¹⁹ I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah.^[a]

²⁹ I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

⁴ Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.

¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ 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.^[a]

⁵⁸ Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!^[a]”

²³ Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. ²⁴ That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I claim to be,^[a] you will die in your sins.”

¹⁵ 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.’”

¹³ But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.^[a]

²⁵ See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.

³ “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting,^[a] or should we keep looking for someone else?”