John 3:26 Commentary and Bible Study

The disciples of John who had been involved in this argument ‘came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan’ – they are referring to Christ; they are referring to how John said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world’ – ‘he … to whom thou barest witness’, that he was the Messiah, the Son of God. ‘Behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.’ So the disciples of John had been successfully upset by those Jewish leaders or their representatives who questioned the rightness of all this. But more, they were concerned that Christ was drawing greater crowds. What did John the Baptist mean that he was the Messiah? Well if that was so, why was he not claiming his kingly crown, his Messianic power and leading the nation? Why had he simply set up nearby and drawn the crowds away from John?Well, Christ had a great advantage, because not only was he baptising through his disciples, but he was healing, he was performing great miracles. So it is not surprising that the crowds should be diverted to him. But this leaves the disciples of John feeling upstaged and bypassed. What is going on? they say to John the Baptist. ‘You said he is the Messiah, but he is doing what we do, only more, and drawing away the people from us.’