The Word Became a Human Being
1In the beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3All things were made through him. Nothing that has been made was made without him. 4Life was in him, and that life was the light for all people. 5The light shines in the darkness. But the darkness has not overcome the light.
6There was a man sent from God. His name was John. 7He came to be a witness about that light. He was a witness so that all people might believe. 8John himself was not the light. He came only as a witness to the light.
9The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10The Word was in the world. And the world was made through him. But the world did not recognize him. 11He came to what was his own. But his own people did not accept him. 12Some people did accept him and did believe in his name. He gave them the right to become children of God. 13To be a child of God has nothing to do with human parents. Children of God are not born because of human choice or because a husband wants them to be born. They are born because of what God does.
14The Word became a human being. He made his home with us. We have seen his glory. It is the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father. And the Word was full of grace and truth.
15John was a witness about the Word. John cried out and said, “This was the one I was talking about. I said, ‘He who comes after me is more important than I am. He is more important because he existed before I was born.’ ” 16God is full of grace. From him we have all received grace in place of the grace already given. 17In the past, God gave us grace through the law of Moses. Now, grace and truth come to us through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. But the One and Only is God and is at the Father’s side. The one at the Father’s side has shown us what God is like.
John the Baptist Says That He Is Not the Messiah
19The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was. John spoke the truth to them. 20He did not try to hide the truth. He spoke to them openly. He said, “I am not the Messiah.”
21They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet we’ve been expecting?” they asked.
“No,” he answered.
22They asked one last time, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23John replied, using the words of Isaiah the prophet. John said, “I’m the messenger who is calling out in the desert, ‘Make the way for the Lord straight.’ ” (Isaiah 40:3)
24The Pharisees who had been sent 25asked him, “If you are not the Messiah, why are you baptizing people? Why are you doing that if you aren’t Elijah or the Prophet we’ve been expecting?”
26“I baptize people with water,” John replied. “But someone is standing among you whom you do not know. 27He is the one who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.”
28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River. That was where John was baptizing.
What John Says About Jesus
29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, “Look! The Lamb of God! He takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I was talking about. I said, ‘A man who comes after me is more important than I am. That’s because he existed before I was born.’ 31I did not know him. But God wants to make it clear to Israel who this person is. That’s the reason I came baptizing with water.”
32Then John told them, “I saw the Holy Spirit come down from heaven like a dove. The Spirit remained on Jesus. 33I myself did not know him. But the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and remain on someone. He is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34I have seen it happen. I am a witness that this is God’s Chosen One.”
John’s Disciples Follow Jesus
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36He saw Jesus walking by. John said, “Look! The Lamb of God!”
37The two disciples heard him say this. So they followed Jesus. 38Then Jesus turned around and saw them following. He asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Rabbi means Teacher.
39“Come,” he replied. “You will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying. They spent the rest of the day with him. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
40Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother. Andrew was one of the two disciples who heard what John had said. He had also followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon. He told him, “We have found the Messiah.” Messiah means Christ. 42And he brought Simon to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas.” Cephas means Peter, or Rock.
Jesus Chooses Philip and Nathanael
43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
44Philip was from the town of Bethsaida. So were Andrew and Peter. 45Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one whom Moses wrote about in the Law. The prophets also wrote about him. He is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
47Jesus saw Nathanael approaching. Here is what Jesus said about him. “He is a true Israelite. Nothing about him is false.”
48“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree. I saw you there before Philip called you.”
49Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the king of Israel.”
50Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51Then he said to the disciples, “What I’m about to tell you is true. You will see heaven open. You will see the angels of God going up and coming down on the Son of Man.”
Neno Alifanyika Mwili
11:1 1Yn 1:2; Yn 17:5; Flp 2:6; Isa 55:11Hapo mwanzo alikuwako Neno, huyo Neno alikuwa pamoja na Mungu, naye Neno alikuwa Mungu. 21:2 Ufu 1:8; Mwa 1:1Tangu mwanzo huyo Neno alikuwa pamoja na Mungu.
31:3 Kol 1:16; Ebr 1:2Vitu vyote viliumbwa kwa yeye, wala pasipo yeye hakuna chochote kilichoumbwa ambacho kimeumbwa. 41:4 1Yn 5:20; Ufu 1:8; Yn 12:46Ndani yake ndimo ulimokuwa uzima na huo uzima ulikuwa nuru ya watu. 51:5 Yn 3:19Nuru hungʼaa gizani nalo giza halikuishinda.
61:6 Mt 3:1Alikuja mtu mmoja aliyetumwa kutoka kwa Mungu, jina lake Yohana. 71:7 Yn 3:26; 5:33; 3:15Alikuja kama shahidi apate kuishuhudia hiyo nuru, ili kwa kupitia kwake watu wote waweze kuamini. 81:8 Yn 1:20Yeye mwenyewe hakuwa ile nuru, bali alikuja kuishuhudia hiyo nuru. 91:9 1Yn 2:8; Isa 49:6Kwamba nuru halisi, imwangaziayo kila mtu ilikuwa inakuja ulimwenguni.
