John 1:15-36

15John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’”

16For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another.

17For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ.

18No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.

19Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20He confessed – he did not deny but confessed – “I am not the Christ!”

21So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not!” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No!”

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

23John said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

24(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)

25So they asked John, “Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize,

27who is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal!”

28These things happened in Bethany across the Jordan River where John was baptizing.

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

30This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’

31I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”

32Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.

33And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining – this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

34I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.”

35Again the next day John was standing there with two of his disciples.

36Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”