A man planted a vineyard, then let it out to husbandmen, and he went into a far country for a long time. At the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen to get the fruit of the vineyard, but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
Again he sent another servant. They beat him also, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again he sent a third servant. They wounded him and cast him out.
Then the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. They will respect him when they see him. But, when the husbandmen saw him, they said, This is the heir. Let us kill him so the inheritance will be ours. So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
What, therefore, shall the lord of the vineyard do to them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. When the people heard this, they said, God forbid.
Jesus looked at them and said, What is this then that is written: The stone that the builders rejected, has become the cornerstone? Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.
The chief priests and the scribes then wanted to lay hands on Him but they feared the people who saw clearly that He had spoken this parable against them.
They had Him watched and they sent out spies. They looked for ways to take hold of His words so they could deliver Him to the power and authority of the governor. They asked Him, Master, we know that you say and teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar?
Jesus perceived their craftiness and said, Why test me? Show me a coin. Whose image and superscription is on it? They answered and said, Caesar's. Jesus said to them, Render, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. They marvelled at His answer and had to hold their peace.
Then some of the Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, came to Him and said, Master, Moses wrote, If any man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died without children. The second took her as a wife and he died childless. The third took her; and, in like manner, all seven. They died and left no children. Last of all the woman died also. Now, in the resurrection, whose wife is she? Each of the seven had her as a wife.
Jesus said to them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage. But those who are worthy of obtaining that world and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage, nor can they die anymore. They are equal to the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. And, furthermore, Moses, at the bush, called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not a God of the dead, but of the living. All live for Him.
Then some of the scribes said, Master, thou has said well. And, after that, they dared not ask Him any more questions. But Jesus said to them, How can they say that Christ is David's son? David, himself, said in the book of Psalms, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. David, therefore, called him Lord, how is he, then, his son?
Then, before the multitude, He said to His disciples, Beware of the scribes who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts. They devour widows' houses, and, for a show, make long prayers. They shall receive greater damnation.
21 Jesus watched as the rich men cast their gifts into the treasury. Then He noticed a poor widow casting in two small coins. He said to His disciples, this widow has cast in more than all the rest put together. The rich have given out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, cast in all the living she had.
Then some spoke about the temple and how it was adorned with golden tones and beautiful gifts. Jesus said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, when every stone shall be thrown down and there shall not be left one stone upon another. Then His disciples asked Him, Master, when shall these things happen? And what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Jesus said, Take heed so you are not deceived, for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ. Do not go after them. When ye hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified for these things must first come to pass. But the end is not yet come.
Then He said, Nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilence in divers places. There will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you. They shall deliver you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, and before kings and rulers for my name's sake. It will fall on you to give a testimony. Settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand about what ye shall answer. I will give you the words and wisdom which your adversaries shall not be able to refute or deny.
You shall be betrayed by parents, brethren, kinsfolks, and friends; some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated by all men for my name's sake. But there shall not be a hair on your head that will perish.
In your patience carefully guard your souls, and when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let those who are in the midst of it get away; and do not let those out in the country enter in. These are the days of vengeance, when all things that are written will be fulfilled.
There shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon the people.They shall fall by the sword, and shall be led away as captives intoall nations. Jerusalem shall be trodden down until the time of theGentiles is fulfilled.
There shall be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars. The entire earth shall be in distress, nations will be in crisis as the sea and the waves roar. Hearts shall fail from fear and from looking after those things that are happening on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.
And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.
Then Jesus told a parable. He said, Behold the fig tree, and all the trees. When new shoots come forth, you see and, inside you know, that summer is close at hand. So, likewise, when ye see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near at hand. I say to you, This generation shall not pass away, until all this is fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
And watch yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with self-indulgence, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day comes and you are unaware and unprepared. For, as a snare, it shall come on all who dwell on the face of the earth. Watch, therefore, and pray always, so you may be counted worthy to escape these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
During the day Jesus taught in the temple. At night He went out of the city and abode in the mount called the mount of Olives. People came to the temple early in the morning to hear Him.
22 The feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, was near. The chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill Him; for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot who was one of the twelve. He approached the chief priests and captains and said he was willing to betray Jesus to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. He gave a promise and then sought an opportunity to betray Him.
Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare the passover that we may eat. They said to Him, Where do you want us to go to prepare? Jesus said, When you enter the city, a man, bearing a pitcher of water, will meet you, follow him into the house he enters. Say to the good man of the house, The Master says to thee, Where is the guestchamber where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? He shall show you a large furnished upper room. Prepare everything there. They went and found everything as He said to them. And there they prepared the passover.
