy in playing his role well.
John was called to announce to people the coming Jesus Christ. And John did that faithfully. After his death many people came to believe in Jesus saying, “Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true” (see John 10:40—42). Such was the greatness of this man.
Even though he was greater than any man born of women, he had his moments of doubt especially when he was locked up in prison for speaking the truth fearlessly. Yet he took his doubts straight to Jesus and remained strong in faith. Perhaps we should be encouraged to note that such a giant of faith had doubts. Let us therefore rest assured that having doubts is no sign of lack of faith.