The Beginning (Genesis 1:1–2; Hebrews 11:1–3)
2 UST He, the Word, was with God before the universe existed. BSB BSB: He was with God in the beginning.
4 UST The Word gives eternal life, and that eternal life is{ God’ s good and true} light{ that he revealed} to humans. BSB BSB: In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
5 UST God revealed{ his good and true} light to the evil world, and that evil world did not vanquish it. BSB BSB: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Witness of John 7 UST He came in order to declare to people about{ Jesus, who is} the light.{ He declared this} so that everyone might trust in the light by means of his{ testimony}. BSB BSB: He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
8 UST John himself was not that light, but he came in order to tell people about the light. BSB BSB: He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 UST That true light was{ Jesus,} who revealed God’ s truth and goodness to everyone.{ He was} that light that was coming into the world. BSB BSB: The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 UST The Word was in the world, and he created the universe. Nevertheless, the people of the world did not recognize him. BSB BSB: He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.
11 UST The Word came to his own people,{ the Jews,} but they rejected him. BSB BSB: He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
12 UST But to everyone who accepted him and trusted in him he gave the right to become God’ s children. BSB BSB: But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
13 UST These children of God were not spiritually born by means of normal human birth, nor by human desire, nor by the desire of their fathers. Rather, they were spiritually born by God. BSB BSB: children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
The Word Became Flesh (Psalm 84:1–12)
15 UST John the Baptizer was telling people about the Word. And he shouted{ to those around him},“I told you that someone would come after me{ and that} he is much more important than I am because he existed long before me.” BSB BSB: John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”
16 UST { We know the Word fully possesses God’ s kind acts and true teachings} because all of us have benefited from what he fully possesses,{ having benefited from} one kind act after another. BSB BSB: From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
17 UST { This is} because God gave his laws{ to the Israelites} by Moses. But God’ s kind acts and true message came into full existence by Jesus the Messiah. BSB BSB: For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20)
19 UST This is what John the Baptizer testified when the Jewish leaders sent some priests and Levites from the city of Jerusalem in order to ask him,“Who are you?” BSB BSB: And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 UST { At that time} John emphatically confessed,“I am not the Messiah!” BSB BSB: He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”
22 UST So these priests and Levites asked John once more,“Who are you?{ Tell us} so that we can report{ what you say} to those leaders who sent us. Who do you claim to be?” BSB BSB: So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 UST John told them,“I am the person shouting in the desolate area to prepare yourselves to receive the Lord when he comes.{ I am whom} the prophet Isaiah foretold.” BSB BSB: John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
24 UST These priests and Levites whom the leaders in Jerusalem sent to John were Pharisees. BSB BSB: Then the Pharisees who had been sent
25 UST They asked him,“If you are not the Messiah nor Elijah nor the Prophet, then why are you baptizing people?” BSB BSB: asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 UST John replied,“I am baptizing people with water, but there is someone now among you whom you do not know. BSB BSB: “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.
27 UST He follows after me, but I am not important enough even to untie his sandals.” BSB BSB: He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28 UST These events occurred at the village of Bethany over{ on the east side of} the Jordan River.{ That is the place} where John was baptizing people. BSB BSB: All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Jesus the Lamb of God (Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22)
29 UST The day after that happened, John saw Jesus coming toward him. Then he said to the people,“Look!{ He is} the Lamb of God! He will sacrifice himself to forgive the sins of the people in this world. BSB BSB: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 UST This man is the one about whom I said,‘Someone will come after me who is more important than I am, because{ he existed long} before me.’ BSB BSB: This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’
31 UST I did not know who he was{ at first}. Nevertheless, I have been baptizing people with water for the very purpose of revealing him to the people of Israel.” BSB BSB: I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”
32 UST And John declared,“I saw God’ s Spirit coming down from heaven appearing like a dove. Then the Spirit remained on Jesus. BSB BSB: Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
33 UST I did not know who he was{ at first}, but God sent me to baptize{ people} with water and told me,‘The man on whom you see my Spirit come down and remain is the man who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ BSB BSB: I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
34 UST I have seen this, and I declare to you that this man, Jesus, is the Son of God.” BSB BSB: I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
The First Disciples (Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11)
35 UST The day after that happened, John the Baptizer was again with two of his students. BSB BSB: The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.
36 UST When he saw Jesus passing by, he said,“Look!{ He is} the Lamb of God!” BSB BSB: When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 UST Then John’ s two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. BSB BSB: And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
38 UST When Jesus turned around and saw them coming behind him, he asked them,“What are you looking for?” They said to him,“Rabbi(which means‘teacher’{ in Jewish Aramaic}), where are you lodging?” BSB BSB: Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”
39 UST He replied,“Come with me, and you will see!” So they came and saw where Jesus was lodging. They stayed with him that day because it was getting late.(It was about 4: 00 PM) BSB BSB: “Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.
40 UST One of those two disciples who had heard what John had said and followed Jesus was Andrew.{ He was} Simon Peter’ s brother. BSB BSB: Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus.
41 UST Andrew first{ went and} found his brother Simon.{ When he came to him,} he said,“We have found the Messiah!”(Messiah is“Christ” in the Greek language.) BSB BSB: He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ).
42 UST Andrew took Simon to Jesus. When Jesus looked at Peter, he said,“You are Simon. Your father’ s name is John.{ From now on} your name will{ also} be Cephas”(which{ means“rock” in Aramaic and} is“Peter” in Greek). BSB BSB: Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael 43 UST The day after that happened Jesus decided to leave that area. He went to the region of Galilee and found a man named Philip. Jesus said to him,“Come be my disciple.” BSB BSB: The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”
45 UST { Then} Philip{ went and} found Nathaniel.{ When he came to him,} he said,“We have found the Messiah whom Moses wrote about in the law{ God gave the Israelites} and{ whom} the prophets{ said would come}.{ The Messiah is} Jesus. His father’ s name is Joseph. He is from the town of Nazareth.” BSB BSB: Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 UST Nathaniel replied,“From Nazareth? Certainly nothing good can come out of that town!” Philip replied,“Come and see for yourself!” BSB BSB: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
47 UST When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching him, he said to him,“Look!{ Here is} an honest Israelite! He never deceives anyone!” BSB BSB: When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”
48 UST Nathaniel asked him,“How do you know what kind of man I am?” Jesus replied,“I saw you before Philip called you, when you were sitting{ by yourself} under the fig tree.” BSB BSB: “How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
49 UST Then Nathaniel declared,“Teacher, you must be the Son of God! You are the King of Israel{ whom we have been waiting for}!” BSB BSB: “Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50 UST Jesus replied,“Do you trust in me just because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see me do things that are much greater than that!” BSB BSB: Jesus said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”
51 UST Then Jesus said to him,“I am telling you the truth:{ Just like the vision your ancestor Jacob long ago saw,} you will see heaven opened up, and you will see God’ s angels going up and coming down on me, the Son of Man.” BSB BSB: Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”