17 Moses gave us the law. Jesus Christ has given us grace and truth.
18 No one has ever seen God. But God, the one and only Son, is at the Father's side. He has shown us what God is like.
19 The Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was. John gave witness to them.
20 He did not try to hide the truth. He spoke to them openly. He said, "I am not the Christ."
21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet we've been expecting?" they asked. "No," he answered.
22 They asked one last time, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
23 John replied, using the words of Isaiah the prophet. John said, "I'm the messenger who is calling out in the desert, 'Make the way for the Lord straight.' " (Isaiah 40:3)