Verse 19. Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21. But He spake of the temple of His body.
22. When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
23. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did.
24. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men,
25. And needed not that any shojuld testify of man: for He knew what was in man.
Note: I'm posting the Book of John because, as I suggested earlier in this blog, the New Testament is the best place for a new believer to begin to read the Word of God. Of course, the Old Testament is also a great read. It tells you, from the beginning of creation, where we all came from, the history of God's people, prophecies about our Redeemer, miracles upon miracles that illustrate the power of God and the blessings of obedience, etc., etc.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Is God Mean and Violent?
God is just. He is righteous. Therefore, it would seem that 'mean' is not an appropriate word to describe Him. He's not a bully on the playground, stealing our toys, provoking us to anger. My dictionary says that "mean" means unwilling to give or share, unkind. That's the opposite of God.
If He is anything, God is kind, sharing and giving. Yet, there are many sides to God and although He is long-suffering, there is a limit to how much He will tolerate.
We humans are always saying things like, "If there is a God, why does He allow such atrocities?" My answer to that would be, "He doesn't. We do. We allow the atrocities by not calling on God to do something." Prayer changes things. But, when God does do something, we can't question His actions and turn around and call Him "mean".
So, for my part, my opinion is that God is certainly not mean. But, is He violent?
It sure seems like it. Just sitting in my livingroom, listening to the thunder crashing all around during a storm can be pretty scary. But, to me, it's exciting. I know I'm safe. I can trust God that no harm will come to me. Maybe for some people, who don't have a relationship with Him, God can be pretty scary.
However, God is not trying to scare us into Hell. He's trying to love us into Heaven.
I John 4:8 says, "...God is love." That should mean that whatever He does, He does in love. If God sees fit to get violent (as when Jesus overthrew the money-changers' tables in the temple) it's for a good reason.
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If He is anything, God is kind, sharing and giving. Yet, there are many sides to God and although He is long-suffering, there is a limit to how much He will tolerate.
We humans are always saying things like, "If there is a God, why does He allow such atrocities?" My answer to that would be, "He doesn't. We do. We allow the atrocities by not calling on God to do something." Prayer changes things. But, when God does do something, we can't question His actions and turn around and call Him "mean".
So, for my part, my opinion is that God is certainly not mean. But, is He violent?
It sure seems like it. Just sitting in my livingroom, listening to the thunder crashing all around during a storm can be pretty scary. But, to me, it's exciting. I know I'm safe. I can trust God that no harm will come to me. Maybe for some people, who don't have a relationship with Him, God can be pretty scary.
However, God is not trying to scare us into Hell. He's trying to love us into Heaven.
I John 4:8 says, "...God is love." That should mean that whatever He does, He does in love. If God sees fit to get violent (as when Jesus overthrew the money-changers' tables in the temple) it's for a good reason.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I love the story of Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. Of course, you can't beat Dickens for a great intrigue with lots of entertaining narrative. But, Mr. Scrooge proves, above all else, that people can change. It seems that if there's hope for Scrooge, there's hope for anyone.
As Lynus said in "A Charlie Brown Christmas", "That's what Christmas is all about," Charlie Brown.
If you're a person who doesn't often listen to what others have to say; if you feel you already know everything that's worth knowing and your mind is made up, -so much so that you don't want to be confused with the facts, then you are not going to be apt to change.
Understandably, some of us feel that we are content in the knowledge of who we are, what we believe to be true and self-evident and that we know a great deal more than most people. That's the description of 'smug'.
Smugness is not always safe. It can land you in a place called Regret.
For Christmas this year, may I offer a piece of friendly advice to face the New Year with? Open up to others. Listen to what others have to say about how you affect them. You may be surprised to find out that there is actually more than one way to do things.
Take a look at Scrooge. He had to go through a rude awakening by suffering severe visitations from spirits intent on giving him a shocking reality check. It didn't come easy for him to begin to admit that maybe he was possibly wrong about a few things. In fact, he had to see himself in the future as a corpse before the fear of God was finally thrown into him. But, when he finally humbled himself, he didn't let public opinion hold him back. He threw himself into his new persona regardless of what anyone thought.
That's what I admire about Scrooge the most. He became like a little child, full of the joy of living. That's the kind of future I wish us all! Let it be fearless, full of the joy of living, full of hope and faith and full of the freedom true humility can bring!
If you're a person who doesn't often listen to what others have to say; if you feel you already know everything that's worth knowing and your mind is made up, -so much so that you don't want to be confused with the facts, then you are not going to be apt to change.
Understandably, some of us feel that we are content in the knowledge of who we are, what we believe to be true and self-evident and that we know a great deal more than most people. That's the description of 'smug'.
Smugness is not always safe. It can land you in a place called Regret.
