In the beginning was the Word --

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mk. 1:1)

and the Word was with God --

I came from the Father and entered the world ... (Acts 16:28)

and the Word was God.

The radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being ... (Heb. 1:3)

He was with God in the beginning.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Rev. 22:13)

Through him all things were made --

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork. (Ps. 19:1)

without him nothing was made that has been made.

For in him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28)

In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. (Mt. 4:16)

The light shines in the darkness --

A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. (Lk. 2:32)

but the darkness had not understood it.

Then Jesus said, "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Lk. 23:34)

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.

This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" (Mt. 3:3)

He came as a witness to testify concerning that light --

People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. (Mt.3:5)

so that through him all men might believe.

Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan river. (Mt. 3:6)

He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

To make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Lk. 1:17)

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?" (Mt. 2:1-2)

He was in the world --

"In Bethlehem, in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written." (Mt. 2:5)

and though the world was made through him --

"We saw his star in the East and have come to worship him." (Mt. 2:2)

the world did not recognize him.

When Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. (Mt. 2:3)

He came to that which was his own --

The throne of his father David. (Lk. 1:32)

but his own did not receive him.

They ... mocked him, saying "Hail, King of the Jews!" (Mt. 27:29)

Yet to all who received him --

At once they left their nets and followed him. (Mk. 1:18)

to those who believed in his name --

One of the criminals ... said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." (Lk. 23:39, 42)

he gave the right to become children of God --

Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise. (Lk. 23:43)

children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision --

And do not think you can say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." (Mt. 3:9)

but born of God.

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by words, so that no one can boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)

The Word became flesh --

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph ... (Mt. 1:18)

and lived for a while among us.

Joseph went to Bethlehem with Mary ... While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son ... and placed him in a manger. (Lk. 2:5-7)

We have seen his glory --

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Lk. 2:19)

the glory of the one and only Son --

He was the son ... of Joseph ... the son of Abraham ... the son of Adam, the son of God. (Lk. 1:23, 34, 38)

who came from the Father --

And they will call him Immanuel -- which means, "God with us." (Mt. 1:23)

full of grace and truth.

Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and goodwill toward men." (Lk. 2:13-14)