[The person of John might well be considered as dignified in no common degree. He was the subject of prophecy many hundred years before he came into the world =»: his formation in the womb was announced by an angel from heaven, and that too at a period when his parents, according to the common course of nature, could entertain no hope of having any pro- geny. He was filled with the Holy Ghost even from his very Birth ; and was ushered into the world with the restoration of prophecy, after that gift had been withdrawn from the church almost four hundred years. But in all these respects Christ was far greater than he : Christ had been the subject of pro- phecy from the very foundation of the world : his work and offices had been exhibited to the world in numberless types and prophecies during the space of four tliousand years. His body was formed, not merely in a preternatural, but in a super- natural way, by the immediate agency of the Holy Ghost, who created it in the womb of a virgin ; by which means he was not merely holy, but spotless, without the smallest taint of that corruption, which every child of Adam inherits. Without noticing the songs with which the heavenly choir celebrated the tidhigs of his birth, or any of those miraculous circumstances which pointed him out to the Eastern Magi, we see already how far superior he was to John, even in those tilings wherein John surpassed all other men.
But what must we say, when to this we add, that he was God, " God manifest in the flesh," " God over all, blessed for ever?" Then all comparison must cease: and the expressions used by John, instead of appearing exaggerated, will be acknow- ledged to be infinitely below the truth : though the loosing of the sandals, and carrying them to the bath, was deemed too mean an employment for a Hebrew servant, or for any but a slave'', yet John accounted it far too high an honour for him to render such a service to that glorious person, whose advent he announced.]
2. In his office —
[John was a prophet of the most high God, yea, " more than a prophet." He had the distinguished honour of being the forerunner of the Messiah, who should prepare his way, and point him out to the people, being himself divinely in- structed how to distinguish him from all others who should attend his ministrations. Hence our Lord himself declares respecting him, that there " never had been a greater person born of woman than John the Baptist ;" but glorious as he was, Jesus far excelled him in glory. Jesus was the great prophet, to whom Moses and all the prophets gave testimony,
^ Isai. xl. 3. Mai. ill. 1. i> See Gill on the place.