John 1:23-31

23He said, ‘I am the voice of somebody shouting in the wilderness: “The Lord will come soon. Make a straight path for him to follow.” That is what the prophet Isaiah said a long time ago.’

24The men who came to ask these questions were Pharisees.

25They said to John, ‘You say that you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet. So why do you baptize people?’

26John replied, ‘I baptize people with water. But there is someone here among you that you do not know.

27He is the one who comes after me. I am not good enough even to undo his shoes for him.’

28All these things happened at a place east from the Jordan River. It was a village called Bethany. John was baptizing people there.

29The next day, John saw Jesus, who was coming towards him. John said, ‘Look! Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of people in the world.

30This is the man that I told you about. I told you, “He comes after me, but he is greater than I am. He was already there before I was born.”

31I did not know him. But I had to show Israel's people who he was. That is why I am baptizing people with water.’