Come and See: When We Decrease, He Becomes Great

A devotional reflection from John 3–4

I stood at the edge of the beach this morning, waves curling in and out, each one quietly echoing the rhythm of surrender: giving, receiving, releasing. It reminded me of John the Baptist’s words in John 3—words that offer not just a truth but a way to live:

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

That verse is often quoted quietly, almost like a personal motto for humility. But I think it’s more than that. It’s a pattern of spiritual transformation. Because here’s the beautiful paradox of the gospel:
When we decrease, Christ increases. And when Christ increases, He becomes great—not just in theory, but in our lives, our relationships, and our communities.

We step back so that He can step in. And the result? Everything shifts.

The Friend of the Bridegroom

In John 3, John the Baptist’s disciples are worried. Jesus is baptizing now, and crowds are starting to follow Him instead. But John doesn’t feel threatened. He feels joy.

“You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom… rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.” (John 3:28–29)

John calls himself the friend of the Bridegroom—the one who isn’t the center of the story, but who celebrates the One who is. His joy is full not when people follow him, but when they follow Jesus.

This is the posture we’re invited into.
Not spotlight-seekers, but spotlight-shifters.
Not the source of hope, but the ones who say over and over again:
“Come and see.”

And when we do—when we lower our own need to be seen or praised or understood—Christ becomes more visible. More radiant. More real.
And He becomes great.

Sharing as a Way of Making Him Great

That simple invitation—“Come and see”—echoes throughout John’s Gospel. It’s how the disciples first met Jesus. It’s how they brought others along. And then, in the very next chapter, we hear it from someone who had every reason to stay silent.

The woman at the well comes carrying shame, drawing water in the heat of the day to avoid the stares and whispers. But Jesus meets her in her weariness and speaks with piercing kindness. He names her truth—and then offers her living water.

And what does she do?
She runs back to the very people she’d been avoiding and says:

“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29)

She decreases.
She stops hiding.
She shifts the spotlight—off of herself and onto Him.
She tells her story—not polished or perfect, but honest.
And in doing so, Jesus becomes great in her life—and in theirs.

Because of her, her community comes to meet Him. And after listening to Him, they say:

“It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)

Her vulnerability didn’t make her smaller.
It opened the door for something greater—for Him to be glorified and known.

When Christ Increases, Everything Changes

This is the holy irony of decreasing:
When we make room for Him, He fills the space—and more.

He becomes great in our personal stories.
He becomes great in our relationships—softening edges, healing wounds, strengthening love.
He becomes great in our communities—bringing truth, renewal, and unity where there’s been division or apathy.

When we lay down our need to be right, admired, or in control…
When we choose patience instead of pride, forgiveness instead of resentment, truth instead of pretense…
We decrease.

And He increases.

And wherever Christ increases—there is life. There is joy. There is transformation.

So What Do We Do?

We don’t need to be experts or leaders or heroes.
We just need to be willing to say: “Come and see.”

Maybe that looks like sharing a passage of Scripture that moved you.
Maybe it means offering grace in a conversation that doesn’t deserve it.
Maybe it’s as simple as telling someone how Jesus met you in your weakest moment.

However it looks, the invitation is the same:
Decrease.
Shift the spotlight.
And watch Him become great.

Because He will.
And when He does, the ripple effect will reach far beyond you.
Your story becomes a window.
Your life becomes a lighthouse.
And your quiet yes becomes someone else’s introduction to the Savior of the world.