And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.

The Witness John the Baptist

A man came, one sent from God, and his name was John.

He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.

The Word Made Flesh

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John *testified about Him and called out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who is coming after me has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’”

No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him.

The Testimony of John the Baptist

This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

And so they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

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

He said, “I am the voice of one calling out in the wilderness, ‘Make the way of the Lord straight,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

And the messengers had been sent from the Pharisees.

They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

John answered them, saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.

It is He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the strap of His sandal.”

The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

This is He in behalf of whom I said, ‘After me is coming a Man who has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’

And I did not recognize Him, but so that He would be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”

And John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.

And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’

And I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

Jesus’ Public Ministry; First Converts

Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,

and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, “What are you seeking?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”

He *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.