He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’(Mark 1: 7-8)

Jesus was almost certainly a student of John. Some of the followers of Jesus were concerned that the student not be seen as deferring to the teacher. While there is no evidence that John and Jesus were anything but partners, there was a sense of competition between their followers.

This sense of competition continued after the death of each. The Gospel of Mark is thought to have been written at about the same time as the First Jewish War (66-70 AD). In explaining the origins of the War the Jewish-Roman historian Josephus gives greater attention to John than to Jesus.

Beginning his gospel with a clear statement of John's deference to Jesus suggests the relationship of teacher and student remained a sensitive issue well into the second generation of Christians.

Immersion in water is a baptism of preparation. To be baptized in the spirit (Greek pneuma) is to be immersed in essential reality, knowledge of the ultimate, and the origin of all things. John prepared and Jesus fulfilled.

Too often we are uncomfortable with our past. This is unfortunate. There is no fulfillment without preparation. There is usually no victory without failure. If we are dissatisfied with where we have arrived, it may be the result of how we got there. Preparation and fulfillment are partners, not competitors.