21. The Testimony of Saint John Concerning Christ the Lord. Jn. 19

And this is the testimony which John gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him: Who are you? He declared, and did not deny, and declared that I am not the Messiah.

And they asked him: What then? Are you Elijah? He said: No. Are you the prophet? He answered: No. They said to him: Who are you then? that we may give an answer to those who sent us: What do you say of yourself? He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said (Is 40:3).

Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees, and they asked him: Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet? John answered them: I baptize with water; but there stands among you One whom you do not know. He is the One who comes after me, but who has become before me. I am not worthy to loose the thong of His sandal.

These things happened in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said: Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said: After me comes a Man who has become before me, because He was before me. I did not know Him, but for this reason I came baptizing with water, that He might be revealed to Israel.

And John testified, saying: I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me: Upon whomever you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, that is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.