Becoming Greater, Becoming Less
The Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster debuted in 1997 and was instantly hotter than a designer handbag. Heritage bulged from every aspect of the SLK, from the twin hood strakes to the name itself; the SL evoked the greatest Mercedes-Benz road racing cars from the 1950s as well as its flagship luxury coupe, and the K stood for “Kompakt.” Its relatively low price and modern looks drew new buyers, as roughly half of those who ordered an SLK had never owned a Mercedes-Benz before.
It quickly became too popular. For every SLK the factory built, dealerships sold three. Mercedes didn’t want to let customers fly off of long reservation lists. So they quickly built a new small car with the SLK’s attractive attributes: stylish, small and practical, and, at $39,850 (just $150 pricier than the SLK and within $50 of a new Porsche Boxster), reasonably inexpensive. It was basically a truncated CL coupe with a rear hatch, called the CLK. Swollen with purpose, the CLK debuted and promptly outsold the still-hot SLK, compounding Mercedes-Benz’s problems.
The SLK became a forerunner to the CLK. Its admirable qualities were magnified by the CLK, and it stoked consumer desire for something greater.
The most famous forerunner in the Bible is John the Baptist. He never claimed to be “the Prophet” (see John 1:19-28) but instead proclaimed that someone (Jesus) and something (restoration) was coming. So when Jesus had begun his ministry and was baptizing people, some folks came to John the Baptist, concerned that his baptisms were no longer en vogue. John replied:
“You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him. The bride belongs to the groom. The friend who attends the groom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the groom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:28-30)
Anything John did or said was magnified and exemplified in Jesus. People were convicted by John’s calls to repentance and then moved to tears by Jesus’ innocent suffering and death. John emphasized the importance of baptism as a means and signifier of a heart change from God, while the life-giving work of Jesus made believers entirely new creations.
John’s humble awareness of his relation to Jesus is a model followed by countless believers, and still inspires people today. Just a few ways that Jesus can become greater and you can become less include:
Imagining a future ministry opportunity with the fervor in which you imagine a future car purchase
Praying for someone who hurt you, that God restores and rebuilds both of your hearts
Listening to the call to obey even if your heart doesn’t yet want to
Believing that the power of God supersedes your perceptions of your weakness
Jesus “must” indeed become greater. He did, he is, and he will continue to do so. He isn’t waiting for your permission. But he is lovingly, vehemently asking for your acceptance. He is still coming, with greatness, into people’s lives with just the thing they have been waiting for.
The SLK’s other big K was stamped on the trunk lid: Kompressor, German for supercharger. Supercharged 2.3-liter SLKs initially had 193 horsepower and hit 60 mph in 7 seconds flat. Later versions would have tire-shredding AMG power. The SLK was renamed SLC in 2017, and sales tapered off until the roadster’s death in 2020. The CLK hatchback didn’t last nearly as long. Both cars “became less,” but, as the recent 400-horsepower CLA-series sedans have shown, entry-level Mercedes-Benz cars have become much, much greater.
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