Joh 1:6-36, 3:27-30 | ESV | STEP | There was a man sent from God , whose name was John .

6 There was a man ^asent from God, whose name was ^bJohn. 7 He came as a ^cwitness, to bear witness about the light, ^dthat all might believe through him. 8 ^eHe was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 ^fThe true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet ^gthe world did not know him. 11 He came to ^hhis own, ^{▼▼Greek to his own things; that is, to his own domain, or to his own people} and ^jhis own people ^{▼▼People is implied in Greek} ^ldid not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, ^mwho believed in his name, ⁿhe gave the right ^oto become ^pchildren of God, 13 who ^qwere born, ^rnot of blood ^snor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And ^tthe Word ^ubecame flesh and ^vdwelt among us, ^wand we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of ^xgrace and ^ytruth. 15 ( ^zJohn bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ^aa‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from ^abhis fullness we have all received, ^acgrace upon grace. ^{▼▼Or grace in place of grace} 17 For ^aethe law was given through Moses; ^afgrace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 ^agNo one has ever seen God; ^ahthe only God, ^{▼▼Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son} who is at the Father’s side, ^{▼▼Greek in the bosom of the Father} ^akhe has made him known.

The Testimony of John the Baptist

19 And this is the ^altestimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ^am“Who are you?” 20 ^anHe confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? ^aoAre you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you ^apthe 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 ^aqthe 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, ^as“Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, ^at“I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even ^auhe 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, ^avthe Lamb of God, who ^awtakes away the sin ^axof the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ^ay‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but ^azfor this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John ^babore witness: ^bb“I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and ^bcit remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but ^bdhe who sent me to baptize ^bewith water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, ^bfthis is he who baptizes ^bgwith the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, ^bhthe Lamb of God!”

John 3:27-30

27 John answered, ^bi“A person cannot receive even one thing ^bjunless it is given him ^bkfrom heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ^bl‘I am not the Christ, but ^bmI have been sent before him.’ 29 ^bnThe one who has the bride is the bridegroom. ^boThe friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, ^bprejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 ^bqHe must increase, but I must decrease.” ^{▼▼Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through verse 36}