In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Everything came into being through him, and apart from him not one thing came to be. What came into being through him was life, and that life was the light of humanity. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man appeared, sent from God—his name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the light so that everyone might come to faith through him. He himself wasn’t the light; he came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every person was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and though the world came into being through him, the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who trusted in his name, he gave authority to become God’s children—children born not of blood, nor of human desire, nor of a man’s decision, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and took up residence among us, and we saw his glory—the glory as of an only son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John testified about him and cried out, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘The one who comes after me has surpassed me, because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. The Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the one and only Son, who is at the Father’s side—he has made him known.
This is the testimony of John when the Judeans sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He declared, without hesitation, “I am not the Messiah.” They asked him, “Then what? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He replied, “I am a voice calling in the wilderness: ‘Make straight the Lord’s path,’ just as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Some of the ones sent were from the Pharisees. They questioned him, “Why then do you baptize, if you’re not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one coming after me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The next day, he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look—the Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sin. This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who has surpassed me, because he existed before me.’ I myself didn’t know him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
John testified, “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I didn’t know him before this, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen it, and I testify that he is the Son of God.”
The next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. He looked at Jesus walking by and said, “Look—the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned, saw them following, and asked, “What are you looking for?” They said, “Rabbi”—which means “Teacher”—“where are you staying?” He said, “Come and see.” They went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day; it was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who had heard John and followed Jesus. He first went and found his own brother Simon and told him, “We’ve found the Messiah”—which means “Christ.” He brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John; you will be called Cephas”—which is translated “Peter.”
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