The Milk of the Word

     For this post, I will let God's Word speak for itself. (Chapter One of John began a few posts ago.)
John 1:
     19. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? (Who are you?)
     20. And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
     21. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
     22. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
     23. He said, I am THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD, as saith the prophet Esaias.
     24. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
     25. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou, then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
     26. John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there stands one among you, whom ye know not;
     27. He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
     28. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
     29. The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
     30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me; for he was before me.
     31. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
     32. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
     33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
      34. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

      (Note: John says that Jesus is preferred before him because he was before him. Although John was born before Jesus, he tells us that Jesus was "before" him.
      In John, chapter 8, 52 through 58, the Jews said to Jesus, "Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
     Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him and if I should say I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.)