For Christmas this year, may I offer a piece of friendly advice to face the New Year with? Open up to others. Listen to what others have to say about how you affect them. You may be surprised to find out that there is actually more than one way to do things.
Take a look at Scrooge. He had to go through a rude awakening by suffering severe visitations from spirits intent on giving him a shocking reality check. It didn't come easy for him to begin to admit that maybe he was possibly wrong about a few things. In fact, he had to see himself in the future as a corpse before the fear of God was finally thrown into him. But, when he finally humbled himself, he didn't let public opinion hold him back. He threw himself into his new persona regardless of what anyone thought.
That's what I admire about Scrooge the most. He became like a little child, full of the joy of living. That's the kind of future I wish us all! Let it be fearless, full of the joy of living, full of hope and faith and full of the freedom true humility can bring!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Christmas Carols
For a lot of us, Christmas time is a time of year when we feel an inexplicable joy. Fond memories may return to us. There is a sense of humanity that seems to pervade the atmosphere and even a sweet peace that warms the cockles of our hearts.
One Christmas, when I was a child, I sat spell-bound, listening to a little red record playing a song on a little record player in my brother's bedroom. The song was a carol called, "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear". I strained to hear the words, to try to comprehend them and wondered what "harps of gold" might look like.
Today, it amazes me that such a deeply spiritual message has endured through the centuries. It prophecies about an "Age of Gold" declared by the angels of God.
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
It came upon the midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold.
Peace on the earth good will to men,
From Heaven’s all gracious King!
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing.
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world hath suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man at war with man hears not
The love song which they bring:
Oh hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing.
For lo! The days are
hastening on,
By prophets bards foretold,
When, with the ever-circling years,
Shall come the Age of Gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song
Which now the angels sing
Saturday, July 28, 2012
The First Miracle
John 2
1. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there:
2. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not when it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10. And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
(When I picture Jesus talking to his mother, I see him looking at her incredulously, because she has the audacity to press him into service. I think they must have had a very special connection. Maybe she realized that, since he had brought some disciples with him, he had begun his ministry and here was an opportunity to do a miracle. Jesus just couldn't refuse her faith! So, even though his hour hadn't come, Mary succeeded in getting her request.
Somehow with a look in her son's eye, she knew he was going to solve the problem, so she went ahead and told the servants to follow his instructions.)
12. After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
13. And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
14. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15. And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16. And he said unto them that sold doves. Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
(What a way to start off his ministry! He very deliberately sat down to make a whip to use on the backs of the temple merchants. It seemed like he was pretty angry. So, there is such a thing as righteous anger. Imagine pouring out the money. If someone did that today, we'd think that they were insane.
From the beginning, Jesus showed everyone he was going to do things a little differently. He wasn't born in a palace, but in a stable. He was so much like one of them that his own brothers didn't believe he was the Messiah! His message was almost always directed to the lowly members of society and his disciples were mere fishermen, not leaders of the Sanhedrin.)
17. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
18. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
(Now, since John the Baptist was pretty widely spoken of and his baptisms were probably the talk of the town, everyone must have known that Jesus was the One he was preparing them for, the Messiah. Yet, the Jews immediately wanted Jesus to give them a sign of some sort, as though it wasn't enough that God had spoken, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
1. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there:
2. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not when it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10. And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
(When I picture Jesus talking to his mother, I see him looking at her incredulously, because she has the audacity to press him into service. I think they must have had a very special connection. Maybe she realized that, since he had brought some disciples with him, he had begun his ministry and here was an opportunity to do a miracle. Jesus just couldn't refuse her faith! So, even though his hour hadn't come, Mary succeeded in getting her request.
Somehow with a look in her son's eye, she knew he was going to solve the problem, so she went ahead and told the servants to follow his instructions.)
12. After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
13. And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
14. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15. And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16. And he said unto them that sold doves. Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
(What a way to start off his ministry! He very deliberately sat down to make a whip to use on the backs of the temple merchants. It seemed like he was pretty angry. So, there is such a thing as righteous anger. Imagine pouring out the money. If someone did that today, we'd think that they were insane.
From the beginning, Jesus showed everyone he was going to do things a little differently. He wasn't born in a palace, but in a stable. He was so much like one of them that his own brothers didn't believe he was the Messiah! His message was almost always directed to the lowly members of society and his disciples were mere fishermen, not leaders of the Sanhedrin.)
17. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
18. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
(Now, since John the Baptist was pretty widely spoken of and his baptisms were probably the talk of the town, everyone must have known that Jesus was the One he was preparing them for, the Messiah. Yet, the Jews immediately wanted Jesus to give them a sign of some sort, as though it wasn't enough that God had spoken, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Before Abraham was, I AM
In Saint John, Chapter 1verse 30, John the Baptist says that Jesus was before him. Yet, since Jesus, John's cousin, was born after John, how is that so?
