Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 411
JOHN
In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone
might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he
was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light,
who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize
him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all
who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children
of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human
passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full
of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of
the Father’s one and only Son.
John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the
one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is
far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”
From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after
another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love
and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God.
But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He
has revealed God to us.
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