John 1:15
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. 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.
John bore witness to Christ that although Jesus came after him in time and in public ministry and appearance, He ranks before John and is preferred above him because He existed before him. The testimony affirms Christ's preexistence and His superiority to John. His existence before John was existence from eternity with the Father. In that preexistence He was the divine guide of Israel, present with them in the pillar of cloud and fire.
The one who became flesh is identified as the divine and eternal Word, who clothed divinity with humanity, became human and dwelt among people, and came to earth to cooperate with humanity. John was a burning and shining lamp, but Jesus alone is the Light who would brighten the whole world with redeeming love. The verse identifies Christ as the Light and Teacher and as the world's Creator, whom the world did not recognize.
As the divine Creator in the beginning, Jesus made humanity, gave Eve to Adam as a helper, and formed marriage. At the wedding at Cana He began His public ministry and by His presence there sanctioned marriage as an institution He Himself had formed. From His fullness believers receive abundant grace and sufficiency for working out salvation. To those who receive Him and trust in His power to save, He imparts the virtue of His righteousness and gives power to become sons of God.