John 3:26

One of the contemporary baptisms was the one Jesus and His disciples were conducting. John’s disciples mentioned it to John implying that they wanted him to comment on it. They had particular concern that so many people were going to Jesus for baptism. John’s reply (John 3:27-30) suggests that they felt jealous of Jesus’ popularity. They had failed to grasp the purpose of John’s ministry.

"It is interesting to note that four of the greatest men in the Bible faced this problem of comparison and competition: Moses (Numbers 11:26-30), John the Baptist (John 3:26-30), Jesus (Luke 9:46-50), and Paul (Philippians 1:15-18). A leader often suffers more from his zealous disciples than from his critics!" [Note: Wiersbe, 1:297.]