Should it be more of Jesus and less of me?

Last updated on: February 18, 2025 at 8:00 am by Andrew Farley

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Should it be more of Jesus and less of me? 2024-12-05T13:43:58-06:00 Andrew Farley

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Quick Answer: Christians often believe they need to “decrease” in order for Jesus to increase in their lives. Maybe they think their “self” gets in the way of God’s plans. So, should it be more of Jesus and less of you? Actually, no. This is a misapplication of John the Baptist’s statement “He must increase, but I must decrease” in John 3:30. When John the Baptist uttered those words, he was referring to his ministry fading out, because the ministry of Jesus had arrived. God never intended those words to be twisted into a “more of Jesus, less of me” theology for today. Because we are new creations, we can be ourselves and fully express Jesus at the same time – with no conflict.

Diving Deeper: Some teach that Christians must become less in order for Jesus to become more. This is based on the words of John the Baptist in John 3:30, which state that Jesus must “increase” while John must “decrease.”

But John was not making this statement in reference to his own spiritual self needing to be lessened or removed. He wasn’t saying his spiritual desires were somehow incompatible with Jesus. John the Baptist simply knew his ministry was coming to a conclusion, and it was time for Jesus’s ministry to begin and flourish.

Believers have been made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). This means we are compatible with God’s desires and purposes. We do not need to become lesser. It is not supposed to be all of God and none of us, or even more of God and less of us. No, it is all of us and all of Him in a beautiful union – together. This is the vine-branches relationship that Jesus prayed that we would enjoy in John 17:13-26.

Because we are new creations, there’s no competition with God or conflict with Him. We get to be ourselves and express Jesus at the exact same time. After all, we are not obstacles to God. We are His instruments!

Let’s Make It a Conversation!
1. Have you ever believed you must decrease in order for Jesus to increase? What did this look like for you?
2. Does the true context of John 3:30 help you better understand why John the Baptist made the statement?
3. React to this statement: You are not an obstacle to God. You are His instrument!

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