The Gospel of John for Readers — Story, Setting & Ideas

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came to bear witness of the Light that all men through Him might believe. John was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: those who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bore witness of Him and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spoke. He that cometh after me is preferred before me because He was before me. We have all received of His fullness, grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, hath declared Him.

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed and did not deny. He confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as was said by the prophet Esaias. And they who were sent by the Pharisees asked him, Why baptizest thou then if thou be not that Christ nor Elias nor that prophet?

John answered them, saying, I baptize with water but there standeth One among you, whom ye know not. He it is, who, coming after me, is preferred before me and whose foot straps I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan where John was baptizing. When John saw Jesus coming toward him, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me because He was before me. I knew Him not except that He should be made manifest to Israel. Therefore I come baptizing with water. John bore record saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. I knew Him not except that He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, this is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. I saw Him, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

The next day John and two of his disciples saw Jesus as He walked. John said, Behold the Lamb of God! The two disciples heard John speak and followed Jesus. Jesus turned, saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said to Him, Rabbi, (which is interpreted, Master) where dwellest Thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt and abode with Him that day. It was about the tenth hour.

One of the two which heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. First he findeth his own brother, Simon, and saith to him, We have found the messias, (which is interpreted, the Christ) and he brought him to Jesus. When Jesus beheld him He said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona. Thou shalt be called Cephas (which is interpreted, a stone).

A day later, Jesus went forth into Galilee and findeth Philip and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael and saith unto him, We have found Him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.