Exposition of John, Chapter 1 · Verse 17 – Verse 18
Ver. 24. And they which were ſent were of the Phariſees.
25. And they asked him, and ſaid unto him, Why baptizeſt thou then, if thou be not that Chriſt, nor Elias, neither that Prophet?
26. John anſwered them ſaying, I baptize with water, but there ſtandeth one among you, whom ye know not,
27. He it is, who coming after me, is preferred before me, whoſe ſhooes latchet I am not worthy to unlooſe.
Theſe Commiſſioners, ſeeking advantage, (as being no friends to the Goſpel) do queſtion John further concerning his office, and adminiſtration of Baptiſme, ſeeing he was neither the Meſſiah, nor any of theſe extraordinary men: To which he anſwers, that he pretended to no more then the adminiſtration of the outward ordinance, the efficacy whereof depended on Chriſt; And that he did this much becauſe he was the forerunner of Chriſt, who was already come, though yet unknown to them; And that Chriſt in his perſon and dignity was ſo farre above him, as he was not worthy to do him the meaneſt ſervice. Doctrine 1. It is an evidence of a ſick and corrupt Church, when corrupt men are entruſted with moſt grave and weighty employments in it; for, ſo was it with the Church of the Iewes, when they, which were ſent were of the Phariſees; A preciſe ſect, abounding in errour, ſuperſtition and hypocriſie, as the hiſtory of the Goſpel maketh manifeſt. 2. Corrupt men are more ready to jangle and lie at wait for advantages, then to embrace the truth of God delivered by his ſervants; for, theſe Phariſees take no notice of what he had ſaid from Iſaiah, nor ſeek to be further cleared in it, but think they have an advantage of him, that he ſhould preſume to baptize. Why baptiſeſt thou then, if thou be not that Chriſt &c? 3. It was an uncontroverted truth, both among friends and foes, in the Jewiſh Church, that at the coming of the Meſſiah, there ſhould be ſome changes in the way of Religion, and an inſtitution of new Ordinances; for, the Phariſees have nothing to ſay againſt his Baptiſme, if he were Chriſt, or Elias, or the Prophet, their onelyonly objection is, Why baptizeſt thou then, if thou be not that Chriſt, nor Elias, neither that Prophet? And John's anſwer, I baptize, but there ſtandeth one among you, &c. importeth that he being Chriſts forerunner, who was now come into the world, it was lawful for him to adminiſter this Sacrament. 4. Miniſters ought to arrogate no more unto themſelves, then to be Miniſters and diſpenſers of the external meanes of Word and Sacraments, leaving the glory and efficacie thereof unto Chriſt entirely; And people ought ſo to be affected in coming to theſe Ordinances; Therefore, ſaith John, I baptize with water, not denying that Chriſt alſo baptized with water, nor yet denying that baptiſme adminiſtred by him was accompanied with Grace and the Spirit of God; but he onelyonly compareth his perſon and office with Chriſts, and ſheweth that whatever grace came by the Sacrament adminiſtred by him, yet he was not the giver of it, but Chriſt onelyonly, who had appointed him to diſpence the outward ſeale. 5. Chriſt may be among a people, and yet they who reckon themſelves very high in the Church, neither ſee him, nor know him; for, ſaith John there ſtandeth one among you, (not that he was preſent then at that time, for he came but the next day to him from the Wilderneſſe, ver. 29. but that he was come into the world, and converſant with the Jewes) whom ye know not. 6. It is the duty of Miniſters, and will be the care of ſuch as are faithful and zealous, to exalt and commend Chriſt at all occaſions, that men may fall in love with him; Therefore, doth John again repeat his doctrine, he it is who coming after me, is preferred before me, whoſe ſhooes latchet I am not worthy to unlooſe. 8. The more high employment, and the more eminent gifts men have, and the more ready men are to eſteeme of them, the more will they abaſe themſelves, if they be truly gracious, and be affected with the excellency of Chriſt; for, it is John, the greateſt among them that are born of women, and ſo much eſteemed among the Jewes, and the fore-runner of Chriſt who thus abaſeth himſelf, he is preferred before me, whoſe ſhooes latchet I am not worthy to unlooſe. 9. Albeit Chriſt, of free grace, do honour men with eminent employments under him, and particularly Miniſters of the Goſpel; Yet ſuch as know Chriſt and themſelves well, will not onelyonly ſee that they are unworthy of the high employments they have, but even to do the baſeſt ſervice to him; for, John ſaith not, I am unworthy to be his fore runner, though employed in that ſervice, but, whoſe ſhooes latchet I am not worthy to unlooſe, which was a mean and baſe office.
Verſe 28. Theſe things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Unto this teſtimony the Apoſtle John ſubjoyneth the place where it was given; It was, as the name ſignifieth, an ordinary place of paſſage over Jordan. This is remarked not onelyonly to confirme the truth of the teſtimony, by recording the circumſtances; But, 1. To ſhew that as this place where John baptized and preached, was an ordinary entry to the Land of Canaan; ſo Chriſt whom he preached is the Author, and the Sacrament he adminiſtred, a meane of entry into the heavenly Canaan. 2. To ſhew that faithful Miniſters ought to omit no opportunities, but to take advantage of all occaſions for ſetting forth of Chriſt, and gaining of ſouls to him: Therefore doth John make uſe of Bethabarah, to preach and baptize in, becauſe of the daily concourſe that was there.