17. That is, the law was given to us through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18. No one has ever seen God. The only Son is the one who has shown us what God is like. He is himself God and is very close to the Father.
19. The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent some priests and Levites to John to ask him, “Who are you?” He told them the truth.
20. Without any hesitation he said openly and plainly, “I am not the Messiah.”
21. They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He answered, “No, I am not Elijah.” They asked, “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No, I am not the Prophet.”
22. Then they said, “Who are you? Tell us about yourself. Give us an answer to tell the people who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23. John told them the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am the voice of someone shouting in the desert: ‘Make a straight road ready for the Lord.’” Isaiah 40:3
24. These Jews were sent from the Pharisees.
25. They said to John, “You say you are not the Messiah. You say you are not Elijah or the Prophet. Then why do you baptize people?”