A Man Came, Sent By GOD

 "A man came, sent by GOD;

his name was John.

He came to bear witness,

as a witness to introduce the Light,

so that all might believe through him.

He was not the Light,

but a witness to introduce the Light;...

This was the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, 'Who are you?'  John recognized the truth and did not deny it.  He said, 'I am not the Messiah.'

And they asked him, 'Then who are you?  Elijah?'  He answered, 'I am not.'  They said, 'Are you the Prophet?'  And he answered, 'No.'  Then they said to him, 'Tell us who you are so that we can give some answer to those who sent us.  How do you see yourself?'  And John said, 'I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the LORD!'

Those who had been sent were Pharisees; and they put a further question to John, 'Then why are you baptizing, if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?'  John answered, 'I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; although HE comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of HIS sandal.'

This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing." - John 1:6-8.19-28 

(A man came, sent by GOD.  John, the author of the Gospel, speaks to us of John the Baptist, precursor of JESUS.  The Word has truly identified HIMSELF; HE has not come with glory; HE was introduced by a word which come from HIMSELF, but remained human in John's preaching.  It was easy to reject this witness and in fact when HE came to HIS own, to the people of Israel, HIS own did not receive HIM.

The authorities wondered: "Who is this who on his own initiative has begun to preach?"  At that time, various Jewish groups "baptized," or bathed, as a means of purification and to hasten the coming of the Messiah.

Regarding John the Baptist's preaching and baptism, see Luke 3:10.

The Messiah is the name the Jews gave to the expected Savior.  They also expected the Prophet, but it was not clear whether or not the Prophet would be someone other than the Messiah.  It was believed that the prophet Elijah would reappear before the Messiah's arrival [Mark 9:11].)

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