Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in
Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was . He
did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “ I am not the
Messiah. ”...Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned
him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor
Elijah, nor the Prophet?” “ I baptize with water ,” John replied,
“but among you stands one you do not know . He is the one
who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not
worthy to untie.” John 1:19-20;24-27 (NIV)