The Gospel of John for Readers

Part 1

Copyright (C) 2002 by Lightheart.

The Gospel of John for Readers

Editor's Preface

"We must know before we can love. In order to know God, we must often think of Him. And when we come to love Him, we shall then also think of Him often, for our heart will be with our treasure " ... Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God.

The way to know God is by reading the gospels. Gospel is interpreted Good News - God's good news to His world. It is the new testament and perspective we must have in order to know and love Him as He means us to know and love Him.

The gospel of John is called the gospel of love. And, indeed, it is a love story, written by that disciple whose heart was totally surrendered. Brother Lawrence, whose heart was also totally surrendered, was a great believer in doing what was most practical, simple, and direct.

The Gospel of John for Readers is the KJV lovingly and faithfully adapted to a flowing narrative style to allow for easy reading enjoyment. May it help us all to see the exquisite beauty and simple yet practical message of God's good news through eyes of love.

in His gentle service, Lightheart PracticeGodsPresence.com August 2002

The Gospel of John

1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him. Without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came to bear witness of the Light that all men through Him might believe. John was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: those who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bore witness of Him and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spoke. He that cometh after me is preferred before me because He was before me. We have all received of His fullness, grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, hath declared Him.

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed and did not deny. He confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as was said by the prophet Esaias. And they who were sent by the Pharisees asked him, Why baptizest thou then if thou be not that Christ nor Elias nor that prophet?

John answered them, saying, I baptize with water but there standeth One among you, whom ye know not. He it is, who, coming after me, is preferred before me and whose foot straps I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan where John was baptizing. When John saw Jesus coming toward him, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me because He was before me. I knew Him not except that He should be made manifest to Israel. Therefore I come baptizing with water. John bore record saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. I knew Him not except that He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, this is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. I saw Him, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

The next day John and two of his disciples saw Jesus as He walked. John said, Behold the Lamb of God! The two disciples heard John speak and followed Jesus. Jesus turned, saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said to Him, Rabbi, (which is interpreted, Master) where dwellest Thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt and abode with Him that day. It was about the tenth hour.

One of the two which heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. First he findeth his own brother, Simon, and saith to him, We have found the messias, (which is interpreted, the Christ) and he brought him to Jesus. When Jesus beheld him He said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona. Thou shalt be called Cephas (which is interpreted, a stone).

A day later, Jesus went forth into Galilee and findeth Philip and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael and saith unto him, We have found Him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him and saith of him, Behold an Israelite in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto Him, Whence knowest Thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto Him, Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee I saw thee under the fig tree believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. And He saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

2. Three days later there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus and His disciples were called to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, But what am I to do? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.

Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. They filled them up to the brim. Then He saith unto them, Draw out now, and carry them unto the governor of the feast.

When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not whence it was, (but the servants which drew the water knew) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom. He saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine, and, when men have well drunk, then that which is worse, but thou hast kept the good wine until now! This beginning of miracles Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. He showed forth His glory and His disciples believed on Him.

After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brethren, and His disciples. They continued there for a few days. The passover was at hand. Jesus went up to Jerusalem and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves and changers of money sitting. And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple and overthrew the tables. He said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence. Make not my Father's house a house of merchandise. Here His disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

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