Are you the Elijah

Among the Jews there were a lot of expectation of the apparition of the Messiah, they know that that there were in the time that was foretold by the prophets, and they are looking the signals, one that signal is the coming of Elijah: Prophet Malachi 3:23

23 Now I am sending to you

Elijah the prophet,

Before the day of the Lord comes,

But they interpreted literally and were expected the person of Elijah, and Jhon answer well he is not the person of Elijah, Saint Luke explain this when the Angel Gabriel announce the birth of John the Baptist.

17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord

Are you the prophet:

What prophet they are expecting:

Deut 18:15–19. A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kindred; that is the one to whom you shall listen.

John is not the messianic prophet; it is Jesus who fulfills this role as the new Moses (4:20–26; 6:14; 7:40).

What are you baptizing

The clean by wither is a signal of purification, Moises to liberate the Hebrew passed them through the water of the sea. Elishacommand the Naaman to clean seven to receive the healing. The Jews before enter to the synagogue have to have a full immersion in a pool called mikveh. The idea is that to receive God you must be pure.

So, John is baptizing to prepare to those who will accept Jesus, he did not baptize the whole country, it seems like the ones that will accept Christ, we see that the disciples of Jhon became disciples of Jesus.

I’m not worthy to undo his sandal straps, the costume of the slave was to wash the foot, of the masters, Saint John feel unworthy even of touch his sandals.

But Jesus, although been the master, will not only undo the sandals straps, but will wash the feet of his disciples.

Jesus take the form and the service of the save the slaves of sin.