101:10 Yn 1:3; Ebr 1:2; 11; 3Huyo Neno alikuwako ulimwenguni na ingawa ulimwengu uliumbwa kupitia kwake, haukumtambua. 111:11 Lk 19:14; Mdo 3:26; 13:46Alikuja kwa walio wake, lakini wao hawakumpokea. 121:12 Isa 56:5; Rum 8:15; Gal 3:26; 2Pet 1:4; 1Yn 3:1Bali wote waliompokea, aliwapa uwezo wa kufanyika watoto wa Mungu, ndio wale waliaminio jina lake. 131:13 Tit 3:5; Yak 1:18Hawa ndio wasiozaliwa kwa damu, wala kwa mapenzi ya mwili au kwa mapenzi ya mtu, bali kwa mapenzi ya Mungu.
141:14 1Yn 1:1-2; 4:2; Yn 14:6Neno alifanyika mwili, akakaa miongoni mwetu, nasi tukauona utukufu wake, utukufu kama wa Mwana pekee atokaye kwa Baba, amejaa neema na kweli.
151:15 Yn 1:32; 3:32; 5:33; Mt 3:11; Mk 1:7; Lk 3:16; Yn 1:27, 30; 3:31; 8:58; Kol 1:17Yohana alishuhudia habari zake, akapaza sauti, akisema, “Huyu ndiye yule niliyewaambia kwamba, ‘Yeye ajaye baada yangu ni mkuu kuniliko mimi, kwa kuwa alikuwepo kabla yangu.’ ” 161:16 Kol 1:19; 2:9Kutokana na ukamilifu wake, sisi sote tumepokea neema juu ya neema. 171:17 Kum 32:46Kwa kuwa sheria ilitolewa kwa mkono wa Mose, lakini neema na kweli imekuja kupitia Yesu Kristo. 18Hakuna mtu yeyote aliyemwona Mungu wakati wowote, ila ni Mungu Mwana pekee, aliye kifuani mwa Baba ndiye ambaye amemdhihirisha.
Ushuhuda Wa Yohana Mbatizaji
(Mathayo 3:1-12; Marko 1:1-8; Luka 3:1-18)
191:19 Yn 7:1; 10:24Huu ndio ushuhuda wa Yohana wakati Wayahudi walipowatuma makuhani na Walawi kutoka Yerusalemu kumuuliza, “Wewe ni nani?” 201:20 Yn 3:28; Lk 3:15-16Yohana alikiri waziwazi pasipo kuficha akasema, “Mimi si Kristo.”1:20 Kristo maana yake ni Masiya, yaani Aliyetiwa mafuta.
211:21 Kum 18:15; Mt 11:4Wakamuuliza, “Wewe ni nani basi? Je, wewe ni Eliya?”
Yeye akajibu, “Hapana, mimi siye.”
“Je, wewe ni yule Nabii?”
Akajibu, “Hapana.”
22Ndipo wakasema, “Basi tuambie wewe ni nani ili tupate jibu la kuwapelekea wale waliotutuma. Wewe wasemaje juu yako mwenyewe?”
231:23 Mt 3:1; Isa 40:3Akawajibu kwa maneno ya nabii Isaya, akisema, “Mimi ni sauti ya mtu aliaye nyikani, ‘Yanyoosheni mapito ya Bwana.’ ”
24Basi walikuwa wametumwa watu kutoka kwa Mafarisayo 251:25 Mt 21:25wakamuuliza, “Kama wewe si Kristo, wala si Eliya na wala si yule Nabii, kwa nini basi unabatiza?”
261:26 Mt 3:11; Mk 1:7, 8Yohana akawajibu, “Mimi ninabatiza kwa maji,1:26 Hapa tafsiri zingine zinasema ndani ya maji. lakini katikati yenu yupo mtu msiyemjua. 271:27 Yn 3:26; Mdo 13:25Yeye ajaye baada yangu, sistahili hata kufungua kamba za viatu vyake.”
281:28 Yn 3:26; 10:40Mambo haya yote yalitukia huko Bethania, ngʼambo ya Mto Yordani, mahali Yohana alipokuwa akibatiza.
