He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John didn’t answer their question directly. Note that he did not even consider himself worthy to unloose the sandal of Jesus, the most menial of tasks, which was only performed by a slave. According to Barclay one Rabbinic saying states that a disciple may do for his master anything that a servant did except to untie his sandals. This function was too menial for even a disciple to do. As Morris says, “Humility could scarcely take a lower place.” (NICNT 141)
Christians vary in many ways. They have different gifts, different knowledge, and a variety of character traits. No two of us are alike and yet every Christian who is great in the eyes of the Lord has one trait in common — humility. John was a great example to us of what a man or woman of God should be like and how they should think of themselves. His opinion of himself was that he was unworthy to do the most menial of tasks for Christ and yet Jesus said of him that he was a shining light (John 5:35) and that there were none greater among men (Matt 11:11). We need to follow his example and clothe ourselves with humility (1 Peter 5:5).
John 5:35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
Matthew 11:11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”