Well, if Jesus is God, it only makes sense that he was around from the beginning of the creation. In Genesis, chapter 1,verse 26, God said,
"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." One might ask who he was talking to.
Now, this opens the great debate about the plurality of God. Yes, there is only one God. But, apparently, he comes in at least three parts: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Does that mean that the Holy Ghost is God's wife, since Jesus is his son?
Well, we were created in God's image and we were created male and female. Could it be that there is some form of spiritual intercourse? I say,
"Why not?"
It stands to reason that since human beings are social creatures and created in God's image that God would also be a social Being who enjoys the company of others. But, let's leave that for another discussion.
In John 8:57, the Jews said to Jesus, "You're not even fifty years old and you say you've seen Abraham?"
What blasphemy! How dare anyone talk about our precious father Abraham as his equal! Now, for sure they knew Jesus was an imposter. AND he was a Samaritan (insult of insults!) AND he had a devil!
So, what was Jesus' reply to all these accusations? He calmly retorted,
"Verily, verily (truly, truly) I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
Just try, try, try to wrap your brain around that one! He is not making a grammar mistake here. Jesus is putting Abraham decidedly in the past and himself in the present, past and future with one single word, "am".
Praise God! We should get excited about that!
Did the Jews there that day rejoice? Just the opposite. The amazing power of God spoken to those without faith resulted in an explosion of hatred! They wanted to kill him, just as he had predicted. They took up stones to cast at him!
Someone said that what we don't understand, we destroy.
Please don't feel we are picking on the Jews. There are people of every nation who are prone to a lack of faith. It just so happens that at this point in history, the Jews were the bearers of the Light, strictly adhering to the laws of God, and so it was that the Messiah went first to the House of Israel to proclaim his message.
Let's carry on in John 1:
35. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
(Why is he calling Jesus a lamb? According to the law, the Jews were required to sacrifice a lamb once a year to pay for the sins of their people. That means killing the innocent lamb, shedding its blood as a payment for sin. It may not make sense, but that was the requirement.)
37. And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? (Where do you live?)
39. He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
40. One of the two which heard John speak and follwed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41. He first findeth his own brother Simon and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
43. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
(Hmmm... it seems Nathanael is type-casting here. How could anything good come out of Nazareth?)
47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48. Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou was under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
51. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Well, if Jesus is God, it only makes sense that he was around from the beginning of the creation. In Genesis, chapter 1,verse 26, God said,
"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." One might ask who he was talking to.
Now, this opens the great debate about the plurality of God. Yes, there is only one God. But, apparently, he comes in at least three parts: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Does that mean that the Holy Ghost is God's wife, since Jesus is his son?
Well, we were created in God's image and we were created male and female. Could it be that there is some form of spiritual intercourse? I say,
"Why not?"
It stands to reason that since human beings are social creatures and created in God's image that God would also be a social Being who enjoys the company of others. But, let's leave that for another discussion.
In John 8:57, the Jews said to Jesus, "You're not even fifty years old and you say you've seen Abraham?"
What blasphemy! How dare anyone talk about our precious father Abraham as his equal! Now, for sure they knew Jesus was an imposter. AND he was a Samaritan (insult of insults!) AND he had a devil!
So, what was Jesus' reply to all these accusations? He calmly retorted,
"Verily, verily (truly, truly) I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
Just try, try, try to wrap your brain around that one! He is not making a grammar mistake here. Jesus is putting Abraham decidedly in the past and himself in the present, past and future with one single word, "am".
Praise God! We should get excited about that!
Did the Jews there that day rejoice? Just the opposite. The amazing power of God spoken to those without faith resulted in an explosion of hatred! They wanted to kill him, just as he had predicted. They took up stones to cast at him!
Someone said that what we don't understand, we destroy.
Please don't feel we are picking on the Jews. There are people of every nation who are prone to a lack of faith. It just so happens that at this point in history, the Jews were the bearers of the Light, strictly adhering to the laws of God, and so it was that the Messiah went first to the House of Israel to proclaim his message.
Let's carry on in John 1:
35. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
(Why is he calling Jesus a lamb? According to the law, the Jews were required to sacrifice a lamb once a year to pay for the sins of their people. That means killing the innocent lamb, shedding its blood as a payment for sin. It may not make sense, but that was the requirement.)
37. And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? (Where do you live?)
39. He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
40. One of the two which heard John speak and follwed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41. He first findeth his own brother Simon and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
43. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
(Hmmm... it seems Nathanael is type-casting here. How could anything good come out of Nazareth?)
47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48. Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou was under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
51. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
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.)
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.)
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