1Im Anfang war das Wort, und das Wort war bei Gott, und das Wort war Gott. 2Dieses war im Anfang bei Gott. 3Alles ward durch dasselbe, und ohne dasselbe ward nicht eins, das geworden ist. 4In ihm war das Leben, und das Leben war das Licht der Menschen. 5Und das Licht scheinet in der Finsterniß, und die Finsterniß hat es nicht erfaßt. 6Es ward ein Mensch gesandt von Gott; sein Name: Johannes. 7Dieser kam zum Zeugniß, auf daß er zeugte von dem Lichte, damit alle durch ihn glaubten. 8Jener war nicht das Licht, sondern daß er zeugte von dem Lichte. 9Das war das wahrhaftige Licht, welches, kommend in die Welt, jeden Menschen erleuchtet. 10Er war in der Welt, und die Welt ward durch ihn, und die Welt kannte ihn nicht. 11Er kam in das Seinige, und die Seinigen nahmen ihn nicht auf; 12so viele ihn aber annahmen, denen gab er das Recht, Kinder Gottes zu werden, denen, die an seinen Namen glauben, 13welche nicht aus Geblüt, noch aus dem Willen des Fleisches, noch aus dem Willen des Mannes, sondern aus Gott geboren sind. 14Und das Wort ward Fleisch und wohnte unter uns (und wir haben seine Herrlichkeit angeschaut, eine Herrlichkeit als eines Eingebornen vom Vater) voller Gnade und Wahrheit; 15(Johannes zeugt von ihm und rief und sprach: Dieser war es, von dem ich sagte, der nach mir Kommende ist mir vor, denn er war vor mir;) 16denn aus seiner Fülle haben wir alle empfangen, und zwar Gnade um Gnade. 17Denn das Gesetz war durch Moses gegeben; die Gnade und die Wahrheit ist durch Jesum Christum geworden. 18Niemand hat Gott je gesehen; der eingeborne Sohn, der in des Vaters Schoß ist, der hat ihn kundgemacht. 19Und dies ist das Zeugniß des Johannes, als die Juden aus Jerusalem Priester und Leviten sandten, daß sie ihn fragen sollten: Wer bist du? 20Und er bekannte und läugnete nicht, und bekannte: Ich bin nicht der Christus. 21Und sie fragten ihn: Was denn? Bist du Elias? Und er sagt: Ich bin es nicht. Bist du der Prophet? Und er antwortete: Nein. 22Sie sprachen nun zu ihm: Wer bist du? damit wir Antwort geben denen, die uns gesandt haben; was sagst du von dir selbst? 23Er sprach: Ich bin die Stimme eines Rufenden in der Wüste: Machet gerade den Weg des Herrn, wie Jesaias, der Prophet, gesagt hat. 24Und sie waren gesandt von den Pharisäern. 25Und sie fragten ihn und sprachen zu ihm: Warum taufest du denn, wenn du nicht der Christus bist, noch Elias, noch der Prophet? 26Johannes antwortete ihnen und sprach: Ich taufe mit Wasser. Mitten unter euch stehet, den ihr nicht kennet, 27der nach mir Kommende, dessen Sandalen aufzulösen ich nicht würdig bin. 28Dieses geschah zu Bethanien, jenseit des Jordans, wo Johannes taufte. 29Am folgenden Tage sieht er Jesum zu sich kommen und spricht: Siehe, das Lamm Gottes, welches die Sünde der Welt wegnimmt. 30Dieser ist es, von welchem ich sagte: Nach mir kommt ein Mann, der mir vor ist, denn er war vor mir. 31Und ich kannte ihn nicht; aber damit er Israel offenbar werden möchte, deswegen bin ich gekommen, mit Wasser taufend. 32Und Johannes zeugte und sprach: Ich schaute den Geist wie eine Taube aus dem Himmel herniederfahren, und er blieb auf ihm. 33Und ich kannte ihn nicht; aber der mich gesandt hat, mit Wasser zu taufen, der sprach zu mir: Auf welchen du irgend sehen wirst den Geist herniederfahren und auf ihm bleiben, dieser ist's, der mit demHeiligen Geiste tauft. 34Und ich habe gesehen und habe gezeugt, daß dieser der Sohn Gottes ist. 35Des folgenden Tages stand wiederum Johannes und zwei von seinen Jüngern, 36und hinblickend auf Jesum, der da wandelte, spricht er: Siehe, das Lamm Gottes! 37Und es hörten ihn die zwei Jünger reden und folgten Jesu nach. 38Jesus aber, da er sich umwandte und sie nachfolgen sah, spricht zu ihnen: 39Was suchet ihr? Sie aber sagten zu ihm: Rabbi, (was verdolmetscht heißt: Lehrer) wo hältst du dich auf? 40Er spricht zu ihnen: Kommt und sehet. Sie kamen nun und sahen, wo er sich aufhielt, und blieben jenen Tag bei ihm. Es war um die zehnte Stunde. 41Andreas, der Bruder des Simon Petrus, war einer von den zweien, die es von Johannes gehört und ihm nachgefolgt waren. 