When the hour came, Jesus sat down with the twelve apostles. He said to them, I have looked forward to sharing this passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I will not eat again until the kingdom of God is fulfilled. He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves, for I tell you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.
Then He took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Likewise, after supper, He took a cup, saying, This cup is the new testament, my blood which is shed for you.
But, behold, the hand of him that betrays me is with me at the table. The Son of man goes as it was determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! They began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that could do this thing. There was also a strife among them about which of them should be counted the greatest.
Jesus said, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But, among you this shall not be so for he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, let him be as he that serves. Which is greater, he that sits at the table or he that serves? Is it not he that sits at the table? Yet I am among you as He that serves.
You are the ones who have stood by me in my temptations. I appoint to you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed to me, so you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith would not fail. When you are converted, strengthen your brothers. Peter said, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And Jesus said, I tell you, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day before you shall three times deny that you know me.
Then He said to them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, did you lack anything? And they said, Nothing. Then He said, But now, he that has a purse let him take it, and likewise, his scrip, and he that has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you, this that is written must yet be accomplished in me: He was reckoned among the transgressors. The things concerning me have an end.
They said to Him, Lord, look, here are two swords. And Jesus said to them, It is enough. He went out and up into the mount of Olives; and His disciples followed Him.
At a certain spot He said to them, Pray that you do not enter into temptation. He withdrew, about a stone's cast, and knelt down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.
There appeared an angel from heaven to strengthen Him because He was in agony. He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like great drops of blood falling on the ground. When He rose up from prayer and returned to His disciples, He found them sleeping. Jesus said to them, Why sleep? Rise and pray lest you enter into temptation.
And while He yet spoke, a crowd appeared, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, Judas, do you betray the Son of man with a kiss?
When the disciples saw what was going to happen, they said to Him,Lord, shall we strike with the sword? And one of them smote the servantof the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, Enough.No more of this. He touched the servant's ear and healed him.
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders in the crowd, Why do you come out armed with staves and swords as against a thief when I was daily with you in the temple and you could have stretched forth your hands against me? But this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Then they took Him, and led Him into the high priest's house.
Peter followed from afar. As they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall and warmed themselves, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid noticed him. She looked closely at him and said, This man was also with Him. Peter denied Him, saying, Woman, I know Him not. After a little while another saw him and said, Thou art one of them. Peter said, No, I am not.
About an hour later, another person said, Of a truth, this fellow was with Him for he is a Galilaean. Peter said, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He said to him, Before the cock crows, thou shalt deny me three times. Peter went out and wept bitterly.
The men that held Jesus mocked Him, and smote Him. and when they had blindfolded Him, they struck Him in the face, and said, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And they said many other blasphemies against Him.
As soon as it was day, the elders and the chief priests and scribes came together. They led Him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? Tell us. Jesus said, If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I also ask you, you will not answer me or let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And He said to them, Ye say that I am. Then they said, What need we of any further witness? We ourselves have heard it from His own mouth.
23 The whole multitude arose and led Him to Pilate. They began to accuse Him, saying, We found this man misleading the people, opposing the tribute tax to Caesar, saying that He is Christ, a king.
Pilate asked Him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, Thou sayest it. Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the people, I find no fault in this man. They became fierce, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man was a Galilaean. As soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time.
When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad. Herod had wanted to see Him for a long time because he had heard many things about Him. Herod hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Then he asked Jesus many questions but He answered nothing. The chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Herod and his soldiers treated Him spitefully and mocked Him. They arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.
Pilate and Herod, who had been bitter enemies, became friends that day. When he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, Pilate said to them, You have brought this man to me as one who stirs up the people, and, having examined Him before you, I have found no fault in this man regarding those things of which you accuse Him, nor did Herod for he sent Him back. I will, therefore, chastise Him and release Him. (For of necessity he must release one to them at the feast.)
They cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man. Release Barabbas to us. Pilate therefore, wanting to release Jesus, spoke again to them. But they cried louder, saying, Crucify Him, crucify Him. Pilate said to them the third time, Why, what evil has He done? I have found no cause to put Him to death. I will chastise Him and let Him go.
