Read the first chapter of St John's Gospel.

Read the first chapter of St John's gospel, learn it by heart, and repeat it to yourself a thousand times, always with a prayer that God will give you the grace to understand the unsearchable mystery contained therein.

—Spirit William James

In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Centre of the Milky Way | ESO

The same was at the beginning with God.

Robert's Quartet | ESO

All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.

Cosmic Interactions | ESO

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

NGC 2613 | ESO / IDA / Danish 1.5 m / R. Gendler, J-E. Ovaldsen, C. Thöne and C. Féron

And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. 

Carina Nebula | ESO / IDA / Danish 1.5 m / R. Gendler, J-E. Ovaldsen, C. Thöne and C. Feron

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 

Cosmic Embrace | ESO

The same came for a witness to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe. 

Globular cluster NGC 3201 | ESO

He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 

Orion Nebula (M42, NGC 1976) | ESO

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 

Dying star puffs a cosmic dragon | ESO

He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.

Stellar cluster Pismis 24 | ESO / IDA / Danish 1.5 m / R. Gendler, U.G. Jørgensen, J. Skottfelt and K. Harpsøe

He came unto his own, and his own received Him not.

Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253) | ESO / IDA / Danish 1.5 m / R. Gendler, U. G. Jørgensen, J. Skottfelt and K. Harpsøe

But, as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name.

Dramatic Moonset | G. Gillet / ESO

Which were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Omega Nebula or Swan Nebula | ESO / R. Chini

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory, as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Looking into the Milky Way's Heart | ESO / R. Schoedel

John bare witness of Him and cried saying, This was He of whom I spake; He that cometh after me is preferred before me, for He was before me. 

Hidden Treasures | ESO and Andy Strappazzon

And of His fullness we have all received; grace for grace. 

Double-green Flash | ESO

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 

Swirling Galaxy NGC 2217 |ESO

No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.

The Moon and the Arc of the Milky Way | ESO

And this is the record of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him Who art thou? 

Cascading Milky Way | ESO

And he denied not, but confessed, I am not the Christ. 

The Cat's Paw Remastered | ESO / R. Gendler & R. M. Hannahoe

And they asked him What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered; No. 

Laser guide star sweeps across a starry sky | ESO / J. Girard

Then said they unto him, Who art thou that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? 

Super-bubble | Optical, ESO; X-ray, NASA / CXC / University of Michigan / S. Oey, IR; NASA / JPL

He said I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 

One picture, many stories | ESO / B. Tafreshi (twanight.org)

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

Three planets dance over La Silla | ESO / Y. Beletsky

And they asked him and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then if thou be not that Christ nor Elias neither that prophet?

Newly-discovered brown dwarf nicknamed VVV BD001 | ESO, D. Minniti and J. C. Beamín (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile)

John answered them, saying I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you whom ye know not.

Messier 104 (Sombrero) | ESO / IDA / Danish 1.5 m / R. Gendler and J-E. Ovaldsen

He it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

Tarantula Galaxy | ESO / IDA / Danish 1.5 m / R. Gendler, C. C. Thöne, C. Féron, and J-E. Ovaldsen

These things were done in Bethabara, beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

M1-67 is the youngest wind-nebula around a Wolf-Rayet star (WR124) in our galaxy | ESO

The next day, John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 

 Globular cluster Messier 4 | ESA / Hubble & NASA

This is He of whom I said. After me, cometh a man, which is preferred before me, for He was before me. And I knew Him not, but that He should be made manifest to Israel; therefore, am I come baptizing with water.

Trapezium Cluster | ESO / IDA / Danish 1.5 m / R.Gendler, J-E. Ovaldsen, and A. Hornstrup

And John bare record, saying I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not, but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He, which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God. 

 Antennae Galaxies | ESO / A. Milani

Again, the next day, after John stood and two of his disciples, and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 

NGC 4535 in the constellation of Virgo (The Maiden) | ESO

And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 

Cosmic Flame | ESO / IDA / Danish 1.5 m / R. Gendler, J-E. Ovaldsen, C. Thöne and C. Féron

Then Jesus turned and saw them following and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto Him, Rabbi, [which is to say, being interpreted, Master] where dwellest Thou? 

Ballet of Interacting Galaxies | ESO / IDA / Danish 1.5 m / R.Gendler and J-E. Ovaldsen

He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt and abode with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

Cosmic Butterfly | ESO / IDA / Danish 1.5 m / R. Gendler, A. Hornstrup and J-E. Ovaldsen

He first findeth his own brother, Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, [which is being interpreted, the Christ]. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jona; thou shalt be called Cephas, [which is, by interpretation, a stone]. The day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee and findeth Philip and saith unto him, Follow me. 

An insider’s view of the Disc of the Milky Way | ESO / A. Santerne

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.

The Bird | ESO

And Nathanael said unto him, Can there be 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 indeed, in whom is no guile!

Meathook Galaxy | ESO / IDA / Danish 1.5 m / R. Gendler, J-E. Ovaldsen, C. Thöne and C. Féron

Nathanael saith unto Him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that 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.

Galaxy NGC 1427A is seen as it travels through the Fornax cluster of galaxies | ESO

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. 

Southern Ring Nebula | NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI AURA NASA)