{Because he followed not us} (hoti ouk (886b)olouthei h(886d)in).
Note vivid imperfect tense again. John evidently thought to
change the subject from the constraint and embarrassment caused
by their dispute. So he told about a case of extra zeal on his
part expecting praise from Jesus. Perhaps what Jesus had just
said in verse  37  raised a doubt in John's mind as to the
propriety of his excessive narrowness. One needs to know the
difference between loyalty to Jesus and stickling over one's own
narrow prejudices.