He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
He comes after John in public appearing and ministry, yet ranks far above him in precedence, honor, mission, and standing as Master and superior. To be unworthy to unfasten His sandal is to be unworthy to perform even the lowliest menial service for Him, showing John's humility and Christ's supreme rank. The One so described was already present and standing among the people in the world He made, though the people and the world did not know or recognize Him. He is the long-promised Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John knew himself to be only the forerunner sent to prepare the way and not the Christ, so though followed by multitudes and greatest of the prophets he refused honor to himself, turned attention away from himself to point to Jesus, and rejoiced that he must decrease while Christ increased.
Meaning and Setting
Coming after means coming later in public appearing and ministry, yet being preferred means ranking far above in precedence, honor, mission, and standing as Master and superior. The One who follows in time is greater in rank, so that order of appearance does not decide order of authority and worth. To unloose the shoe's latchet is to stoop to perform the lowliest menial service of unfastening a sandal. To declare unworthiness even for that act expresses utter humility on John's part and the supreme rank and great superiority of the Coming One.
The Coming One was already present among the people, standing in the crowd and standing in the world He had made, though the people and the world did not know or recognize Him. He was pointed to as already there while still to be manifested after John's work. These words were spoken while John was preaching and baptizing at Bethabara beyond the Jordan. There the memories of Israel's crossing of the Jordan and the fall of Jericho stirred hopes that God would again act to deliver Israel.
The promised Messiah was expected as a mighty prince and great conqueror coming with worldly wealth and greatness. Because of that expectation, priests and rulers and messengers from Jerusalem could not discern Him in the crowd and turned away from Him. Those who received Him, by contrast, beheld in Him dignity and power joined with compassion and love, though He appeared without worldly display.
Witness and Example
The One coming after John is the long-promised Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world, greater in rank though appearing after him in ministry. This identification was made while He already stood among the people unrecognized, and it was repeatedly joined with calling Him the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John knew himself to be only the forerunner who came to prepare the way before Jesus, not the Christ Himself. His ministry linked the law and the prophets with the Christian dispensation by pointing back to them and forward to Christ, the Saviour of the world.
Though followed and heard by multitudes and rulers and though greatest of the prophets, John refused to take honor to himself when questioned whether he was the Christ. He denied it and used every opportunity to turn attention away from himself and point to Jesus, whose work, mission and standing are far greater and mightier than his own. When his disciples tried to stir jealousy and complained that all men were turning to the new Teacher, he put aside human feelings and reminded them of his forerunner place. He directed people to Christ to prepare the way for His ministry, rejoicing that Christ must increase while he decreased. He knew Christ as the bridegroom must have first place in the affections of His people.
John's testimony and divine mission cannot be separated from Jesus' ministry, for his witness identified Jesus to the people as the Christ, the Messiah. To acknowledge John as sent from heaven therefore requires acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah of whom John prophesied, and to reject John's divine mission and testimony is to reject Jesus. In light of this clear witness to Jesus' superior mission, John's later question about whether Jesus was the Coming One appears especially bitter and disappointing.
He comes after John in public appearing and ministry, yet ranks far above him in precedence, honor, mission, and standing as Master and superior. To be unworthy to unfasten His sandal is to be unworthy to perform even the lowliest menial service for Him, showing John's humility and Christ's supreme rank. The One so described was already present and standing among the people in the world He made, though the people and the world did not know or recognize Him. He is the long-promised Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John knew himself to be only the forerunner sent to prepare the way and not the Christ, so though followed by multitudes and greatest of the prophets he refused honor to himself, turned attention away from himself to point to Jesus, and rejoiced that he must decrease while Christ increased.
Meaning and Setting
Coming after means coming later in public appearing and ministry, yet being preferred means ranking far above in precedence, honor, mission, and standing as Master and superior. The One who follows in time is greater in rank, so that order of appearance does not decide order of authority and worth. To unloose the shoe's latchet is to stoop to perform the lowliest menial service of unfastening a sandal. To declare unworthiness even for that act expresses utter humility on John's part and the supreme rank and great superiority of the Coming One.
The Coming One was already present among the people, standing in the crowd and standing in the world He had made, though the people and the world did not know or recognize Him. He was pointed to as already there while still to be manifested after John's work. These words were spoken while John was preaching and baptizing at Bethabara beyond the Jordan. There the memories of Israel's crossing of the Jordan and the fall of Jericho stirred hopes that God would again act to deliver Israel.
The promised Messiah was expected as a mighty prince and great conqueror coming with worldly wealth and greatness. Because of that expectation, priests and rulers and messengers from Jerusalem could not discern Him in the crowd and turned away from Him. Those who received Him, by contrast, beheld in Him dignity and power joined with compassion and love, though He appeared without worldly display.
Witness and Example
The One coming after John is the long-promised Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world, greater in rank though appearing after him in ministry. This identification was made while He already stood among the people unrecognized, and it was repeatedly joined with calling Him the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John knew himself to be only the forerunner who came to prepare the way before Jesus, not the Christ Himself. His ministry linked the law and the prophets with the Christian dispensation by pointing back to them and forward to Christ, the Saviour of the world.
Though followed and heard by multitudes and rulers and though greatest of the prophets, John refused to take honor to himself when questioned whether he was the Christ. He denied it and used every opportunity to turn attention away from himself and point to Jesus, whose work, mission and standing are far greater and mightier than his own. When his disciples tried to stir jealousy and complained that all men were turning to the new Teacher, he put aside human feelings and reminded them of his forerunner place. He directed people to Christ to prepare the way for His ministry, rejoicing that Christ must increase while he decreased. He knew Christ as the bridegroom must have first place in the affections of His people.
John's testimony and divine mission cannot be separated from Jesus' ministry, for his witness identified Jesus to the people as the Christ, the Messiah. To acknowledge John as sent from heaven therefore requires acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah of whom John prophesied, and to reject John's divine mission and testimony is to reject Jesus. In light of this clear witness to Jesus' superior mission, John's later question about whether Jesus was the Coming One appears especially bitter and disappointing.