You are witnesses that I said, ‘I’m not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’
“I’m going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way ahead of me. Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the promise will come. He is the one you want,” says the Lord of Armies.
Isaiah the prophet spoke about this man when he said, “A voice cries out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!’ ”
“You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way.
John didn’t refuse to answer. He told them clearly, “I’m not the Messiah.”
John said, “I’m a voice crying out in the desert, ‘Make the way for the Lord straight,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
They asked John, “Why do you baptize if you’re not the Messiah or Elijah or the prophet?”
He’s the one who comes after me. I am not worthy to untie his sandal strap.”