John’s Witness: The True Light

There was a (A)man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a (B)witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might (C)believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that (D)Light. (E)That[a] was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and (F)the world did not know Him. 11 (G)He came to His [b]own, and His [c]own did not receive Him. 12 But (H)as many as received Him, to them He gave the [d]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 (I)who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Becomes Flesh

14 (J)And the Word (K)became (L)flesh and dwelt among us, and (M)we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, (N)full of grace and truth.

15 (O)John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, (P)‘He who comes after me [e]is preferred before me, (Q)for He was before me.’ ”

16 [f]And of His (R)fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For (S)the law was given through Moses, but (T)grace and (U)truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 (V)No one has seen God at any time. (W)The only begotten [g]Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

A Voice in the Wilderness(X)

19 Now this is (Y)the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20 (Z)He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you (AA)the Prophet?”

And he answered, “No.”

22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

23 He said: (AB)“I am

(AC)‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’

as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 John answered them, saying, (AD)“I baptize with water, (AE)but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 (AF)It is He who, coming after me, [h]is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

28 These things were done (AG)in [i]Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The Lamb of God(AH)

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! (AI)The Lamb of God (AJ)who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who [j]is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, (AK)therefore I came baptizing with water.”

32 (AL)And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, (AM)this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the (AN)Son of God.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 1:9 Or That was the true Light which, coming into the world, gives light to every man.
  2. John 1:11 His own things or domain
  3. John 1:11 His own people
  4. John 1:12 authority
  5. John 1:15 ranks higher than I
  6. John 1:16 NU For
  7. John 1:18 NU God
  8. John 1:27 ranks higher than I
  9. John 1:28 NU, M Bethany
  10. John 1:30 ranks higher than I

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