John 1:20

20 He did not try to hide the truth. He spoke to them openly. He said, "I am not the Christ."

John 1:20 Meaning and Commentary

John 1:20

And he confessed, and denied not
He freely, and without any reserve, declared, and in the plainest and strongest terms professed to the messengers before all the people, that he was not the Messiah; nor did he retract his confession, or draw in his words again, or drop any thing that looked doubtful or suspicious; but confessed, I am not the Christ:
he stood to it, and insisted on it, that he was not that illustrious person; nor had they any reason to entertain such an opinion of him; nor would he have them do so; they might assure themselves he was not Christ.

John 1:20 In-Context

18 No one has ever seen God. But God, the one and only Son, is at the Father's side. He has shown us what God is like.

19 The Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was. John gave witness to them.

20 He did not try to hide the truth. He spoke to them openly. He said, "I am not the Christ."

21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet we've been expecting?" they asked. "No," he answered.

22 They asked one last time, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"