As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

(Mark 1:2-3 KJV, Bold Emphasis added)

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

(Malachi 3:1 KJV, Bold Emphasis added)

Paying attention to the wording in these two passages of Scripture. In Malachi, it is LORD Jesus speaking to the prophet Malachi. (Consider when King David said, “The LORD said unto my Lord”, meaning [GOD] The Father said to [God] The Son.)

In Mark the wording shows GOD The Father speaking to GOD The Son. Repeatedly in The Gospel accounts LORD Jesus said that He only speaks what The Father speaks. So, The Father said this to LORD Jesus, and LORD Jesus spoke this to Malachi. Since both Father and Son are Creators as ‘Elohiym, John the Baptist belongs equally to them both.

Though this Scripture passage is given speaking initially of John the Baptist, this John is not the only person or event being referred to.

Consider:

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

(Romans 10:14-15 KJV)

How can someone believe upon and confess The LORD Jesus Christ unless a messenger proclaims The Good News of The Kingdom Of GOD to them? They cannot. First a messenger has to be sent before the LORD (ahead of The LORD) to proclaim The Good News of The LORD Jesus Christ to prepare the way into the hearts of those to whom The Good News is being proclaimed in order to prepare the way of The LORD to enter into their hearts.

This is also speaking of how The Good News of The Kingdom Of GOD, The Good News of The LORD Jesus Christ, is to be preached/proclaimed/taught by you and I to those in the world around us to prepare the way of The LORD Jesus Christ to enter their hearts.

This Scripture is also talking about you and me. John the Baptist preparing the way of LORD Jesus was an example of us preparing the way of The LORD Jesus today. John came first and preached, preparing the hearts of those who would receive LORD Jesus; and LORD Jesus followed and entered in to His place. John decreased and LORD Jesus increased. So it is to be with us. We are to teach others and as the LORD Jesus is more fully formed in them, we are to decrease in importance to the people we witness to as LORD Jesus increases so that they begin following LORD Jesus directly.