To those who envied the success of the ministry of Jesus over that of John the Baptist, John would have them to understand that he rejoiced in the works of Christ and was aware that he would soon pass from the scenes of time, but that Christ and His accomplishments would live on in the hearts and minds of the saints for all time. John knew that his own influence among men would, for the most part, last but a short time after his departure, but that the influence of Christ, the effects of His work, and the continued benefits of His intercession for the saints after His ascension into heaven, would go on and on, and that the fame thereof would be spread to a greater and greater degree as time went along. John and his work as the forerunner of Christ would soon fade into the background and be little thought of among men, but Christ would be magnified more and more as the church of His founding took root and spread through the earth. Among men there was not a greater than John the Baptist, with the exception of the one perfect God-man, Christ; yet, in comparison to Him John was not worthy to loose His shoe lachets (See Matt. 11:11 & John 1:27). Though Christ, in human form, was born after John the Baptist, yet in His Divine nature He was before John. In fact, He, as the Son of God, existed from all eternity. John expressed it thusly: "He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me" (John 1:15). Each one of us must decrease, but Christ must increase. Our life is quickly fading away, and when we are gone we will soon be forgotten of men, but Christ lives on from generation to generation, and the great mountain of praise that has been offered to Him continues to grow as more and more of His people are born into the world and brought to the knowledge of Him and His glory as the Saviour and Intercessor of His elect family. The more His blessed name is magnified, the more it should please each one of us.