The relation between our Lord and his forerunner.
Jesus seems to have followed in the footsteps of John, who was still at large, baptizing disciples in the southern borders of Judaea.
I. THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN 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 greater efficacy 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 rotation existing between himself and our Lord, as one not of opposition or comparison at all.
(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.
3. He regards his own importance as destined to diminish from day to day before the increasing acceptance of the Messiah. "He must increase, but I must decrease."