John Calvin Commentary John 1:30

"This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is become before me: for he was before me." — John 1:30 (ASV)

This is he of whom I said. He summarizes everything in a few words when he declares that Christ is the person who, as he said, was to be preferred to him. For from this it follows that John is nothing more than a herald sent on His behalf, and from this again it is evident that Christ is the Messiah.

Three things are stated here; for when he says that a man cometh after him, he means that John himself came before Him in the order of time to prepare the way for Christ, according to the testimony of Malachi.

Behold, I send my messenger before my face (Malachi 3:1).

Again, when he says that he was preferred to himself, this relates to the glory with which God adorned His Son when He came into the world to fulfill the office of a Redeemer.

Finally, the reason is added: Christ is far superior in dignity to John the Baptist. That honor, therefore, which the Father bestowed upon Him was not accidental but was due to His eternal majesty.

But I have already spoken of this expression, he was preferred to me, because he was before me.