Here John the Baptist is wholly engrossed with the Person of his Lord. Hence we have no reference to His work, as in John 1:29. This is a point of the deepest possible interest and importance. “John stood,” fixed, riveted, gazing upon the most glorious Object that had ever fixed the gaze of men and angels: the Object of the Father’s delight and of heaven’s adoration, “the Lamb of God.” Mark the effect: “The two disciples heard Him speak, and they followed Jesus.” They felt there must be something uniquely attractive in One who could so command their master’s heart. Therefore, leaving him, they attached themselves to that glorious Person of whom he spoke.

This is full of instruction for us. There is immense moral power in true occupation of heart with Christ and in the testimony which flows from thence. The positive enjoyment of Christ, feeding upon and delighting in Him, the heart going out in holy adoration after Him, the affections centered in Him, these are the things that speak powerfully to the hearts of others because they speak to our own hearts and ways. A man who is finding his delight in Christ is lifted out of himself and lifted above the circumstances and influences.

Was John troubled by the loss of his disciples? No, it was the joy of his heart to see them finding their center and their object where he had found his own. He had not sought to make a party or to gather disciples around himself. He had borne witness to another, and that other was “the Lamb of God” in whom he himself delighted, not only because of His work, but because of His worth, His moral glory, His intrinsic, peerless, divine excellence. He heard the Bridegroom’s voice and saw His face, and his joy was full.