I’ve always wondered why Jesus gave him that exceptional accolade. Of all men ever born by women, he is the greatest. Why would the greatest person who ever lived call him the greatest person who was ever born? Really?
He never performed a single miracle. He was even weird by all standards. He lost his temper occasionally and had a bad mouth. He was very popular at a time but deliberately went into oblivion.
His escape into anonymity was intentional. Who does that? Escape from the life of a celebrity influencer to become a monk?
That was John. The Baptizer. Or Baptist as many call him.
His life is full of deep lessons, especially for those in support roles. John realized he was not the main guy. His most important role was to introduce and support the main guy. That’s Jesus. Nothing more. Nothing less. He understood his role and did his part flawlessly.
Even when some guys came to complain about competition from Jesus in John Chapter 3, he clearly defined his supporting role by calling himself a ‘bestman’ to the groom. We all know who a best man is.
How did John end up getting such an outstanding recommendation from his boss? No other person got such a blanket stamp of approval, though Jesus worked with and knew so many people. Why did He give John such an endorsement?
1. Understand your role.
John the Baptizer understood his role. A best man helps the groom to write his speech but doesn’t deliver the speech. He watches over the wedding rings. He helps to handle the entertainment of the guests as the unofficial host.
He assists in picking the groom’s suit. He helps the groom get ready for the wedding ceremony. He ties up the loose ends. He may end up giving the toast, but he doesn’t go home with the bride.
Your role is to support your boss. Not to be the boss. Help your boss. Defend him or her. Make your boss look good. Help him to succeed. Your primary role is the success of your leader; everything else is secondary.
2. There should be no doubts about your loyalty.
You’re not to upstage the boss or outshine your master. This is the mistake many make by being overly ambitious. Don’t misunderstand this; there’s nothing wrong with ambition. However, your ambition should never be to upstage or upend your boss.
Ambition should never be unbridled. If you stab your boss in the back, daggers are waiting for you. The best man’s devotion is to the groom. 100%.
Ego and unbridled ambition can derail your leadership journey. Follow the #BestManPrinciple and learn how to succeed from the sidelines. Share on X3. Bury your ego
You can’t be egoistic and succeed in a support role. One of the defining statements from John was, ‘He must increase, but I must decrease.’ That’s a punchline from someone whose ego was dead and buried. Pride won’t let you serve to the best of your abilities.
Don’t be too big to serve. If you’re too big to serve, you’ll be too big to be served. Just consider how the best man gets his hands dirty at almost everything.
4. Slip off into the sidelines
People in support roles should not crave for the klieg lights. The best highlight of a best man is his dance with the maid of honour, and it lasts for a few minutes. A foolish best man is the one who tries to steal the show.
Enjoy directing the scenes from the sidelines. Be intentional about this. Get your fulfilment in the overall success of the project and not about who takes the credit. Be the unseen hand that moves the parts. Enjoy anonymity.
True leadership support means celebrating the success of others without seeking personal glory. Embrace the #BestManPrinciple from John the Baptist’s life. Share on XJohn 3: 27-30 (The Message)
“John answered, “It’s not possible for a person to succeed—I’m talking about eternal success—without heaven’s help. You yourselves were there when I made it public that I was not the Messiah but simply the one sent ahead of him to get things ready.
“The one who gets the bride is, by definition, the bridegroom. And the bridegroom’s friend, his ‘best man’—that’s me—in place at his side where he can hear every word, is genuinely happy.
“How could he be jealous when he knows that the wedding is finished and the marriage is off to a good start? That’s why my cup is running over. This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines”.
Selah.
The principles taught here are needed by everyone to succeed in our roles both in our homes as children to our parents, wives to our husbands, in the workplace as subordinates to our leaders as it shapes our thinking as team members with supportive roles and co labourers in the vineyard of God also.
Understanding and practicing these timeless principles will increase our productivity and success at our endeavours.
Thank you for this write up.
I will immediately share with my children, friends and members of my church.