12But to all those who accepted him and trusted in him, he gave the right to become God's children.
13These are the children born not in the usual way, not as the result of human desire or a father's decision, but born of God.
14The Word became human and lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son, full of grace and truth.
15John gave his testimony about him, shouting out to the people, “This is the one I was telling you about when I said, ‘The one who is coming after me is more important than me, for before I ever existed he already was.’”
16We have all been recipients of his generous nature, one gracious gift after another.
17The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18While no one has ever seen God, God the one and only, who is close to the Father, has shown us what God is like.
19This is what John publicly stated when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20John declared plainly and clearly without hesitation, “I am not the Messiah.”
21“So then, who are you?” they asked. “Elijah?” “No, I'm not,” he answered. “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he replied.
22“Well, who are you, then?” they asked. “We have to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23“I am a voice calling in the desert, ‘Make the Lord's way straight!’” he said, using the words of the prophet Isaiah.
24The priests and Levites sent by the Pharisees