John said, "We forbad him, because he followeth not with us." That tells the whole tale. They were thinking of themselves, not of Christ; of their own importance, and not His honor. If it had been His importance they would have thought how blessed it was to find the effect of His name and rejoiced to know His power was being exercised by man. But no; they were looking at themselves as well as at the Messiah.... And is there not something in us of the same thing—a satisfaction at that which aggrandizes self as well as Christ, instead of seeking the honor of Christ alone.
J. N. D.