The Life Of Jesus Christ In Its Historical Connexion

The rapid growth of Christ's sphere of labour excited the jealousy of many of John's disciples, who would hear of no other master but their own, and who had not imbibed enough of his spirit to know that he was to give way before the higher one. They had seen that Christ obtained his first disciples by John's testimony in his favour. Having no desire themselves to go beyond John's teaching, they did not strive to understand that testimony fully, and deemed it unreasonable that Christ, who owed his first followers to the recommendation of their own master, should exalt himself above the latter. But when they mentioned their surprise to John, he answered them, "Do not wonder at this; it had to be so. No man can usurp what Heaven has not granted him. (No man's labours can transcend the limit appointed by God. Christ's influence proclaims the Divinity of his calling. Men would not join him, if God did not give them, in him, what I could never bestow.)" He then calls them to witness that he had never announced himself to them as Messiah, but always, and only, as the Forerunner: "I said I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him."

It is to be observed (and it confirms what we have said of the historical position of the Baptist) that he does not here appeal to his private declarations as to Christ's Messiahship, made to individual susceptible disciples, but only to his continuous public testimony. The jealous spirits, therefore, may never have had, from the lips of their master, any Such special direction to Christ.

But he added, "My goal is reached; my joy is fulfilled. I have led the Bride (the Theocratic congregation) to the Bridegroom (the Messiah), to whom she belongs, who alone can fulfil her hopes. He must increase, but I must decrease." [290]

In uttering these words the Baptist probably had a presentiment that the end of his career was at hand. When he returned to the other side of the river, Herod Antipas, who ruled in Peraea, succeeded in laying hold of him. The rigid censor of morals, who had no respect for persons where the holy law of God was concerned, had offended the tetrarch; [291] and, by order of the latter, he was conveyed as a prisoner to the border fortress of Machaerus. [292]