God sent John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testament prophets, to introduce Jesus.

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, this was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me… He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. ~ John 1:15, and 27

John the baptist testified of Jesus, claiming that even though Jesus came after him, Jesus was before him. This certainly is a reference to the eternal existence of Jesus Christ. John also declared that Jesus has the preference over him, and that he is not even worthy to unlatch the shoes of Jesus.

John, who according to Jesus, was as great as any prophet before him ~ Luke 7:28, speaks of Jesus, not as an another prophet, but as someone unique and so different that John sees himself as unworthy in his presence. In fact John says: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” ~ John 3:30

John did not believe that Jesus was an ordinary man like all the other prophets. John believed Jesus was from above.

He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.” ~ John 3:31

All Israel had been waiting in anticipation of, the prophet, who was to come;  who would be unlike all the other prophets, for he would be the Messiah, the redeemer, and the hope of all Israel. He would be the Savior of the world, and the one in whom the Gentiles would trust. He would be the Son of God, begotten of God, and unique from all other men.

When asked if he was, that prophet, John denied and said “I am not the Christ.”  ~ John 1:20-21. John declared that he was the one who come to announce the coming of that heavenly prophet who came down from above: He is Messiah, the Son of God!

I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of THE LORD. ~ John 1:23

Jesus was more than a mere prophet, he was and is THE LORD! Jesus’ ministry as a the prophet who was to come was not like those prophets before him, for they spake only as men on behalf of the Lord from heaven. Jesus spoke being the Lord from Heaven.

Unlike the other prophets who were chosen from among men, Jesus came down from above, not with a Word from God, but as the Word of God in the flesh.

Jesus is the prophet whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting  ~ Micah 5:2; and he is the one whom Moses testified should come ~ Acts 3:22-23. He is the one the prophet Daniel spoke of as the Son of man in heaven.

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the SON OF MAN came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. ~Daniel 7:13-14

Jesus is the Son of man from heaven!

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. ~ John 3:13

Jesus came down from heaven as the living bread of God to give his life for the world ~ John 6:32-51, that those who believe might live through him.

Jesus is the heavenly man who came down from God, eternally existing with God, and he is the only one who can reveal God and bring man near to God.

The apostle Paul referred to Jesus as, the Lord from heaven, and the heavenly man. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:47-49

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. ~ John 1:18

He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.  ~ John 3:31-36