42Dieser findet zuerst seinen eigenen Bruder Simon und spricht zu ihm: Wir haben den Messias gefunden (was verdolmetscht ist: Christus). 43Und er führte ihn zu Jesu. Jesus blickte ihn an und sprach: Du bist Simon, der Sohn Jonas’; du wirst Kephas heißen (was verdolmetscht ist: Stein). 44Am folgenden Tage wollte er hingehen nach Galiläa, und Jesus findet den Philippus und spricht zu ihm: Folge mir nach. 45Philippus aber war von Bethsaida, aus der Stadt des Andreas und Petrus. 46Philippus findet den Nathanael und spricht zu ihm: Wir haben den gefunden, von welchem Moses im Gesetz geschrieben und die Propheten, Jesum, den Sohn des Joseph, den von Nazareth. 47Und Nathanael sprach zu ihm: Kann aus Nazareth etwas Gutes sein? Philippus spricht zu ihm: Komm und siehe! 48Jesus sah den Nathanael zu sich kommen, und spricht von ihm: Siehe, wahrhaftig ein Israelit, in welchem kein Trug ist. 49Nathanael spricht zu ihm: Woher kennest du mich? Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Ehe Philippus dich rief, als du unter dem Feigenbaum warest, sah ich dich. 50Nathanael antwortete und spricht zu ihm: Rabbi, du bist der Sohn Gottes, du bist der König Israels. 51Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Weil ich dir sagte: ich sah dich unter dem Feigenbaum, glaubst du? du wirst größere Dinge sehen denn diese. 52Und er spricht zu ihm: Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch: von nun an werdet ihr den Himmel geöffnet sehen, und die Engel Gottes auf- und niedersteigen auf den Sohn des Menschen.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father's mind to the world. What the evangelist says of Christ proves that he is God. He asserts, His existence in the beginning; His coexistence with the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by him, and not as an instrument. Without him was not any thing made that was made, from the highest angel to the meanest worm. This shows how well qualified he was for the work of our redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well as the life of sense, is derived from him, and depends upon him. This eternal Word, this true Light shines, but the darkness comprehends it not. Let us pray without ceasing, that our eyes may be opened to behold this Light, that we may walk in it; and thus be made wise unto salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ.
6 John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus. Nothing more fully shows the darkness of men's minds, than that when the Light had appeared, there needed a witness to call attention to it. Christ was the true Light; that great Light which deserves to be called so. By his Spirit and grace he enlightens all that are enlightened to salvation; and those that are not enlightened by him, perish in darkness. Christ was in the world when he took our nature upon him, and dwelt among us. The Son of the Highest was here in this lower world. He was in the world, but not of it. He came to save a lost world, because it was a world of his own making. Yet the world knew him not. When he comes as a Judge, the world shall know him. Many say that they are Christ's own, yet do not receive him, because they will not part with their sins, nor have him to reign over them. All the children of God are born again. This new birth is through the word of God as the means,
1Pet 1:23, and by the Spirit of God as the Author. By his Divine presence Christ always was in the world. But now that the fulness of time was come, he was, after another manner, God manifested in the flesh. But observe the beams of his Divine glory, which darted through this veil of flesh. Men discover their weaknesses to those most familiar with them, but it was not so with Christ; those most intimate with him saw most of his glory. Although he was in the form of a servant, as to outward circumstances, yet, in respect of graces, his form was like the Son of God His Divine glory appeared in the holiness of his doctrine, and in his miracles. He was full of grace, fully acceptable to his Father, therefore qualified to plead for us; and full of truth, fully aware of the things he was to reveal.
