1:6 A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. 1 1:7 He came as a witness 2 to testify 3 about the light, so that everyone 4 might believe through him. 1:8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify 5 about the light. 1:9 The true light, who gives light to everyone, 6 was coming into the world. 7 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was created 8 by him, but 9 the world did not recognize 10 him. 1:11 He came to what was his own, 11 but 12 his own people 13 did not receive him. 14 1:12 But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name 15 – he has given the right to become God’s children 1:13 – children not born 16 by human parents 17 or by human desire 18 or a husband’s 19 decision, 20 but by God.
1:14 Now 21 the Word became flesh 22 and took up residence 23 among us. We 24 saw his glory – the glory of the one and only, 25 full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. 1:15 John 26 testified 27 about him and shouted out, 28 “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, 29 because he existed before me.’” 1:16 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. 30 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but 31 grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 1:18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, 32 himself God, who is in closest fellowship with 33 the Father, has made God 34 known. 35
1:19 Now 36 this was 37 John’s 38 testimony 39 when the Jewish leaders 40 sent 41 priests and Levites from Jerusalem 42 to ask him, “Who are you?” 43 1:20 He confessed – he did not deny but confessed – “I am not the Christ!” 44 1:21 So they asked him, “Then who are you? 45 Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not!” 46 “Are you the Prophet?” 47 He answered, “No!” 1:22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us 48 so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
1:23 John 49 said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight 50 the way for the Lord,’ 51 as Isaiah the prophet said.” 1:24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 52 ) 53 1:25 So they asked John, 54 “Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, 55 nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
1:26 John answered them, 56 “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize, 57 1:27 who is coming after me. I am not worthy 58 to untie the strap 59 of his sandal!” 1:28 These things happened in Bethany 60 across the Jordan River 61 where John was baptizing.
1:29 On the next day John 62 saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God 63 who takes away the sin of the world! 1:30 This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, 64 because he existed before me.’ 1:31 I did not recognize 65 him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.” 66
1:32 Then 67 John testified, 68 “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove 69 from heaven, 70 and it remained on him. 71 1:33 And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining – this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 1:34 I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.” 72
1:35 Again the next day John 73 was standing there 74 with two of his disciples.