From the wilderness, Christ returned to the Jordan, where John the Baptist was preaching. At that time men sent by the rulers at Jerusalem were questioning John as to his authority for teaching and baptizing the people. They asked if he was the Messiah, or Elijah, or "that prophet," meaning Moses. To all this he answered, "I am not." Then they asked: "Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us.

Fra ørkenen vendte Jesus tilbage til Jordan, hvor Johannes Døber prædikede. På det tidspunkt havde rådsherrerne i Jerusalem sendt nogle mænd ud til Johannes for at spørge ham om hans ret til at prædike og døbe. De spurgte, om han var Messias eller Elias eller "profeten" hvormed de mente Moses. Alt dette besvarede han med et "Nej, det er jeg ikke". "De sagde så til ham: "Hvem er du da? Vi skal jo bringe svar til dem, som har sendt os".