11 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things [1] accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning [2]were eyewitnesses and [3] servants of the [4]word , 3 it seemed fitting for me as well , having [5]investigated everything carefully from the beginning , to write it out for you in consecutive order , most excellent Theophilus ; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been [6] taught .
5 In the days of Herod , king of Judea , there was a priest named [7]Zacharias , of the division of [8]Abijah ; and he had a wife [9]from the daughters of Aaron , and her name was Elizabeth . 6 They were both righteous in the sight of God , walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord . 7 But they had no child , because Elizabeth was barren , and they were both advanced in [10]years . 8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division , 9 according to the custom of the priestly office , he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense . 10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense . 12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear [11]gripped him. 13 But the angel said to him, " Do not be afraid , Zacharias , for your petition has been heard , and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son , and you will [12]give him the name John . 14 "You will have joy and gladness , and many will rejoice at his birth . 15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord ; and he will drink no e wine or liquor , and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit [13]while yet in his mother's womb . 16 "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God . 17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah , TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN , and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous , so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord ." 18 Zacharias said to the angel , "How e will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in [14]years ." 19 The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel , who [15] stands in the presence of God , and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news . 20 "And behold , you shall be silent and unable e to speak until the day when these things take place , because e you did not believe my words , which will be fulfilled in their proper time ." 21 The people were waiting for Zacharias , and were wondering at his delay in the temple . 22 But when he came out, he was unable e to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple ; and he kept [16]making signs to them, and remained mute . 23 When the days of his priestly service were ended , he went back home . 24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant , and she [17]kept herself in seclusion for five months , saying , 25 "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men ."
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth , 27 to a virgin [18]engaged to a man whose name was Joseph , of the [19]descendants of David ; and the virgin's name was [20]Mary . 28 And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings , [21]favored one! The Lord [22]is with you." 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement , and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30 The angel said to her, " Do not be afraid , Mary ; for you have found favor with God . 31 "And behold , you will conceive in your womb and bear a son , and you shall name Him Jesus . 32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High ; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David ; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever , and His kingdom will have no end ." 34 Mary said to the angel , "How [23]can this be, since I [24]am a virgin e e ?" 35 The angel answered and said to her, " The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the [25]holy Child shall be called the Son of God . 36 "And behold , even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age ; and [26]she who was called barren is now in her sixth month . 37 "For [27] nothing e e will be impossible with God ." 38 And Mary said , "Behold , the [28]bondslave of the Lord ; may it be done to me according to your word ." And the angel departed from her.
39 Now [29]at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country , to a city of Judah , 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth . 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting , the baby leaped in her womb ; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit . 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said , "Blessed are you among women , and blessed is the fruit of your womb ! 43 "And [30]how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 "For behold , when the sound of your greeting reached my ears , the baby leaped in my womb for joy . 45 "And blessed is she who [31]believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her [32]by the Lord ." 46 And Mary said : " My soul [33] exalts the Lord , 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior . 48 "For He has had regard for the humble state of His [34]bondslave ; For behold , from this time on all generations will count me blessed . 49 "For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name . 50 " AND HIS MERCY IS [35]UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. 51 " He has done [36]mighty deeds with His arm ; He has scattered those who were proud in the [37]thoughts of their heart . 52 "He has brought down rulers from their thrones , And has exalted those who were humble . 53 " HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS ; And sent away the rich empty-handed . 54 "He has given help to Israel His servant , [38]In remembrance of His mercy , 55 As He spoke to our fathers , To Abraham and his [39]descendants forever ." 56 And Mary stayed with her about three months , and then returned to her home .
57 Now the time [40]had come for Elizabeth to give birth , and she gave birth to a son . 58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had [41] displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. 59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child , and they were going to call him Zacharias , [42]after his father . 60 But his mother answered and said , "No indeed ; but he shall be called John ." 61 And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name ." 62 And they made signs to his father , as to what e he wanted him called . 63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows , " His name is John ." And they were all astonished . 64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God . 65 Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea . 66 All who heard them kept them in mind , saying , "What then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit , and prophesied , saying : 68 " Blessed be the Lord God of Israel , For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people , 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant - 70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old - 71 [43] Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES , And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; 72 To show mercy toward our fathers , And to remember His holy covenant , 73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father , 74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies , Might serve Him without fear , 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days . 76 "And you, child , will be called the prophet of the Most High ; For you will go on BEFORE THE Lord TO PREPARE HIS WAYS ; 77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation [44]By the forgiveness of their sins , 78 Because of the tender mercy of our God , With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, 79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH , To guide our feet into the way of peace ." 80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit , and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel .
11 In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God , and the Word was God . 2 [45]He was in the beginning with God . 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing e came into being that has come into being . 4 In Him was life , and the life was the Light of men .
5 The Light shines in the darkness , and the darkness did not [46]comprehend it. 6 There [47]came a man sent from God , whose name was John . 7 [48]He came [49] as a witness , to testify about the Light , so that all might believe through him. 8 [50] He was not the Light , but he came to testify about the Light . 9 There was the true Light [51]which , coming into the world , enlightens every man . 10 He was in the world , and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His [52]own , and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God , even to those who believe in His name , 13 who were [53]born , not of [54]blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man , but of God . 14 And the Word became flesh , and [55] dwelt among us, and we saw His glory , glory as of [56]the only begotten from the Father , full of grace and truth .
(Read John 1:1-5)
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.
(Read John 1:6-14)
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, 1 Peter 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.
