John 1:19-37

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

²⁵asked him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you're not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”

²⁶John replied, “I baptize with water, but standing among you is someone you don't know.

²⁷He is coming after me, but I am not even worthy to untie his sandals.”

²⁸This all happened in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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

³⁰This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man who is coming after me is more important than me, for before I ever existed he already was.’

³¹I didn't know myself who he was, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”

³²John gave his evidence about him, saying, “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and rest upon him.

³³I wouldn't have known him except he who sent me to baptize with water had told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descend to and rest upon, he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

³⁴I saw it happen and I declare that this is the Son of God.”

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

³⁶He saw Jesus passing by, and said, “Look! This is the Lamb of God!”

³⁷When the two disciples heard what he said they went and followed Jesus.