Immediately and with loud voices, they demanded that He be crucified. The voices of the chief priests prevailed and Pilate gave sentence that it be as they demanded. He released to them Barabbas, who was in prison for sedition and murder, and turned Jesus over to them. And as they led Him away, they laid hold upon a man named Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming out of the country. They laid the cross on him to carry for Jesus.
Many women followed Jesus, crying and lamenting. Jesus turned to them and said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. The days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed. Then they shall say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if these things happen when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry? There were also two others, both criminals, who were led with Him to be put to death.
When they came to the place called Calvary, they crucified Him and the two criminals, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. They divided His garments by casting lots. The people who stood looking on, and the rulers with them, derided Him, saying, He saved others. Let Him save Himself, if He is Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him vinegar. They said, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. Over Him, they hung a sign written in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
One of the criminals said to Him, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other criminal rebuked him, saying, Have you no fear of God for you are in the same condemnation? We have been justly condemned for our deeds but this man has done nothing. He said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, Today you will be with me in paradise.
It was about the sixth hour. There was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in the middle when Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit, and He took His last breath.
When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. All the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, returned home beating their breasts. And the women that followed Him from Galilee, stood far off and watched these things.
There was a just and good man named Joseph, a member of the council who did not consent to this deed. He was from the Jewish city of Arimathaea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Joseph took the body down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a new sepulchre that was hewn in stone. It was the day of preparation and the sabbath was about to begin. The women who came with Jesus from Galilee followed along. They beheld the sepulchre and how His body was laid. They returned and prepared spices and ointments, then rested on the sabbath day according to the commandment.
24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they went to the sepulchre with the spices they had prepared, and certain others were with them. They found the stone rolled away and they went in, but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. The women were perplexed and, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. In fear, they bowed down their heads. Then the two said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how He spoke to you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and the third day rise again? And they remembered His words. They left the sepulchre and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene; Joanna; Mary, the mother of James; and other women that were with them who told these things to the apostles. Their words seemed like idle tales and they did not believe them.
Then Peter arose and ran to the sepulchre. Stooping down, he saw the linen clothes laid by themselves and he left, wondering about what could have happened.
That same day two of them went to a village called Emmaus, which was a few miles from Jerusalem. They talked over the things that had happened. And, while they were talking, Jesus drew near and walked with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. Jesus said to them, What were you discussing as you walked along that made you look so sad? One of them, whose name was Cleopas, said to Him, Are you a stranger in Jerusalem and do not know the things that have come to pass these days? He said to them, What things?
They said, About Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and crucified Him. We trusted that He would redeem Israel and, besides all this, today is the third day after these things were done. Some of the women of our group astonished us. They went early to the sepulchre and, when they did not find His body, they came back and said they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. Then some of those who were with us went to the sepulchre and found it was as the women said, but they did not see Him.
Then He said to them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Should the Messiah not have suffered these things and not enter into His glory? Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He pointed out to them all the things in the scriptures concerning Himself.
They drew near the village where they were going and He made as though He would have gone further. But they said, Stay with us. It is almost evening and the day is far spent. Jesus went in with them. As He sat with them, He took bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight. They said to eachother, Did our hearts not burn within us while He talked with us along the way and while He opened the scriptures to us?
They rose up right away and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and those who were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon. Then they told what happened to them and how they recognized Him by the breaking of the bread.
Then, as they spoke, Jesus stood in the midst of them and said, Peace be to you. But they were terrified and supposed they saw a spirit. But He said to them, Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet. Touch me and see me; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.
When He had thus spoken, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they were still astonished, He said to them, Have you anything to eat? They gave Him a piece of broiled fish and a piece of a honeycomb. He took it and ate it before them. He said, These are the words I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Then He opened their understanding, that they might know the scriptures. He said to them, Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses to these things. Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you. Stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are filled with power from on high. He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them.
While He blessed them, He was parted from them and taken up into heaven. They worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.
Amen.
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The Gospel of John
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him. Without Him nothing was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. The light shines in darkness; and the darkness cannot overtake it.
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 enlightens everyone who comes into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came to His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the children of God, even to those who believe in 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 of the only son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John bore witness of Him and cried, saying, This is He of whom I spoke. He who comes after me is above me because He existed 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 has seen God at any time. The only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has revealed Him.
And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? He confessed and did not deny, I am not the Christ. They asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? He said, I am not. Art thou that prophet? He answered, No. Then they said to him, Who art thou that we may give an answer to those who 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 Isaiah. Those sent by the Pharisees asked him, Then why do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elias or that prophet?
