3rd Sunday in Advent
John 1:6-8, 19-28
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness
to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He
himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and
Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did
not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him,
"What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the
prophet?" He answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let
us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
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.
Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then
are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the
prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands
one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy
to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the
Jordan where John was baptizing.
