Isa 40:3-5, Mat 3:3, Luk 3:4-6, Joh 1:15, 19-34, 3:28-36 | ESV | STEP | A voice cries : In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God .

3 ^aA voice cries: ^{▼▼Or A voice of one crying}
^c“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
^dmake straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 ^eEvery valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 ^fAnd the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
^gfor the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Matthew 3:3

3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

^h“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
ⁱ‘Prepare ^{▼▼Or crying: Prepare in the wilderness} the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”

Luke 3:4-6

4 As it is written in ^kthe book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

^l“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
^m‘Prepare the way of the Lord, ^{▼▼Or crying, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord}
make his paths straight.
5 ^oEvery valley shall be filled,
^pand every mountain and hill shall be made low,
^qand the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
6 ^rand all flesh shall see ^sthe salvation of God.’”

John 1:15

15 ( ^tJohn bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ^u‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)

John 1:19-34

The Testimony of John the Baptist

19 And this is the ^vtestimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ^w“Who are you?” 20 ^xHe confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? ^yAre you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you ^zthe Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am ^aathe voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight ^{▼▼Or crying out, ‘In the wilderness make straight} the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, ^ac“Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, ^ad“I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even ^aehe who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Behold, the Lamb of God

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, ^afthe Lamb of God, who ^agtakes away the sin ^ahof the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ^ai‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but ^ajfor this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John ^akbore witness: ^al“I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and ^amit remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but ^anhe who sent me to baptize ^aowith water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, ^apthis is he who baptizes ^aqwith the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

John 3:28-36

28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ^ar‘I am not the Christ, but ^asI have been sent before him.’ 29 ^atThe one who has the bride is the bridegroom. ^auThe friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, ^avrejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 ^awHe must increase, but I must decrease.” ^{▼▼Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through verse 36}

31 ^ayHe who comes from above ^azis above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and ^baspeaks in an earthly way. ^bbHe who comes from heaven ^bcis above all. 32 ^bdHe bears witness to what he has seen and heard, ^beyet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony ^bfsets his seal to this, ^bgthat God is true. 34 For he whom ^bhGod has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit ^biwithout measure. 35 ^bjThe Father loves the Son and ^bkhas given all things into his hand. 36 ^blWhoever believes in the Son has eternal life; ^bmwhoever does not obey the Son shall not ^bnsee life, but the wrath of God remains on him.