The Word and Creation

1In the beginning, the Word existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He existed in the beginning with God. 3Through him all things were made, and apart from him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life brought light to humanity.a 5And the light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.b

John’s Witness to the Word

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe because of him. 8Johnc was not the light, but he camed to testify about the light. 9Thise was the true light that enlightens every person by his coming into the world.f 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him. Yet the world did not recognize him.

Responses to the Word

11He came to his own creation,g yet his own people did not receive him. 12However, to all who received him, those believing in his name, he gave authority to become God’s children, 13who were born, not merely in a genetic sense,h nor from lust,i nor from man’s desire, but from the will ofj God.

The Word Becomes Human

14The Word became flesh and livedk among us. We gazed on his glory, the kind of glory that belongs to the Father’s unique Son,l who is full of grace and truth. 15John told the truth about him when he cried out, “This is the person about whom I said, ‘The one who comes after me ranks higher than me, because he existed before me.’” 16We have all received one gracious gift after another from his abundance,m 17because while the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus the Messiah.n 18No one has ever seen God. The unique God,o who is close to the Father’s side, has revealed him.

The Testimony of John the Baptist

(Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:2-8; Luke 3:15-17)

19This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leadersp sent priests and descendants of Levi to him from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20He spoke openly and, remaining true to himself,q admitted, “I am not the Messiah.”r

21So they asked him, “Well then, are you Elijah?”

Johns said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22“Who are you?” they asked him. “We must give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23He replied, “I am

‘…a voice crying out in the wilderness,

“Prepare the Lord’st highway,”’u

as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24Now those menv had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, “Why, then, are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah,w or Elijah, or the Prophet?”

26John answered them, “I am baptizing withx water, but among you stands a man whom you do not know, 27the one who is coming after me, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to untie.” 28This happened in Bethanyy on the other sidez of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29The next day, Johnaa saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks above me, because he existed before me.’ 31I didn’t recognize him, but I came baptizing withbb water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32John also testified, “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33I didn’t recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize withcc water told me, ‘The person on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining is the one who baptizes withdd the Holy Spirit.’ 34I have seen this and have testified that this is the Sonee of God.”

The First Disciples

35The next day, John was standing there again with two of his disciples. 36As he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

38But when Jesus turned around and saw them following, he asked them, “What are you looking for?”

They asked him, “Rabbi,” (which is translated “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39He told them, “Come and see!” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.ff

40Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.gg 41The first thing Andrewhh did was to find his brother Simon and say to him, “We have found the Anointed One!”ii (which is translated “Messiah”).jj

42He led Simonkk to Jesus. Jesus looked at him intently and said, “You are Simon, John’s son.ll You will be called Cephas!”mm (which is translated “Peter”).nn

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathaniel

43The next day, Jesus decided to go away to Galilee, where he found Philip and told him, “Follow me.” 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter.

45Philip found Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the man about whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote—Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”

46Nathaniel asked him, “From Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?”

Philip told him, “Come and see!”

47Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him and said about him, “Look, a genuine Israeli, in whom there is no deceit!”

48Nathaniel asked him, “How do you know me?”

Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

49Nathaniel replied to him, “Rabbi,oo you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

50Jesus told him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.” 51Then he told him, “Truly, I tell all of youpp emphatically, you will see heaven standing open and the angels of God going up and coming down to the Son of Man.”