Verse 24. And the message of the Behu from the Pharisees. [52] He designated the sect to which they belonged, indicating their excessive pettiness.

Verse 25. And she asked him, and answered him, Why do you baptize, if you bear Christ, neither Elijah nor the prophet... [53] Not having achieved what they wanted, they try to accuse him, in order at least by fear to force him to say something that did not really happen; but he again reveals complete justice.

Verse 26. John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water: but he stands in the midst of you, whom you do not know." [54] Jesus Christ was among the people at that time. He was going to be baptized as one of many, and this was known to John by Divine Revelation. The words: Whom ye do not know refer to His Divinity.

Verse 27. He is He who comes after me, who was before me...,[55] He to whom I referred these words. The expression is explained above.

Verse 27... And I am worthy of him, that I may loosen the strap of his boot. [56] By this he points to the incomparable superiority of Jesus Christ, saying: I cannot even be among His last servants, because of the greatness of the Godhead that dwells in Him. And such a duty is actually entrusted to the lower slaves. It is necessary to find at the beginning of the Gospel of Mark (1:7) an explanation of the words: "And he preached," saying: "He who is strong is coming after me, Who is worthy to bow down, to loose the strap of His boots." [57]

Verse 28. This was in Bethabara the Jordan, where John baptized. [58] More correct copies are found in Bethabara, because Bethany was not beyond the Jordan or in the wilderness, but near Jerusalem. It marks the place, indicating that John spoke this about Christ in the presence of many. Omitting further events narrated by other Evangelists, namely the baptism of Jesus Christ, the testimony of Him from above, the forty-day fast in the wilderness and the temptation, the Evangelist tells about what happened after His departure from the wilderness and what was omitted by others.

Verse 29. In the morning (and) in the morning, John of Jesus coming to himself... [59] — the day after the return of Jesus Christ from the wilderness, since John still remained at the Jordan. Why does Jesus Christ go to John? As some had supposed that he, like the others, had received the baptism of repentance as a sinner, he now went to John to present him with an opportunity to correct such a suspicion by a more perfect testimony.

Verse 29... And he said, Behold the Lamb of God... [60] He called Him the Lamb, recalling the types of the law and the prophecy of Isaiah, and as if to say, "Behold the Lamb formed in the law and proclaimed by Isaiah." Then He adds His special, predominant attribute, namely, that He was sent by God to the slaughter for the salvation of people. Or: God's, i.e., Divine, because of His Divinity.

Verse 29... Take away the sins of the world. [61] The slain Lamb of the Law destroyed the sins of one of the people of Israel, as a shadow, a predestination, and a type of truth, but the Lamb of God that was slain destroys the sins of the whole world, and cleanses all those who dwell in the world, as the truth; this one was foolish, but this one was rational and, moreover, even Divine. By sins understand not only the impurities of the soul, from which He frees those who keep His commandments, but also the infirmities of the body, from which He frees the sick. By saying, "Take away the sins of the world," he destroyed the above-mentioned suspicion. It is obvious that He Who destroys the sins of other people Himself has no sins; and he who has no sins came to baptism for a completely different reason, which the Baptist indicates a little later.

Verse 30. This is, O Him who is: A Man is coming after me, Who was before me, as before me. [62] Again he says, "Thou shalt be before me, as before me, openly humbling Himself as a servant, and exalting Him without comparison as Lord."

Verse 31. And I did not know Him... [63] Lest it should be thought that he, having long been acquainted with Jesus Christ, gives such a testimony about Him out of favor to Him as a relative, he says: "I did not know Him before He came to the Jordan, because I was in the wilderness all the time." True, while still in his mother's womb, John recognized Jesus Christ and leaped up, as Luke wrote (1:41); but then he knew Him not according to natural laws, but naturally and in a way that no other man has. Now he recognized Jesus Christ in three ways: by sight, hearing, and prophetic knowledge; in none of these ways did John know Him before He came to the Jordan, and then He knew Him by all three. Prophetically, everything pertaining to Jesus Christ was revealed to John; wherefore he said, "He that cometh after me, shall be before me" (John 1:15). He saw Jesus Christ, and therefore he restrained Him, saying: "I require Thee to be baptized, and Thou art coming to me" (Matt. 3:14)? [64] Finally, I heard of Him: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased,"[65] as the other Evangelists testified (Matt. 3:17; Mk. 1:11; Lk. 3:22).

Verse 31... But let the Israelites appear, for this reason I came baptizing with water. [66] Here is the reason why he came to baptize: it was the same for both, namely, that Jesus Christ should be revealed to Israel. John was sent by God to the Jordan to preach the baptism of repentance, so that many people would flock to be baptized, and that Jesus Christ, standing in the midst of this multitude, as also wishing to be baptized, would receive a testimony on earth from John, and from heaven from the Father and the Holy Spirit, and so that, thus drawing them to Himself, He would begin to teach and work miracles. If this had not been the case, then everyone would not have come together in this way, and would not have heard this testimony in this way.

Verses 32–33. And John testified, saying, "He saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and abiding upon Him." And I did not know Him: but He who sent me to baptize with water, He said to me, "Over Him thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding upon Him, He is baptizing with the Holy Spirit." [67] Again he says, "Thou hast not led him, that thou mayest remove all suspicion from his testimony." But when did God say to him, "Thou shalt see the Spirit descending over Him," etc.? When Jesus Christ had not yet appeared, God revealed to John everything concerning Him; at the same time he revealed all the other things and this; and then he pointed out Jesus Christ Himself, going to baptism. This Evangelist, as has already been said, omitted the events that followed the baptism of the Saviour, as recorded by the other Evangelists, while Matthew told them in more detail; therefore, it is necessary to read them for a better understanding.

Verse 34. And I saw[68]... 2 The Spirit, of course, descending and abiding upon Him.