Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 3:25

"There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John`s disciples with a Jew about purifying." — John 3:25 (ASV)

The argument between a Jewish inquirer and the disciples of John indicates that there must have been confusion over the respective merits of Jesus and John. If both were baptizing, whose baptism was valid? By popular acclaim Jesus’ influence was growing and John’s was waning. John’s interrogators felt that their friend and teacher had been eclipsed by Jesus’ sudden popularity, and they wanted an explanation.