4. through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people.
5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.
6. A man named John was sent from God.
7. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light.
8. He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.
9. The true light that shines on all people was coming into the world.
10. The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn’t recognize the light.
11. The light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him.
12. But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God’s children,
13. born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God.
14. The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
15. John testified about him, crying out, "This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’"
16. From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace;
17. as the Law was given through Moses, so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ.
18. No one has ever seen God. God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made God known.
19. This is John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, "Who are you?"
20. John confessed (he didn’t deny but confessed), "I’m not the Christ."
21. They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" John said, "I’m not." "Are you the prophet?" John answered, "No."
22. They asked, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
23. John replied, "I am a voice crying out in the wilderness, Make the Lord’s path straight, just as the prophet Isaiah said."