Definition: John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this incredibly important verse from John 1:15. It's a really rich and complex idea, but here’s the simplest explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse describes Jesus Christ as being already known to God and also reveals that He is the person who spoke about Him. It’s essentially saying, “I already knew this person – Jesus Christ – and I’m telling you about him.” Let's break it down word by word: “John bare witness of him” : John, meaning "God is with us," was witnessing or observing something. This means he was seeing and understanding the truth about Jesus. “and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake” : He then cried out, declaring that this person – Jesus – was exactly who he had been speaking about. It’s like saying, "I've told you about him!" “He that cometh after me is preferred before me” : This is the crucial part. “Cometh after” means “is to come later.” But it also means "is more important," "is better," or "is preferred." So, He (Jesus) was already known and valued by God before he came to Earth. Putting it all together: John is proclaiming that Jesus Christ was already known to God – a very significant and loving statement. And then, he emphasizes that this person is the one he spoke about, making him the most important and favored person in the plan for humanity. Why is this important? This verse is considered foundational because it establishes Jesus as uniquely divine. It’s a key point in understanding how God revealed Jesus to humanity. It's often interpreted as saying that Jesus was already God in the beginning, but then became fully human and divine through his life and death. --- In short, this verse is like saying: “God knew about Jesus before he came to Earth, and I’m telling you about him – He is the one who was already important.” Do you want me to explain any of these parts in more detail? For example, would you like me to delve deeper into the theological significance or how this verse relates to other Bible stories?