19 "And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’, as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing."
John 1:19-28
These verses begin the first main section of John's record (1:19-4:54), which is an explication of the opening thesis of the Prologue, 'the manifestation of the Eternal Word'. Godet sums up the section as follows: 'Jesus is declared to be the Messiah by John the Baptist; a first group of disciples is formed round Him, His glory shines forth in some miraculous manifestations in the circle of private life. Then He inaugurates His public ministry in the Temple at Jerusalem. But this attempt being frustrated, He confines Himself to teaching while working miracles, and to gathering round Him new adherents by means of baptism. Finally, observing that even in this more modest form His activity gives offence to the dominant party at Jerusalem, He retires to Galilee, after sowing by the way the germs of faith in Samaria.'
The section divides into two parts, as see 2:11 and 4:54, each recording a sojourn in Judaea which ended in a return to Cana of Galilee, with each return signalled by a miracle wrought there. This kind of analysis is useful as a background for more detailed study, and will help us to see the structure of John's testimony in his gospel. There is nothing haphazard in his presentation of the truth. Visionary and mystical as he may be thought by some to be, he has nevertheless a keen, logical mind; he knows what he wants to say, and follows a carefully thought out and constructed plan in doing so.