"I did not recognizeHim, but sothat He might be manifestedto Israel,I camebaptizingin water."
"Behold,I am going to sendMy messenger,and he will clearthe waybeforeMe. And the Lord,whomyou seek,will suddenlycometo His temple;and the messengerof the covenant,in whomyou delight,behold,He is coming,"saysthe LORDof hosts.
ThenJesusarrivedfrom Galileeat the Jordan[coming] to John,to be baptizedby him.
and they were being baptizedby him in the JordanRiver,as they confessedtheir sins.
"It is he who will go[as a forerunner] beforeHim in the spiritand powerof Elijah,TO TURNTHE HEARTSOF THE FATHERSBACKTO THE CHILDREN,and the disobedientto the attitudeof the righteous,so as to make readya peoplepreparedfor the Lord."
"Thisis He on behalfof whomI said,Afterme comesa Manwhohasa higher rankthan I, for He existedbeforeme.'
Johntestifiedsaying,"I have seenthe Spiritdescendingas a doveout of heaven,and He remainedupon Him.
"I did not recognizeHim, but He who sentme to baptizein watersaidto me, 'He upon whomyou seethe Spiritdescendingand remainingupon Him, thisis the One who baptizesin the HolySpirit.'
He cameas a witness,to testifyaboutthe Light,sothat allmight believethroughhim.
Paulsaid,"Johnbaptizedwith the baptismof repentance,tellingthe peopleto believein Him who was comingafterhim, that is, in Jesus."
