¹⁵ (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”)

¹¹ “I baptize you with^[a] water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.^(A)

¹⁷ He himself is before all things, and in^[a] him all things hold together.

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.^{(A) 2} He was in the beginning with God.

The Ruler from Bethlehem

⁵ So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.^(A)

¹⁶ John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with^[a] the Holy Spirit and fire.^(A)

⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”^(A)

³³ You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth.^{(A) 34} Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. ³⁵ He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.^{(B) 36} But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.^(C)

²⁶ They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”^{(A) 27} John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.^{(B) 28} You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,^[a] but I have been sent ahead of him.’^{(C) 29} He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled.^{(D) 30} He must increase, but I must decrease.”^[b]

The One Who Comes from Heaven

³¹ The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all.^{(E) 32} He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony.^{(F) 33} Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified^[c] this, that God is true.^{(G) 34} He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.^{(H) 35} The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.^{(I) 36} Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life but must endure God’s wrath.^(J)