at stake—namely, the relative merits of John’s baptism ministry in comparison to that of Jesus. The dispute surfaced an issue that had no doubt been disturbing John’s disciples for some time. During the prolonged time (cf. the discussion of v. 22 above) that John ministered in close proximity to Jesus, John’s following had gradually diminished. Troubled by their master’s waning popularity (cf. 4:1), which their dispute with the Jew highlighted, John’s disciples came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,