The Witness of John the Baptist

6There was a man having been sent from God, whose name was [†]John. 7[†]He came [†]as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8[†]He was not the Light, but he came to bear witness about the Light.

9There was the true Light [†]which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11He came to what was His [†]own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13who were [†]born, not of [†]blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Became Flesh

14And the Word became flesh, and [†]dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the [†]only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John bore witness about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me [†]has been ahead of me, for He existed before me.’” 16For of His fullness [†]we have all received, and grace [†]upon grace. 17For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

A Voice in the Wilderness

19And this is the witness of John, when the [†]Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the [†]Christ.” 21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22Therefore, they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23He said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE [†]LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25And they asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the [†]Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27This One is He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandal.” 28These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29On the next day, he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who has been [†]ahead of me, for He existed before me.’ 31I did not know [†]Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing with water.” 32And John bore witness saying, “I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He abided on Him. 33And I did not know [†]Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The One upon whom you see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, this is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34And I myself have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Behold, the Lamb of God

35On the next day, John again was standing [†]with two of his disciples, 36and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37And the two disciples heard him speak and followed Jesus. 38And when Jesus turned and noticed them following, He said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” 39He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day. It was about the [†]tenth hour. 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means [†]Christ). 42He brought him to Jesus. When Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated [†]Peter).

43On the next day, He desired to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46And Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said about him, “Behold, truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48Nathanael said to Him, “From where do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49Nathanael answered 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 that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see THE HEAVENS OPENED AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING on the Son of Man.”