Yesu Mwana-Kondoo Wa Mungu
291:29 Mwa 22:8; Ufu 5:6Siku iliyofuata, Yohana alimwona Yesu akimjia akasema, “Tazama, Mwana-Kondoo wa Mungu aichukuaye dhambi ya ulimwengu! 301:30 Yn 15:27Huyu ndiye yule niliyewaambia kwamba, ‘Mtu anakuja baada yangu ambaye ni mkuu kuniliko mimi, kwa kuwa alikuwepo kabla yangu.’ 311:31 Mal 3:1; Mt 3:6; Lk 1:17, 76, 77; 3:3, 4Mimi mwenyewe sikumfahamu, lakini sababu ya kuja nikibatiza kwa maji ni ili yeye apate kufunuliwa kwa Israeli.”
321:32 Mt 3:16; Mk 1:10Kisha Yohana akatoa ushuhuda huu: “Nilimwona Roho akishuka kutoka mbinguni kama hua, akakaa juu yake. 331:33 Mk 1:4; Mt 3:11Mimi nisingemtambua, lakini yeye aliyenituma nibatize kwa maji alikuwa ameniambia, ‘Yule mtu utakayemwona Roho akimshukia na kukaa juu yake, huyo ndiye atakayebatiza kwa Roho Mtakatifu.’ 341:34 Mt 4:3Mimi mwenyewe nimeona jambo hili na ninashuhudia kuwa huyu ndiye Mwana wa Mungu.”
Wanafunzi Wa Kwanza Wa Yesu
351:35 Mt 3:1Siku iliyofuata, Yohana alikuwa huko tena pamoja na wanafunzi wake wawili. 361:36 Yn 1:29Alipomwona Yesu akipita, akasema, “Tazama, Mwana-Kondoo wa Mungu!”
37Wale wanafunzi wawili walipomsikia Yohana akisema haya, wakamfuata Yesu. 381:38 Mt 23:7Yesu akageuka, akawaona wakimfuata akawauliza, “Mnataka nini?”
Wakamwambia, “Rabi,” (maana yake Mwalimu), “Unaishi wapi?”
39Yesu akawajibu, “Njooni, nanyi mtapaona!”
Hivyo wakaenda na kupaona mahali alipokuwa anaishi, wakakaa naye siku ile, kwa kuwa ilikuwa yapata saa kumi.
401:40 Mt 4:18-22Andrea nduguye Simoni Petro, alikuwa mmoja wa wale wawili waliosikia yale Yohana aliyokuwa amesema, naye ndiye alimfuata Yesu. 411:41 Yn 4:25Kitu cha kwanza Andrea alichofanya ni kumtafuta Simoni nduguye na kumwambia, “Tumemwona Masiya” (yaani, Kristo). 421:42 Mwa 32:28; Mt 16:18Naye akamleta kwa Yesu.
Yesu akamwangalia na kusema, “Wewe ni Simoni mwana wa Yohana. Utaitwa Kefa” (ambalo limetafsiriwa Petro1:42 Petro kwa Kiyunani au Kefa kwa Kiaramu; maana yake ni Kipande cha mwamba.).
Yesu Awaita Filipo Na Nathanaeli
431:43 Mt 10:3; Yn 14:8-9; Mt 4:9Siku iliyofuata Yesu aliamua kwenda Galilaya. Akamkuta Filipo, akamwambia, “Nifuate.”
441:44 Yn 12:21Basi Filipo alikuwa mwenyeji wa Bethsaida, mji alikotoka Andrea na Petro. 451:45 Yn 21:2; Lk 24:27; Mt 2:23; Lk 3:23Filipo naye akamkuta Nathanaeli na kumwambia, “Tumemwona yeye ambaye Mose aliandika habari zake katika Sheria na ambaye pia manabii waliandika kumhusu, yaani, Yesu wa Nazareti, mwana wa Yosefu.”
461:46 Yn 7:41-42, 52Nathanaeli akauliza, “Nazareti! Je, kitu chochote chema chaweza kutoka Nazareti?” Filipo akamwambia, “Njoo uone.”
471:47 Za 32:2; Rum 9:4-6Yesu alipomwona Nathanaeli anakaribia, akanena habari zake akasema, “Tazama huyu ni Mwisraeli kweli kweli; hana hila ndani yake.”
48Nathanaeli akamuuliza, “Umenifahamuje?”
Yesu akamjibu, “Nilikuona ulipokuwa bado uko chini ya mtini, kabla hata Filipo hajakuita.”
491:49 Mt 23:7; 4:3; 2; 2; 27:42Nathanaeli akamwambia, “Rabi, wewe ni Mwana wa Mungu! Wewe ni Mfalme wa Israeli!”
50Yesu akamwambia, “Unaamini kwa kuwa nilikuambia nilikuona ulipokuwa bado uko chini ya mtini? Basi utaona mambo makuu zaidi kuliko hilo.” 511:51 Mt 3:16; 8:20; Mwa 28:12Ndipo akawaambia, “Amin, amin nawaambia, ninyi mtaona mbingu ikifunguka na malaika wa Mungu wakipanda na kushuka juu ya Mwana wa Adamu.”
