John The Baptist Presents JESUS, The Lamb Of GOD

"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, quoting the prophet Isaiah, 'I am the voice crying out in the wilderness:  Make straight the way of the LORD.' 

Those who had been sent were Pharisees; so 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 1:19-28  

(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.

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.)

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