John 3:26
And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
John's disciples came to him with word that the One he had pointed to beyond Jordan was now baptizing and drawing all the people to Himself. They spoke as the crowds around John were thinning while those around Jesus grew daily, and jealousy and fear that John's influence was fading stirred complaint. The report put John in a dangerous place, where one sympathetic word would have justified the jealousy and sown division that would hinder Christ's work. He understood that he was only the forerunner sent to prepare the way and point men to the Messiah, not to compete with Him. He therefore refused the grievance with a noble, unselfish spirit, rejoicing to see Christ increase while his own part decreased, and Jesus Himself, who baptized no one personally but worked through His disciples, unselfishly withdrew to Galilee rather than press a rivalry that would harm the work.
Context and Complaint
The disciples came to John with the report that the One to whom he had borne witness beyond Jordan was now baptizing and that all men were coming to Him. Their words were true in substance, for Jesus was drawing the people to Himself and His following was growing while John's popularity was waning. The report was colored by jealousy over that growing popularity and by fear that John's influence was diminishing.
It came as Jesus came into the region about Jordan, when the crowds about John lessened day by day, the people flocked to hear Jesus, and the number of His disciples increased daily. The turning of the tide of popularity from John to Jesus stirred jealousy and murmurings among John's disciples.
The grievance grew out of criticism of Jesus' work and out of disputes with the Jews and with Christ's disciples. Those disputes concerned whether baptism cleanses the soul from sin, the claim that the baptism of Jesus differed essentially from that of John, the form of words proper to use at baptism, and the right of Christ's disciples to baptize at all.
In that dispute John's baptism was for repentance, while the baptism performed by Jesus' disciples was associated with purification of sinners from the guilt of sin and with a new life. Jesus Himself baptized no one, but the baptisms were performed by His disciples. By sanctioning baptism through them He set His seal upon the mission of His forerunner.
Responses and Lessons
The report that the One witnessed to beyond Jordan was now baptizing and drawing all men to Himself came when the tide of popularity was turning, and it brought temptation to sympathize with self and to show grief or disappointment at being superseded as the mission seemed about to close. The report itself was true, and the growing following of Jesus meant waning popularity for John, so the news tested him because it could stir jealousy and division among his followers. He stood in a dangerous position where one word of sympathy or encouragement for the jealousy and murmurings would have justified the disciples and sown seeds of dissension and serious division. Yielding to that spirit would have encouraged envy and jealousy, hindered the work of Christ, and seriously impeded the progress of the gospel.
By nature he had the faults and weaknesses common to humanity, yet transformed by the touch of divine love he clearly understood his relation to the Messiah. He was only the forerunner of the Coming Promised One whose way he had prepared, sent to point people to Christ and not to compete with Him. His refusal to justify the grievance showed a noble and unselfish spirit. Christ as bridegroom must have first place, and John rejoiced to hear His voice and see His work increase while his own role decreased, gladly welcoming the One for whom he had prepared the way.
News of Jesus' success also stirred jealousy, envy, and hatred among the Pharisees, who could use it to divide Jesus' disciples from John's and harm their shared work. Jesus therefore stopped baptizing and unselfishly retired from that field of labor rather than rival John, withdrawing to Galilee to avoid worsening the conflict and to protect the work from harmful excitement. That course reveals His nobility, His manliness, His singleness of purpose, His virtues of character, and His spirit. All who carry the burden of the Lord's work must make an alliance with Him, study this character, purify themselves even as He is pure, and grow into closer and still closer familiarity with His way and spirit.
Together with verses 22-36, the verse calls for thorough conviction and a work of repentance in the soul. It calls for speaking kindly and earnestly in season to erring ones without sporting words of reproof or trifling with a serious and important matter. It calls for bearing in mind that Satan in deceptive style seeks to overcome every soul and flatters himself that his armies are great and Christ's armies few so he will stand victor. It calls for knowing that angels of God are present in every establishment where work in various business lines is carried on to protect every soul from becoming rude in word or actions so Satan shall have no chance to triumph.