15 (John declared the truth about him when he said loudly, “This is the person about whom I said, ‘The one who comes after me was before me because he existed before I did.’ ”)
16 Each of us has received one gift after another because of all that the Word is.
17 Laws were given through Moses, but kindness and truth came into existence through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God. God’s only Son, the one who is closest to the Father’s heart, has made him known.
19 This was John’s answer when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 John didn’t refuse to answer. He told them clearly, “I’m not the Messiah.”
21 They asked him, “Well, are you Elijah?”John answered, “No, I’m not.”Then they asked, “Are you the prophet?”John replied, “No.”