I hope that you enjoyed reading all the Malankara World Journal issues, that were released in the past month. We are still in the Christmas mood, but talking about Easter!! Christmas Season ends officially in the church on February, the day of Mayaltho (Presentation of Jesus Christ at the temple 40 days after his birth.) In the mean time, about 30 years of his life before His public ministry is cramped into 2 months.

I happened to love today's bible reading, especially when John the Baptist tells his disciples, "I must decrease and He has to increase." This is the ultimate sacrifice John will undertake. All the ministry he has painfully developed is sacrificed so Jesus can establish and grow His ministry! Very few people can do this. Even with the best of intentions, it is difficult to walk away from something you had spent a life time developing it.

to, John the Baptist it was his call. He came strictly as a forerunner. His mission was to "promote" Jesus and introduce Him so that Jesus can grow His own ministry. Since the scope of both ministries are the same, call for repentance, there is no space for two competing ministries. Only one can survive. Although Johns was the older and better established one, his had to go. Simple as that. And John had no problem with that. This is the best example of humility we can see in the bible, save that of Mary, the mother of God. Humility is a trait that is sought highly by God.

Andrew Murray said, "The truth is this: Pride must die in you or nothing of heaven can live in you. Under the banner of the truth, give yourself up to the meek and humble spirit of the holy Jesus. Humility must sow the seed or there can be no reaping in heaven."