John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”
“cried” in the Greek is krazo which means to croak as of the cry of a raven; to cry out, to speak in a loud voice. John’s testimony was not spoken softly. This fulfilled prophecy (AV Isaiah 40:3). Matthew Henry observes that Old Testament prophets cried out to show people their sin; John cried out to show people their Savior.
Isaiah 40:3 (AV) The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
“This was he of whom I said” = John had spoken of the coming One earlier in his ministry, possibly (Matt 3:11) refers to the time. John began his ministry preparing people for the coming Messiah and he never diverted from that. We must always be careful to not lose sight of the direction God has for us.
Matthew 3:11 “I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
“He who comes after me” = Jesus was born 6 months after John. (Luke 1:24-27) and started His ministry well after John did his.
Luke 1:24-27 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people.” In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
“is preferred before me” (KJV) = “has surpassed me” (NIV) = He is more important than me and so is His ministry. John was just the messenger boy; Jesus was the Son of God, the Word become flesh. Compare the description of Jesus in (Luk 1:32) with that of John in (Luk 1:76). Note that there is no seniority system with God. Don’t think God is going to do more with you just because you have been around longer than someone else.
Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
Luke 1:76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
“for he was before me” literally means “he was first of me.” This refers to absolute priority and not just relative priority; Jesus was not just before John, who was born in those days (Mt 3:1). He was before all things (John 1:1-2, 8:58, 17:5, Micah 5:2, Col 1:17). Jesus was much more senior than John (or Abraham, or anyone). Jesus is also “before” John in supremacy (Luk 1:76).
Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
John 8:58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Luke 1:76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,