1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things
were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome*1 it. 6 There came a
man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came as a witness,
that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the
light. 9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the
world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world
didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and those who were his own
didn’t receive him. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the
right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13 who
were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God. 14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his
glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and
truth. 15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of
whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”
16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law
was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No
one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son,*2
who is in the bosom of
the Father, he has declared him.
19 This is John’s testimony, when the
Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 He confessed, and didn’t deny, but he confessed, “I am not the
Christ.”
21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
22 They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take
back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make
straight the way of the Lord,’*3 as Isaiah the prophet said.”
24 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees. 25 They asked
him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the
Prophet?”
26 John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom
you don’t know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred
before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.” 28 These things
were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb
of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said,
‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’
31 I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that
he would be revealed to Israel.” 32 John testified, saying, “I have seen
the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.
33 I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said
to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him,
the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen, and have
testified that this is the Son of God.”
35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,
36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of
God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What are
you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher),
“where are you staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come, and see.”
They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It
was about the tenth hour.*4 40 One of the two who heard
John, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first
found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!”
(which is, being interpreted, Christ*5 ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus
looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be
called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter). 43 On the next
day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus
said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the
city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We
have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of
Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an
Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the
fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of
Israel!”
50 Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the
fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!”
51 He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you, hereafter you
will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the
Son of Man.”
1 The word
translated “overcome” (katelaben) can also be translated “comprehended.” It
refers to getting a grip on an enemy to defeat him.
2 NU reads “God”
3 Isaiah 40:3
4 4:00 PM.
5 “Messiah” (Hebrew) and “Christ”
(Greek) both mean “Anointed One”.
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