15. (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.’ ”)
16. Indeed, we have all received grace after gracefrom His fullness,
17. for the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18. No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son —the One who is at the Father’s side —He has revealed Him.
19. This is John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you? ”
20. He did not refuse to answer, but he declared: “I am not the Messiah.”
21. “What then? ” they asked him. “Are you Elijah? ” “I am not,” he said.“Are you the Prophet? ” “No,” he answered.
22. “Who are you, then? ” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself? ”
23. He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord — just as Isaiah the prophet said.”
24. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.