The Gospel admits that many disciples of John the Baptist did not recognize Jesus (3:22; 4:2). These had been drawn by their teacher's example: he was intense and outspoken, hard on himself in food and drink and clothing. Somehow they had hope, that God's true justice would come and bring about a direct punishment of the wicked. Like militant followers of whatever good cause, John the Baptist's disciples had their weaknesses: they were too focused on their own leaders and ways to consider anything else. To become Christ's disciples, they would have to give up their own prophets.

It is necessary that Jesus increase but that John the Baptist decrease, says the greatest of prophets. Only Jesus can fully satisfy the human heart. In Jesus nothing of the good is lost, since He embodies all. (John's earlier testimony Jn 1:20).

Verse 27-30 present the final testimony of John the Baptist to Jesus where he stresses the superiority of Jesus to his own original followers who had claimed he was the real messiah and not Jesus. "He must increase while I must decrease" ¡K with these apt words John the Baptist disappears personally from the Gospel. John's testimony and witness is that of the perfect disciple - one who is ready to grow in his capacity to give self over, and rejoicing in being able to do so.