15 As to the order of time and entrance on his work, Christ came after John, but in every other way he was before him. The expression clearly shows that Jesus had existence before he appeared on earth as man. All fulness dwells in him, from which alone fallen sinners have, and shall receive, by faith, all that renders them wise, strong, holy, useful, and happy. Our receivings by Christ are all summed up in this one word, grace; we have received even grace, a gift so great, so rich, so invaluable; the good will of God towards us, and the good work of God in us. The law of God is holy, just, and good; and we should make the proper use of it. But we cannot derive from it pardon, righteousness, or strength. It teaches us to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, but it cannot supply the place of that doctrine. As no mercy comes from God to sinners but through Jesus Christ, no man can come to the Father but by him; no man can know God, except as he is made known in the only begotten and beloved Son.
19 John disowns himself to be the Christ, who was now expected and waited for. He came in the spirit and power of Elias, but he was not the person of Elias. John was not that Prophet whom Moses said the Lord would raise up to them of their brethren, like unto him. He was not such a prophet as they expected, who would rescue them from the Romans. He gave such an account of himself, as might excite and awaken them to hearken to him. He baptized the people with water as a profession of repentance, and as an outward sign of the spiritual blessings to be conferred on them by the Messiah, who was in the midst of them, though they knew him not, and to whom he was unworthy to render the meanest service.
29 John saw Jesus coming to him, and pointed him out as the Lamb of God. The paschal lamb, in the shedding and sprinkling of its blood, the roasting and eating of its flesh, and all the other circumstances of the ordinance, represented the salvation of sinners by faith in Christ. And the lambs sacrificed every morning and evening, can only refer to Christ slain as a sacrifice to redeem us to God by his blood. John came as a preacher of repentance, yet he told his followers that they were to look for the pardon of their sins to Jesus only, and to his death. It agrees with God's glory to pardon all who depend on the atoning sacrifice of Christ. He takes away the sin of the world; purchases pardon for all that repent and believe the gospel. This encourages our faith; if Christ takes away the sin of the world, then why not my sin? He bore sin for us, and so bears it from us. God could have taken away sin, by taking away the sinner, as he took away the sin of the old world; but here is a way of doing away sin, yet sparing the sinner, by making his Son sin, that is, a sin-offering, for us. See Jesus taking away sin, and let that cause hatred of sin, and resolutions against it. Let us not hold that fast, which the Lamb of God came to take away. To confirm his testimony concerning Christ, John declares the appearance at his baptism, in which God himself bore witness to him. He saw and bare record that he is the Son of God. This is the end and object of John's testimony, that Jesus was the promised Messiah. John took every opportunity that offered to lead people to Christ.
37 The strongest and most prevailing argument with an awakened soul to follow Christ, is, that it is he only who takes away sin. Whatever communion there is between our souls and Christ, it is he who begins the discourse. He asked, What seek ye? The question Jesus put to them, we should all put to ourselves when we begin to follow Him, What do we design and desire? In following Christ, do we seek the favour of God and eternal life? He invites them to come without delay. Now is the accepted time,
2Cor 6:2. It is good for us to be where Christ is, wherever it be. We ought to labour for the spiritual welfare of those related to us, and seek to bring them to Him. Those who come to Christ, must come with a fixed resolution to be firm and constant to him, like a stone, solid and stedfast; and it is by his grace that they are so.
43 See the nature of true Christianity, it is following Jesus; devoting ourselves to him, and treading in his steps. Observe the objection Nathanael made. All who desire to profit by the word of God, must beware of prejudices against places, or denominations of men. They should examine for themselves, and they will sometimes find good where they looked for none. Many people are kept from the ways of religion by the unreasonable prejudices they conceive. The best way to remove false notions of religion, is to make trial of it. In Nathanael there was no guile. His profession was not hypocritical. He was not a dissembler, nor dishonest; he was a sound character, a really upright, godly man. Christ knows what men are indeed. Does He know us? Let us desire to know him. Let us seek and pray to be Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile; truly Christians, approved of Christ himself. Some things weak, imperfect, and sinful, are found in all, but hypocrisy belongs not to a believer's character. Jesus witnessed what passed when Nathanael was under the fig-tree. Probably he was then in fervent prayer, seeking direction as to the Hope and Consolation of Israel, where no human eye observed him. This showed him that our Lord knew the secrets of his heart. Through Christ we commune with, and benefit by the holy angels; and things in heaven and things on earth are reconciled and united together.