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Isaiah 40:3-5
Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,“ Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!”
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Matthew 3:3
The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,“ He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,‘ Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”
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Luke 3:4-6
Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,“ He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,‘ Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth.And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.’”
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John 3:28-36
You yourselves know how plainly I told you,‘ I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.“ He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them!Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true.For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands.And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”
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John 1:19-34
This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John,“ Who are you?”He came right out and said,“ I am not the Messiah.”“ Well then, who are you?” they asked.“ Are you Elijah?”“ No,” he replied.“ Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”“ No.”“ Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:“ I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,‘ Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”Then the Pharisees who had been sentasked him,“ If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”John told them,“ I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize.Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,“ Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!He is the one I was talking about when I said,‘ A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”Then John testified,“ I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him.I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me,‘ The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
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John 1:15
John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds,“ This is the one I was talking about when I said,‘ Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”
