John 1:23

Plain English Version

John talked to them with the words that Isaiah wrote, a long time ago. Isaiah told people God’s words, and they are in God’s book. John said, “I am a man that is out in the bush, calling out to people. I’m saying, ‘You mob get ready. Later on, God will come to this country. It is like when a big boss comes, you have to make a good road for him.’ ”

Cross References

Matthew 3:3

John was the man that Isaiah wrote about, a long time ago. Isaiah was one of God’s men, and God got him to write this in God’s book, “A man will be out in the bush, and he will call out to people. He will say, ‘You mob get ready. God is coming to this country, so you have to get ready for him. It is like when a big boss comes, and you have to make a good road for him.’ ”

John 1:22

Then the men asked him, “Well, who are you? And why are you here? We have to tell our leaders.”

John 1:24

Some of those men from Jerusalem were from the Pharisee mob, that were strong for the law. They said to John, “You say that you are not the special man that God promised to send, called the Christ. And you say that you are not Elijah, or the messenger that God promised. So why do you baptise people? Why do you take them through that special washing ceremony?”

John 3:28

Jesus is the special man that God sent to the world. Remember, I told you, ‘I am not the Christ, the special man that God promised to send to save his people. But God sent me to get people ready, so that they will listen to that special man.’ You heard me say that.