1. In regard to John 1:33 versus Matt. 3:14: the following commentary (http://bible.org/question/did-john-baptist-know-jesus-messiah-do-matt-314-and-john-133-conflict) is useful: "When Matthew describes the arrival of Jesus at the place where John was baptizing, John obviously did know of Jesus (something a correct translation of John 1:33 does not contradict). While John had not yet received the revelation that Jesus was the Messiah, he must have known that Jesus (in contrast to the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees) was a truly righteous man. John, humble man that he was, felt as though Jesus were his superior, and because of this he protested that he should not be the one baptizing, but the one to be baptized. Jesus convinced John to proceed with the baptism, and it was in the course of our Lord's baptism that divine confirmation of Jesus' identity as the Messiah was given."