Lead Others to Hope

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John 3:30

John stands in the river, the weight of hundreds of eyes pressing on him. He has been here so many times before, calling people to leave their past mistakes behind and step into something better.

The crowd draws closer, their faces a mix of hope and expectation. They cling to every word, as though he holds the answers they are searching for. But John knows better. He is only the messenger. The one they truly need has not yet stepped forward—until now.

He looks up, wiping his brow, as a man emerges from the crowd and steps into the water. John’s breath catches. It is Him. Jesus. The one he has spent his entire life preparing people to meet. He carries a hope so real it can change everything.

As Jesus approaches, John whispers, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus insists, leaving no room for debate.

Taking a deep breath, John does as he is told. He lowers Jesus into the water, feeling the weight of the moment in his bones. When Jesus rises, the sky seems to burst open. A voice, unmistakable and full of love, declares who Jesus truly is— God’s Son, sent to bring life and hope to a broken world.

John stands frozen. He looks down at his hands and realizes this moment was never about him. It was always about pointing others to Jesus. That is his purpose. That is what matters.

What about you? What if your life is not about being noticed but about leading others to the one who brings true hope? Maybe real fulfillment is not found in being seen, but in helping others see Him.