John answered, I baptize with water, but one stands among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is above 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 said, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said, After me comes a man who is above me because He was before me. I knew Him not, only that He would be made manifest to Israel. Therefore I came baptizing with water.
John bore record saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and remain on Him. I knew Him not except the one who sent me to baptize told me, On whomever you see the Spirit descending and remaining, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. I saw Him, and now witness 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 said to them, What are you looking for? They said, Master, where are you staying? He said to them, Come and see. It was about the tenth hour. They went and saw where He stayed and spent the rest of that day with Him.
One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. First he found his brother, Simon, and said to him, We have found the Christ, and he brought him to Jesus. When Jesus saw him He said, Thou art Simon the son of John. Thou shalt be called Peter.
A day later, Jesus went into Galilee and found Philip. He said to him, Follow me. Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said, We have found the one who Moses and the prophets wrote about, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathanael said, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming and said, Behold, an Israelite in whom thereis no guile! Nathanael said to Him, How do you know me? Jesus answered,Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.Nathanael answered and said to Him, Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God.Thou art the King of Israel.
Jesus said, Because I said I saw you under the fig tree you believe? You will see greater things than these. You will 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. Jesus and His disciples were invited to the marriage. When they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, They have no wine. Jesus said, But what am I to do? My hour is not yet come. His mother said to the servants, Whatever He tells you to do, do it.
There were six stone waterpots, used according to the manner of the Jews for purifying. Jesus said to the servants, Fill the pots with water. They filled them to the brim. Then He said to them, Draw out now and carry them to the governor of the feast.
When the governor of the feast tasted the water that was made wine, he called the bridegroom to him and said, At the beginning, every man sets out the good wine, and, when men have drunk well, then he sets out the lesser, but you have 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 in Him. After this He went down to Capernaum and took along His mother, brothers, and His disciples. They remained there for a few days.
Since the feast of Passover was at hand, Jesus went to Jerusalem. There He found, sitting in the temple, all those who sold oxen and sheep and doves and changers of money. When He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple. He overthrew the tables. He said to those who sold doves, Take these things away. Make not my Father's house a house of merchandise. Here His disciples remembered that it was written: The zeal of thine house has eaten me up.
The Jews then said to Him, What sign do you show us for doing this? Jesus answered, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews said, It took forty-six years to build this temple and you will raise it up again in three days? But Jesus spoke of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered what He had said and they recalled the scripture and the words Jesus had spoken.
When He was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in His name when they saw the things He did. But Jesus did not commit or trust Himself to them.
3. There was a man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to Him, We know that you are from God because no man can do the miracles that you do unless God is with Him. Jesus answered, I tell you, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus asked, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb again and be born?
Jesus answered, Unless one is born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said, You must be born again. The wind blows and you hear the sound but cannot tell from where it comes or to where it goes. So it is with those born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus said, How can these things be? Jesus answered, Art thou a master of Israel and do not know these things? Verily, I say to you, We speak what we know, testify that we have seen, and you do not accept our witness. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you of heavenly things?
No man has ascended up to heaven except He that came down from heaven, the Son of man. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but, that the world, through Him, might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned.
He who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation: light came into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come into the light lest his deeds be exposed. But whoever lives the truth, comes to the light that his deeds may be shown as a reflection of God.
After these things Jesus and His disciples went into the land ofJudaea. He stayed with them and baptized. John was also baptizing inAenon, near Salim. There was an abundance of water, so many people cameto be baptized. This was before John was cast into prison.
A question arose between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. They went to John and said, Rabbi, He that was with you beyond Jordan, of whom you testified, baptizes and all men come to Him. John answered, A man can receive nothing unless it is granted him from heaven. You, yourselves, bear me witness that I said I am not the Christ but that I have been sent before Him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So, my joy is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.
He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. All that He has seen and heard He testifies and no one accepts it.
He who has received His testimony has set to his seal that God is true, for He whom God has sent speaks the words of God because God gives Him the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life. He who does not believe in the Son will not see life but will see the wrath of God.
4. When the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, though it was not Jesus Himself who baptized but His disciples, He left Judaea and went back to Galilee. He needed to go through Samaria. He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near Jacob's well, the parcel of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jesus, weary from the journey, sat down on the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus asked her for a drink of water. His disciples had gone into the city to buy food.
She said to Him, How is it that you, being a Jew, ask me for a drink, a woman of Samaria? The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans? Jesus said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who asks for a drink, you would have asked Him for a drink and He would have given you living water.
