John 1:4-12

4The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

6God sent a man, John the Baptist,

7to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.

8John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.

9The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.

11He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.

12But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.