John 3:27-29 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

John answered With a humility and integrity agreeable to the rest of his character, A man can receive nothing Neither he, nor I, nor any man; unless it be given him from heaven Whence every good gift cometh, James 1:18; a general truth, very applicable in this case. Different employments are according to the direction of Divine Providence; different endowments according to the distribution of divine grace. We have as necessary and constant a dependance upon the grace of God in all the actions of the spiritual life, as we have upon the providence of God in all those of the natural life. Dr. Macknight paraphrases the passage thus: “A man of God, or prophet, can assume no greater dignity and authority, than God has thought fit to confer on him. Ye yourselves bear me witness For you cannot but remember, that I said Very expressly; I am not the Christ I never pretended to be the Messiah, as you very well know; but when you asked me, I told you I was only his harbinger sent before, to give you notice of his coming, and to prepare you for receiving him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom, &c. So far am I from envying his growing fame, or the number of his disciples, that I greatly rejoice in both; just as the bridegroom's friend, who is appointed to stand and hear him converse with his bride, rejoices in the love she expresses to him; of which love the friend forms an idea likewise, by what he hears the bridegroom say to her in return. My highest joy, therefore, is, that men cheerfully submit to the Messiah, and pay him all due honour.” Thus John was so far from regretting the advancement of Christ and his interest: as his disciples did, that he rejoiced in it, expressing his joy by an elegant, well-known, and expressive similitude. As if he had said, “Do all men come to him? It is well: whither else should they go? Has he got the throne in men's affections? Who else should have it? It is his right. To whom should the bride be brought but to the bridegroom? The Word was made flesh, that the disparity of nature might not be a bar to the union; provision is made for the purifying of the church, that the defilement of sin might be no bar. Christ espouses the church to himself: he has the bride, for he has her love and her promise.” All that John had done in preaching and baptizing, he had done as the friend of the bridegroom, to introduce him to the bride, recommend him to her affections, prepare her for him, and in other respects do him honour and service; and now that he was come, had gained her love, and betrothed her to himself; John had what he wished for, and rejoiced. Thus faithful ministers, as friends of the bridegroom, recommend him to the affections and choice of mankind; and the espousing of souls to Christ in faith and love, is the fulfilling of their joy.