John the Baptist had spent 30 years to prepare for his ministry. He didn't enjoy the normal benefits of childhood or his teens and young adulthood. He lived out in the deserts separated unto God instead (Luke 1:80).
For about six months, he enjoyed success in his ministry like no other man ever had. He started preaching in the wilderness. The multitudes flocked to him. He became the most influential man in Israel and even shot the hearts of Roman rulers. Everything was going John's way.
Then he baptized Jesus and proclaimed Him as the long-awaited Messiah (Matthew 3:13-17; John 1:29). From that time on, the multitudes who once followed John began to follow Jesus in huge numbers (John 3:26). His own disciples left him to follow Jesus (John 1:36-37). This would have destroyed most men.
When he was questioned about this very thing, John replied, "He must increase but I must decrease." Surely this is one of the characteristics that made John the Baptist the greatest of all Old Testament prophets (Matthew 11:11). Jesus later revealed that "he that is greatest among you shall be your servant" (Matthew 23:11). John is one of the greatest examples of humility in the Bible. "Before honor is humility" (Proverbs 18:12).
