John 1:19-34 - John The Baptist Testifies To Jesus
19 And this is the testimony John [the Immerser] gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" [Note: Levites were men who assisted the priests in the Temple service].
20 Then he declared openly, without denying it, "I am not the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one]."
21 So, they asked him, "Who then [are you]? Are you Elijah [i.e., returned from the dead]?" But he answered, "[No], I am not." "[Then], are you the prophet [i.e., Moses. See Deut. 18:15-19]?" they asked. And he answered, "No."
22 So, they asked him [again], "[Then], who are you? We need to take back an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
23 He replied, "I am the voice of a man who is calling out in the desert, [urging people to] 'Make the road for the Lord straight,' as Isaiah the prophet said, [Isa. 40:3]."
24 Now those who were sent [i.e., to question John] were Pharisees [i.e., a strict sect of the Jewish religion]. 25 They asked him, "Why do you immerse people then, if you are not the Christ, or Elijah, or the prophet [Moses]?"
26 So, John answered them, saying, "I am immersing people in water, but there is Someone among you whom you do not recognize. 27 He is the One who will follow my ministry; [and] I do not deserve to untie his sandal lace."
28 These things happened in Bethany on the east side of the Jordan River where John was immersing people. [Note: This was a different Bethany from the one just outside of Jerusalem].
29 On the next day John [the Immerser] saw Jesus approaching him and said, "Look, [there is] the Lamb of God; He [will] take away the sin of the people of the world. 30 He is the One about whom I said, 'A man will come after me who ranks above me, for He existed before me.' 31 And I would not have recognized Him, but I came immersing people in water so that He would become known to the Israelites."
32 So, John gave his testimony, saying, "I have seen the Holy Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it remained on Him. 33 And I did not recognize Him, but He [i.e., God], who sent me to immerse in water, said to me, 'The one on whom you see the Holy Spirit descending and remaining is the same One who [will] immerse people in the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and given testimony that this person is the Son of God."