功成不必我在 Willing Not To Be There When Victory Comes

功成不必我在（若3:22-30）

看來，若翰的門徒和一個猶太人關於取潔禮的爭辯（若3:25），真正的動機，不在於尋求有關「取潔禮」的真義，而是出於嫉妒，眼紅眾人都到耶穌基督那裡去了受洗（3:26）！

的確，「除非有天上的賞賜」（3:27），否則，凡人祇會停滯在俗世的層面上打滾。倘若沒有迫切的需要，絕不會放時間在一些虛無的事情上。的確，一般的平民百姓把大部份的精力，都放到衣食住行上；努力工作不外乎為了糊口；稍為有理想，有大志的，會為未來規劃，爭取最大的成就，那裡會理會天上的事，何來洗者若翰那份「祂應該興盛，我卻應該衰微」（3:30）的胸襟呢？

作為一位「辣彼」，當然希望看見自己桃李滿門，自己的學術能夠自成一派，流傳後世，名垂千古。但若翰感到一位「辣彼」更有責任，引導弟子學習智慧，敬畏上主。若翰看到在未來，天下萬民會聚集一起，成為一個普世的教會─耶穌基督的新娘。若翰知道將來的世界不是他所擁有，那個普世的教會亦不是他的新娘，新郎另有其人（3:29）。所以他不會與他的弟子一般見識，與耶穌基督爭一日之長短。

若翰會因為基督的成功而感到喜樂，而且是滿足的喜樂（3:29）。雖然他的辛勞，他的殉道與耶穌基督的相比，微不足道，但基督將會獲得最後勝利，他作為先驅的付出，絕對不會白費。這帶給了若翰不勝的快慰。
朋友，你有洗者若翰那一份「功成不必我在」的胸襟嗎？
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：wikipedia.org

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Willing Not To Be There When Victory Comes (John 3:22-30)

It seems to me that the dispute between John’s disciples and a Jew about ceremonial washings (John 3:25) was motivated not so much by discovering the truth of ceremonial washings but out of jealousy because everyone was going to Jesus for baptism (3:26)!

Truly, “Except what has been given him from heaven” (3:27), mortal men would only move around on the secular level. If there isn’t any pressing needs, they won’t spend time on intangible things. Indeed, commoners put most of their energies on earning a living. For those more idealistic and ambitious souls, they would plan for their greatest possible achievements on earth. Where on earth would they care about things above and espouse John’s “Illum oportet crescere, me autem minui” (3:30) outlook?

Of course which Rabbi doesn’t desire his disciples to be many and his school of thought to be established for ages to come? But the Baptist knew a greater responsibility to inspire his disciples to learn wisdom and to fear the Lord. The Baptist saw a future in which all peoples come together to become an assembly of saints --- the Spouse of Jesus Christ. John knew that the future world does not belong to him and the Catholic Church is not his spouse. The bridegroom is somebody else (3:29). As the best man, he would not compete with Jesus Christ like his disciples would.

John the Baptist will rejoice greatly because victory will go to Jesus Christ in the end (3:29). Although his efforts and martyrdom would be dwarfed by Jesus’, his efforts as the forerunner would not be wasted when Christ achieves His victory. This brings great joy to the Baptist.
Friends! Do you have the Baptist’s mind of willing not to be there when victory comes?