Yeah, I never thought you were Evil, just wrong
And... Like your namesake, I think you are a little confused
According to the Gospel of John, what did Jesus say about bearing his own witness?
- If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true (John 5:3 1)
- Even if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is true (John 8:14)
John 5:31-33
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true. “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.
John 8:14-18
Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
In the first case, it is about JOHN the Baptist, as a HUMAN, testifying about Jesus, under the human law, provided that John saw Jesus Christ in a vision before meeting him (see below) .
In the second case, it is about GOD testifying about Christ, under the heaven's law, that is to say thanks to his miracles.
Did Herod think that Jesus was John the Baptist?
- Yes (Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:16)
- No (Luke 9:9)
Matthew 14:1-5
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
Mark 6:14-17
King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.
Luke 9:7-9
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.
There is a big misunderstanding from those who state that Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist. On the contrary, in all the three cases (Matthew, Mark and Luke) Herod perfectly heard about Jesus who raised John from the dead!
'HIM', in the
'miraculous powers are at work in him', is JESUS, not John!
Did John the Baptist recognize Jesus before his baptism?
- Yes (Matthew 3:13-14)
- No (John 1:32,33)
Matthew 3:13-15
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
John 1:29-34
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
There is no contradiction. John the Baptist foresaw in a vision Jesus as God's Chosen One. He didn't know him personally before hand, but knew in advance how he will look like when he had to first meet him. In BOTH CASE, John recognized Jesus.
Did Herod want to kill John the Baptist?
- Yes (Matthew 14:5)
- No. It was Herodias, the wife of Herod who wanted to kill him. But Herod knew that he was a righteous man and kept him safe (Mark 6:20)
Matthew 14:1-5
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
Mark 6:14-20
King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
BOTH HEROD and HERODIAS wanted to kill John, but in BOTH CASES Herod feared to do so.
Was John the Baptist Elijah who was to come?
- Yes (Matthew II: 14, 17:10-13)
- No (John 1:19-21)
Matthew 17:10-13
The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
John 1:19-21
Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders" in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
BOTH CASES are logical regarding the law of reincarnation (actually taught by Jesus Christ in Hebrews 9). Jesus said that John WAS Elijah but the priests didn't recognize him since NOW reincarnated as John. John himself says that he IS NOT Elijah, but John the Baptist. The latter replies to a present tense (
are you Elijah?), NOT a past tense (
were you Elijah?).
Did John the Baptist recognize Jesus before his baptism?
- Yes (Matthew 3:13-14)
- No (John 1:32,33)
Already answered above.
I never thought you thought I was Evil, but I show you you're just wrong
I think you are a little confused