1In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 3For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
make the way of the Lord ready!
Make his paths straight!”
4Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. 6They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! 9Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
11“I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
15But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
16Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus on John's behalf, "'Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?'" (Matt 11:3). That John knew of his unique role in relation to Messiah is evident in our first introduction to Him in Matthew 3:1-3. Identifying Himself by Isaiah 40:3, John was, "'The voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Make ready the way of the LORD, Make His paths straight!"'" After Jesus' baptism, John saw the Spirit of God descend as a dove, and He heard the voice of God out of the heavens confirming Jesus as His beloved Son (Matt 3:16-17). However, as Jesus began His ministry, John was taken into custody in Machaerus, east of the Dead Sea (Josephus Antiquities, 18.117; Matt 4:12), for reasons that are explained in Matthew 14:1-12. The question John sent to Jesus by his disciples was in response to his having "heard of the works of Christ" (Matt 11:2). Absent any report of Jesus' judging his enemies, as John had predicted (Matt 3:10-12), John may have wondered whether this work was awaiting the coming of another forerunner, perhaps Elijah Himself (Mal 4:5). At this point in time, John could not have known that Christ would be rejected at His first coming and that Elijah would indeed prepare the way for the Lord's return to judge His enemies (Isa 61:2b; Matt 17:10-13). All John needed was the assurance that Jesus gently provided by His citation of the messianic signs He had performed in fulfillment of Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6; and 61:1. One such miracle was the recent, well-publicized raising of widow's son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17). Thus, Jesus' messianic credentials were demonstrated by the works He performed in fulfillment of prophecy.