As John was finishing his work, he asked, ‘Who do you think I am? I’m not the one you’re looking for. But there is someone coming after me. I’m not worthy to untie his sandals.’
“I’m baptizing you with water so you can show that you’ve turned away from your sins. But someone is coming after me who’s more powerful than I am. I’m not even worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
But I’m not going to try to save my own life. My only goal is to finish the race and complete the work that the Lord Jesus has given me, to tell others the good news about God’s grace.
Paul explained, “John baptized people, calling them to turn away from their sins. He told them to believe in the one who was coming after him, meaning Jesus.”
Whoever speaks on their own does it to get personal glory, but anyone who works for the glory of the one who sent him can be trusted. There’s nothing dishonest about him.