John 1:15-34, New Living Translation
15 John pointed him out to the people. He shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, `Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.' "
16 We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us—one gracious blessing after another.[2][Greek grace upon grace. ]
17 For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God,[3][Some manuscripts read his one and only Son. ] is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him.
The Testimony of John the Baptist
19 This was the testimony of John when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants[4][Greek and Levites. ] from Jerusalem to ask John whether he claimed to be the Messiah.
20 He flatly denied it. "I am not the Messiah," he said.
21 "Well then, who are you?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?"
"No," he replied.
"Are you the Prophet?"[5][ See Deut 18:15, 18; Mal 4:5-6.]
"No."
22 "Then who are you? Tell us, so we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?"
23 John replied in the words of Isaiah:
"I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,
`Prepare a straight pathway for the Lord's coming "'![6][ Isa 40:3.]
24 Then those who were sent by the Pharisees
25 asked him, "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?"
26 John told them, "I baptize with[7][Or in; also in 1:31, 33.] water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not know,
27 who will soon begin his ministry. I am not even worthy to be his slave.[8][Greek to untie his sandals. ]"
28 This incident took place at Bethany, a village east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
Jesus, the Lamb of God
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, `Soon a man is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.'
31 I didn't know he was the one, but I have been baptizing with water in order to point him out to Israel."
32 Then John said, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him.
33 I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, `When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone, he is the one you are looking for. He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Son of God.[9][Some manuscripts read the chosen One of God. ]"
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