Albert Barnes on John 3:28

Bear me witness. You remember that at first I told you I was not the Messiah. As he had been witness to Jesus--as he came for no other end but to point him out to the Jews, they ought not to suppose that he was his superior. It was but reasonable to expect that Christ himself would be more successful than his forerunner. "I came, not to form a separate party, a peculiar sect, but to prepare the way that he might be more successful, and that the people might be ready for his coming, and that he might have the success which he has actually met with. You should rejoice, therefore, at that success, and not enter it, for his success is the best proof of the greatness of my word, and of its success also."

(b) "I am not the Christ" Jn 1:20,27 (c) "I am sent before him" Lk 1:17