John 1:15-30

15(John declared the truth about him when he said loudly, “This is the person about whom I said, ‘The one who comes after me was before me because he existed before I did.’ ”)

16Each of us has received one gift after another because of all that the Word is.

17Laws were given through Moses, but kindness and truth came into existence through Jesus Christ.

18No one has ever seen God. God’s only Son, the one who is closest to the Father’s heart, has made him known.

19This was John’s answer when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20John didn’t refuse to answer. He told them clearly, “I’m not the Messiah.”

21They asked him, “Well, are you Elijah?” John answered, “No, I’m not.” Then they asked, “Are you the prophet?” John replied, “No.”

22So they asked him, “Who are you? Tell us so that we can take an answer back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23John said, “I’m a voice crying out in the desert, ‘Make the way for the Lord straight,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24Some of those who had been sent were Pharisees.

25They asked John, “Why do you baptize if you’re not the Messiah or Elijah or the prophet?”

26John answered them, “I baptize with water. Someone you don’t know is standing among you.

27He’s the one who comes after me. I am not worthy to untie his sandal strap.”

28This happened in Bethany on the east side of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.

29John saw Jesus coming toward him the next day and said, “Look! This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

30He is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘A man who comes after me was before me because he existed before I did.’