NARRATOR 1: There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
NARRATOR 2: He came as a witness that he might testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.
NARRATOR 1: He himself was not the light but gave witness to the light.
NARRATOR 2: This is the witness John gave when Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask this question:
LEVITES: Who are you?
JOHN THE BAPTIST: I am not the Messiah.
PRIESTS: Who are you then? Are you Elijah?
JOHN THE BAPTIST: I am not.
LEVITES: Are you the prophet?
JOHN THE BAPTIST: No.
PRIESTS: Tell us who you are so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. What do you say for yourself?
JOHN THE BAPTIST: As the prophet Isaiah said, “I am a voice in the desert crying out, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’”
NARRATOR 1: Some of the questioners were Pharisees.
PHARISEES: If you are not the messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet, why do you baptize?
JOHN THE BAPTIST: I baptize with water. One stands among you whom you do not recognize—the one who is to come after me — the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten.
NARRATOR 2: This happened in Bethany across the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
John 1.6-8,19-28