The Beginning

(Genesis 1:1-2)

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

The Witness of John

(Malachi 3:1-5)

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came to his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Made His Dwelling among Us

(Psalm 84:1-12)

14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15John bore witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

The Mission of John the Baptist

(Isaiah 40:1-5; Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-20)

19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? 20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21And they asked him, What then? Are you Elias? And he said, I am not. Are you that prophet? And he answered, No. 22Then said they to him, Who are you? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What say you of yourself? 23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25And they asked him, and said to him, Why baptize you then, if you be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there stands one among you, whom you know not; 27He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's lace I am not worthy to unloose. 28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Behold, the Lamb of God

(Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22)

29The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. 30This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it stayed on him. 33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, On whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. 34And I saw, and bore record that this is the Son of God.

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

(Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 13:47-52; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11)

35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36And looking on Jesus as he walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God! 37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, What seek you? They said to him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwell you? 39He said to them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelled, and stayed with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41He first finds his own brother Simon, and said to him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, You are Simon the son of Jona: you shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and finds Philip, and said to him, Follow me. 44Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip finds Nathanael, and said to him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46And Nathanael said to him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48Nathanael said to him, From where know you me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before that Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. 49Nathanael answered and said to him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel. 50Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, believe you? you shall see greater things than these. 51And he said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of man.