John Calvin Commentary John 1:26

"John answered them, saying, I baptize in water: in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not," — John 1:26 (ASV)

I baptize with water. This ought to have been abundantly sufficient for the correction of their mistake, but a reproof otherwise clear is of no advantage to the deaf. For, when he sends them to Christ and declares that Christ is present, this is a clear proof not only that he was divinely appointed to be a minister of Christ, but that he is the true Elijah, who is sent to testify that the time has come for the renovation of the Church. There is a contrast here which is not fully stated; for the spiritual baptism of Christ is not expressly contrasted with the external baptism of John, but that latter clause about the baptism of the Spirit might easily be supplied, and shortly afterwards both are recorded by the Evangelist.

This answer may be reduced to two main points: first, that John claims nothing for himself but what he has a right to claim, because he has Christ as the Author of his baptism, in which the truth of the sign consists; and, secondly, that he has nothing but the administration of the outward sign, while the whole power and efficacy are in the hands of Christ alone. Thus he defends his baptism, to the extent that its truth depends on an authority beyond himself; but, at the same time, by declaring that he does not have the power of the Spirit, he exalts the dignity of Christ, so that the eyes of people may be fixed on Him alone. This is the highest and best-regulated moderation, when a minister borrows from Christ whatever authority he claims for himself, in such a manner as to trace it to Him, ascribing to Him alone all that he possesses.

It is a foolish mistake, however, into which some people have been led, to suppose that John’s baptism was different from ours; for John does not argue here about the advantage and usefulness of his baptism but merely compares his own person with the person of Christ. Similarly, if we were inquiring today what part belongs to us and what belongs to Christ in baptism, we must acknowledge that Christ alone performs what baptism figuratively represents, and that we have nothing beyond the bare administration of the sign.

There is a twofold way of speaking in Scripture about the sacraments. For sometimes it tells us that they are the laver of regeneration (Titus 3:5), that by them our sins are washed away (1 Peter 3:21), that we are engrafted into the body of Christ, that our old man is crucified, and that we rise again to newness of life (Romans 6:4–6). In those cases, Scripture joins the power of Christ with the ministry of man, as indeed, man is nothing else than the hand of Christ.

Such modes of expression show not what man can accomplish by himself, but what Christ performs through man and by the sign, as His instruments. But as there is a strong tendency to fall into superstition, and as people, through the pride which is natural to them, take from God the honor due to Him and basely appropriate it to themselves, Scripture, to restrain this blasphemous arrogance, sometimes distinguishes ministers from Christ, as in this passage, so that we may learn that ministers are nothing and can do nothing.

One standeth in the midst of you. He indirectly charges them with stupidity in not knowing Christ, to whom their minds ought to have been earnestly directed. He always insists earnestly on this point: that nothing can be known about his ministry until people have come to Him who is its Author.

When he says that Christ stands in their midst, it is to excite their desire and effort to know Him. The essence of what he says is that he wishes to place himself as low as possible, lest any honor improperly bestowed on him might obscure the excellence of Christ. It is probable that he often uttered these sentences when he saw himself immoderately extolled by the perverse opinions of people.