"There is someone coming who is greater than I," he told the people. "Someone is coming whose shoe-laces I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. Compared to him, I am nobody. I am just preparing the way for the Messiah."
One day there was a great crowd, as usual, down by the Jordan, and John was busy baptizing the people as fast as they came to the water. One after another they came. It went on for hours.
John had just baptized one man and helped him to the bank. The next one was coming forward. John looked up to see who it was. He was looking into the face of Jesus of Nazareth.
"You! Not you!" John spoke in a hoarse whisper. "No! I can't baptize you. You must baptize me instead!"
Before anyone could notice that anything was wrong, Jesus stepped to the water's edge.
"Don't say anything about it, John," he said softly. "Treat me just like the rest of them. We shall all be baptized together into a new life."
