He Said It Three Times

Jesus said none had risen that was greater than John the Baptist (Mt. 11: 11). Of Jesus John said, "He must increase and I must decrease" (John. 3: 30). Even though some confused John to be the Christ he repeatedly emphasized he was not but testified to the superiority of Christ above himself. Three times in John chapter one he said "he is preferred before me" (`5, 27, 30).

John was the forerunner, herald of the Christ. He was sent from God (John. 1: 6) to "bear witness of the Light" (John. 1: 7) and to prepare the way before Him (Luke 1: 17). The great success of John's preaching is seen in the phrase, "And two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus" (John. 1: 37). This is the goal of every preacher of the gospel. They speak and their hearers follow Christ.

The work of John is one irrefutable evidence that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God. He knew his place, his work, and the greatness of the Lord as the Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world (John 1: 29, 36)..