John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds,“ This is the one I was talking about when I said,‘ Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

约翰为他作见证，喊着说：“这就是我曾说：‘那在我以后来的，反成了在我以前的，因他本来在我以前。’”

约翰为他作见证，喊着说：“这就是我曾说：‘那在我以后来的先于我，因为在我以前，他已经存在。’”

约翰为他作见证，喊着说：“这就是我曾说：‘那在我以后来的先于我，因为在我以前，他已经存在。’”

约翰为祂做见证的时候，高声喊道：“这就是我以前所说的那位，‘祂在我以后来却比我位分高，因为祂在我之前已经存在了。’”

约翰为他作见证，大声说：“这一位就是我所说的：‘那在我以后来的，位分比我高，因为他本来是在我以前的。’”

约翰为他做见证，呼喊说：“这一位就是我曾说过的，‘那在我之后来的，已成为在我前面的，因为他在我之前就已经存在。’”

約翰為他作見證，喊着說：「這就是我曾說：『那在我以後來的，反成了在我以前的，因他本來在我以前。』」

約翰為他作見證，喊着說：「這就是我曾說：『那在我以後來的先於我，因為在我以前，他已經存在。』」

約翰為他作見證，喊着說：「這就是我曾說：『那在我以後來的先於我，因為在我以前，他已經存在。』」

約翰為祂做見證的時候，高聲喊道：「這就是我以前所說的那位，『祂在我以後來卻比我位分高，因為祂在我之前已經存在了。』」

約翰為他作見證，大聲說：“這一位就是我所說的：‘那在我以後來的，位分比我高，因為他本來是在我以前的。’”

約翰為耶穌作見證，喊着說：『這一位就是我所說到：「那在我以後來的、位在我前頭，因為他本是比我先的」』。）

約翰為他做見證，呼喊說：「這一位就是我曾說過的，『那在我之後來的，已成為在我前面的，因為他在我之前就已經存在。』」

約翰為之證、呼曰、我言後我來者、乃為我先、以其先我而在、即斯人也、

約翰為之證、呼曰、我言後我來而先我在、以其本先我者、即斯人也、

約翰為之證、呼曰、我曾言有人後我來而先我在、以其本先於我、所言者即斯人也、

如望揚聲為之作證曰：『予向所言：「有一後我而來、居我之上、原在我先」者、即斯人矣！』

( John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying,“ This is the one I spoke about when I said,‘ He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)

John was a witness about the Word. John cried out and said,“ This was the one I was talking about. I said,‘ He who comes after me is more important than I am. He is more important because he existed before I was born.’ ”

( John bore witness about him, and cried out,“ This was he of whom I said,‘ He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)

( John testified concerning him and exclaimed,“ This was the one of whom I said,‘ The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”)

John* testified about Him and called out, saying,“ This was He of whom I said,‘ He who is coming after me has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’ ”

John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying,“ This was He of whom I said,‘ He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”

John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me.

( John testified concerning Him and exclaimed,“ This was the One of whom I said,‘ The One coming after me has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’”)

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

John 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.’”

John testified about him. He cried out, saying,“ This was he of whom I said,‘ He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”

“ I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am— so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,“ Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!He is the one I was talking about when I said,‘ A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”Then John testified,“ I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him.I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me,‘ The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”

So John’s disciples came to him and said,“ Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.”John replied,“ No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.You yourselves know how plainly I told you,‘ I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.“ He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them!Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true.For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands.And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.He existed in the beginning with God.

He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

Jesus answered,“ I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!”

John announced:“ Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am— so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.

John answered their questions by saying,“ I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am— so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

It said,“ Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true.Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved.John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message.But I have a greater witness than John— my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

“ The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said,“ Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last.I am the living one. I died, but look— I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”

“ Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:

to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.But John tried to talk him out of it.“ I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said,“ so why are you coming to me?”But Jesus said,“ It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.And a voice from heaven said,“ This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”