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.’ ”

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 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 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.’”

( 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 you with water, calling you to turn away from your sins. But after me, someone is coming who is more powerful than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

The Lord says,“ Bethlehem Ephrathah, you might not be an important town in the nation of Judah. But out of you will come for me a ruler over Israel. His family line goes back to the early years of your nation. It goes all the way back to days of long ago.”

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said,“ Look! The Lamb of God! He takes away the sin of the world!This is the one I was talking about. I said,‘ A man who comes after me is more important than I am. That’s because he existed before I was born.’I did not know him. But God wants to make it clear to Israel who this person is. That’s the reason I came baptizing with water.”Then John told them,“ I saw the Holy Spirit come down from heaven like a dove. The Spirit remained on Jesus.I myself did not know him. But the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,‘ You will see the Spirit come down and remain on someone. He is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’I have seen it happen. I am a witness that this is God’s Chosen One.”

They came to John and here is what they said to him.“ Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River is baptizing people. He is the one you told us about. Everyone is going to him.”John replied,“ A person can receive only what God gives them from heaven.You yourselves are witnesses that I said,‘ I am not the Messiah. I was sent ahead of him.’The bride belongs to the groom. The friend who helps the groom waits and listens for him. He is full of joy when he hears the groom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.He must become more important. I must become less important.“ The one who comes from above is above everything. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks like someone from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above everything.He is a witness to what he has seen and heard. But no one accepts what he says.Anyone who has accepted it has said,‘ Yes. God is truthful.’The one whom God has sent speaks God’s words. That’s because God gives the Holy Spirit without limit.The Father loves the Son and has put everything into his hands.Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life. Anyone who does not believe in the Son will not have life. God’s anger remains on them.”

So now, Father, give glory to me in heaven where your throne is. Give me the glory I had with you before the world began.

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

Before anything was created, he was already there. He holds everything together.

“ What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered.“ Before Abraham was born, I am!”

Here is what John was preaching.“ After me, there is someone coming who is more powerful than I am. I’m not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals.

John answered them all,“ I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I am will come. I’m not good enough to untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

The voice said,“ Write on a scroll what you see. Send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

In his very nature he was God. Jesus was equal with God. But Jesus didn’t take advantage of that fact.Instead, he made himself nothing. He did this by taking on the nature of a servant. He was made just like human beings.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

“ You have sent people to John the Baptist. He has been a witness to the truth.I do not accept what a person says. I only talk about what John says so that you can be saved.John was like a lamp that burned and gave light. For a while you chose to enjoy his light.“ What I say about myself is more important than what John says about me. I am doing the works the Father gave me to finish. These works are a witness that the Father has sent me.

A child will be born to us. A son will be given to us. He will rule over us. And he will be called Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God. He will also be called Father Who Lives Forever and Prince Who Brings Peace.

“ The Lord created me as the first of his works, before his acts of long ago.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. Then he put his right hand on me and said,“ Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.I am the Living One. I was dead. But now look! I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Hell.

He is the one who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.”

“ Here is what I command you to write to the church in Smyrna. Here are the words of Jesus, who is the First and the Last. He is the one who died and came to life again. He says,

He came to be a witness about that light. He was a witness so that all people might believe.John himself was not the light. He came only as a witness to the light.

Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River. He wanted to be baptized by John.But John tried to stop him. So he told Jesus,“ I need to be baptized by you. So why do you come to me?”Jesus replied,“ Let it be this way for now. It is right for us to do this. It carries out God’s holy plan.” Then John agreed.As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened. Jesus saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove.A voice from heaven said,“ This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him.”