The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 279

Vera. 23-30.-The relatiM between our Lord and his forernnner. Jesus seems to have followed in the footsteps of John, who was still at large, baptizing disciples in the southern borders of Judma. I. THE CONTROVERSY DETWEEN THE JEWS AND JOHN'S DISCIPLES. The subject of dispute. "About purifying." It was caused by the competition of the two baptisms, and turned upon the best mode of true purification. 1. The Jews might ascribe gi·eater ~ffecacy to Jesus' baptism than to John's. 2. John's disciples might claim the honour of superiority, because their master's baptism was the first in point of time. 3. The Jews might argue that John's was unnecessary now that Christ had come. 4. John's disciples might argue that their master's baptism was still necessary as a preparation for the Messiah. II. CONSIDER HOW JOHN SETTLES THE CONTROVERSY. 1. The Baptist does not resolve it directly at all, for he makes no allusion to the question of baptism. 2. He resolves it by pointing out, with a noble and touching humility, the exact relatiM existing between himself and our Lord, a.s one not of opposition or comparison at all. (1) He represents the greater success of Jesus as due to God. "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." It is God's will, not man's energy or zeal, that secures success. (2) He reminds his disciples that he had all along consistently represented his mission as purely provisional. "Ye yourselves hear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him." (3) He distinctly marks the inferior place assigned to himself. "He that bath the bride is the bridegroom." He is himself not the Bridegroom, but his friend. (a) The bride is the Messianic community; (b) Christ is the .Bridegroom; (c) John is" the friend of the Bridegroom," whose office it was to bring them together. (4) He is perfectly satisfied with this position. "This my joy therefore is fulfilled." Be is delighted to hear the Bridegroom's voice, and to be the agent of bringing the Jews to recognize his Messiahship. 3. He regards his own importance as destined to diminish from day to day before the in<;T'easing acceptance oj' the Messiah. "He must increase, but I must decrease." (1) It is a great trial to human pride to efface one's self in the midst of a career of extraordinary popularity, while the energies of life are still unbroken, and the hopes of expanding usefulness are strong in the heart. (2) As a test of character, this declaration marks the true greatness of the Baptist. There is something sublime as well as touching in his humility. Vera. 31-36.-The Baptist's cMfirmation of his statement respeciing the ruperiority of Ghrist. He gives several reasons why Jesus must increase, and he himself must decrease. I. THE ORIGIN OIi' JEsus. "Be that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth." 1. Jesus belongs to heaven; the Baptist to the earth. 2. Jesus is above all servants of God; the Baptist i·s one of his servants. 3. Jesus must ever eclipse all his servants, causing them to facie away like the morning star before the sun; they fincl their true enjoyment in the resplendent glory of Christ. 4. John is hemmed in by the peculiar limitations of an earthly existence; his ideas are derived and dependent; he sees heavenly realities from the imperfect standpoint of faith. He can summon the world to repentance, but he cannot give repentance. II. THE PERFECTION OP CHRIST'S TEACHING. "And what he bath seen and heard, that he testifieth." 1. His Divine origin secures the unique glO'T'!f of his teaching; for, being in the bosom of the Father, he is acquainted with all his counsels. He is a wit- ness who bas both seen and heard what he declares to man. 2. Consider the pe1-verse W11,belief that rejects the teaching. "And no man receiveth his testimony." Jerusalem, as the religious centre of Judaism, gives it no welcome. 3. The believer's witness to tha truth of God. " He that receiveth his testimony bath set to his seal that God is true." (1) The Jews' rejection was not total. There were many believers in Christ's word,. (2) The believer bears his testimony-the testimony of his inward experience-to the  142 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [en, m. 1-36.