It is evident that John the Baptist holds a unique place among the outstanding servants of God of whom we read in the Bible; there was no greater born of women. So says the unerring voice of our Lord; but also the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Clearly not because such a one is in himself greater than that strenuous missioner, but because of the wonderful position that grace was about to confer upon the simplest believer who has part in the “kingdom of heaven,” and of all therein involved. But John was great in his individual position, as were Abraham and Joseph, Moses and Elijah. In short the Baptist was the link between Judaism and Christianity. He was also (and this was a still higher distinction, though bound up with the former one) the Forerunner of the Messiah, His Messenger, as he is styled in Malachi, and duly appeared in Judaea to herald Him to whom all the prophets had borne witness, and whose shoes' latchet John says he was not worthy to stoop down and unloose. This, we know, was the office of the humblest slave. Such was the reverence paid by the Baptist to the Lord Jesus. Whatever the grace shown us (and faith loves to appropriate in proportion to its vigor), still we can never be too reverent. An intelligent appreciation of Christian liberty is not more becoming than the humility that would veil the face and the feet (Isa. 6).
Now this reverential attitude on the part of John the Baptist was displayed on the occasion of the Lord's baptism, when He, in lowly grace and desiring to fulfill all righteousness, took His place with the faithful remnant, and submitted to be baptized by His servant. It was indeed natural for the latter to demur, nor did such diffidence in the least indicate a weak character. There is no necessary connection between reverence and weakness, any more than there is between weakness and affection. Rather is it the other way. At any rate John was habitually stern, as the burden of his mission was a vehement call to repentance. No doubt he did not then enter very clearly into what lay before his Master, spite of many a pointed prediction and pathetic forecast in psalm and prophecy. It was his to warn solemnly of coming judgment as he told of Him Whose fan was in His hand, and Who would thoroughly purge His floor, burning up the chaff with fire unquenchable. Yet the same John was the first to point to the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. This is in keeping with what we often find in Scripture, viz. the union of opposites. It was one of the seven angels that had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues that showed to another John the Holy City.
Thus, although the general purport of his message was judgment, the Baptist bore striking and comprehensive testimony to grace, and to the Savior's work. Afterward, it is true, he was fain in a moment of dejection to wonder whether after all Jesus was He that should come, or whether another was to be looked for. Some expositors, we know, anxious for the credit of this most honored servant of Christ, have explained his question as asked on behalf of others rather than his own. But such carefulness is unnecessary. One only was perfect, who always said and did the right thing; and He was more than man, though most truly man. At the same time we need not wonder if John was depressed. Think of the gloom of his surroundings in Herod's prison. Thence it was that he sent two of his disciples to our Lord to prefer the question alluded to above.
But earlier how nobly the same John had answered those who told him that all were flocking to Jesus. Did they think it would fret his spirit? At least they seemed not to understand this desertion on the part of his disciples. Probably there was honest perplexity in their minds. So John tells them that far from feeling slighted, he was glad, and his joy was thereby made full. He had told them he was not the Christ, and he gladly retires that the Christ may be all. What if he had to decrease day by day, while Jesus increased? This was but the heightening of his joy. He was the friend of the Bridegroom, and he rejoiced greatly to hear the Bridegroom's voice, not to hear his own. What a lesson for us! Still the Lord deigns to speak through the faltering lips of His servants. R. B.