In the middle of all these great statements about Jesus, John the Baptist speaks again. His words speak to us about our own attitude to Jesus.
John the Baptist says: “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me.'” (John 1:15)
John the Baptist knew where he stood compared to Jesus. He knew what life was all about. Although Jesus was born after John the Baptist, and started his public ministry after John’s (“He who comes after me…”), John knows that Jesus is first in “rank” or importance. John the Baptist is saying, in His very being and person, Jesus is before me (He is the most important) “because He was before me” (that is, He is eternal, He is God).
So, Jesus comes first. Jesus is before all things and worthy of the greatest worship and obedience. His will is the most important of all.
We sing a song that goes: “It’s all about You, Jesus… it’s not about me, as if You should do things my way…” For John the Baptist, it was all about Jesus. Later, he said: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
We all have things that we desire at the end of this difficult year, but let’s put Jesus first. Let’s pray to Him, “You alone are God and I surrender to Your ways.”
The best is yet to come 