The woman said to Him, Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. From where would you get that living water? Art Thou greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his children and his cattle?
Jesus answered, Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again. But whoever drinks of the water that I give will never thirst. The water that I give will be a well of water springing up in him into everlasting life. The woman said to Him, Sir, give me this water so I do not thirst and never have to come here to draw it. Jesus said to her, Go, call your husband and come back. The woman answered, I have no husband.
Jesus said to her, You say rightly when you say, I have no husband, for you have had five husbands. He who is with you now is not your husband. In that you speak truly. The woman said to Him, Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain and you say that Jerusalem is the place where men should worship. Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour will come when you will not worship the Father in this mountain or at Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know because salvation comes from the Jews.
But the hour comes, and is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father seeks such people to worship Him. God is a Spirit. Those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
The woman said to Him, I know that a Messiah comes who is called Christ. When He comes He will tell us all things. Jesus said to her, I am He who is speaking with you. At this time His disciples came back. They marvelled that He talked with the woman. Yet no one asked, Why do you talk to her?
The woman then left her waterpot and went on her way. When she was back in the city she said, Come, see a man who told me all the things I have ever done. Is not this the Christ? Then the people left the city and came to Him.
Meanwhile His disciples said, Master, eat. But Jesus said to them, I have food to eat that you know not of. At this, the disciples questioned eachother, has any man brought Him something to eat? Jesus said to them, my food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to complete His work. Do you not say, There are still four months until the harvest? Behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields. They are ready to harvest right now. He who reaps now receives wages and gathers fruit for life eternal, so that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. Herein is the truth of the saying: One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap where you have not toiled. Others have done the labor and you are sharing the benefits.
Many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the woman's testimony. When they went to meet Him, they besought Him to stay with them. Jesus remained there two days. Many more believed because of His own word. They said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of what you said but because we have heard Him ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.
Then He went into Galilee, where He found the truth in the saying: a prophet has no honor in his own country. When He came into Galilee, they received Him after having seen all the things that He did at the Passover feast in Jerusalem because they were there also.
Jesus returned to Cana of Galilee where He turned the water into wine. There was a nobleman of Capernaum, whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus left Judea and was in Galilee, he went there to Him and besought Him to come down and heal his son who was near death. Then Jesus said to him, Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe. The nobleman said to Him, Sir, come before my child dies.
Jesus said to him, Go thy way. Thy son lives. The man believed the word of Jesus and he went on his way. As he was going along, his servants met him and said, Thy son lives. Then he inquired at what hour the son began to mend. They said, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. The father knew that this was the same hour in which Jesus said to him, Thy son lives. And he believed, and his whole house believed. This is the second miracle Jesus did when He came to Galilee from Judaea.
5. After this there was a feast of the Jews. Jesus went up to Jerusalem. At Jerusalem, by the sheep market, there is a pool with five decks called Bethesda. On these platforms lay many who are blind, crippled, and infirm. They wait for the moving of the water. At a certain season, an angel goes into the pool and stirs it. Whoever first steps in is healed of disease.
There was a man who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been in that condition such a long time, He said to him, Wilt thou be made whole? The sick man answered, Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred. Jesus said to him, Rise. Take up your bed and walk. Immediately the man was made whole. He picked up his mat and walked. This was on the sabbath day.
The Jews said to the man who was cured, It is the sabbath day. It is not lawful for you to carry your bed. He answered and said, He who made me whole said to me, Take up your bed and walk. Then they asked him, Who was it who said to you, Take up you bed and walk? But the man who was healed did not know who it was because Jesus left the crowd that had gathered there.
Afterward Jesus found the man in the temple and said, Behold, thou art made whole. Sin no more lest a worse thing comes to you. Then the man left and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. Therefore, the Jews persecuted Jesus. They wanted to slay Him because He had done this on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered and said to them, My Father works now, so I work.
Now the Jews wanted all the more to kill Him because He not only had broken the sabbath but He also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal to God. Jesus addressed this and said, The Son can do nothing of Himself except what He sees the Father do. Whatever the Father does, the Son does the same. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all the things that He Himself does. And He will show Him even greater works than these. Just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so the Son gives life to whom He will. The Father judges no man, but has turned over all judgment to the Son. This is so all men honor the Son as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
Verily, I say to you, He who hears my word and believes Him who sent me has everlasting life and will not be condemned but will pass from death to life. I tell you, The hour is coming, and is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. Those who hear will live, for as the Father has life in Himself, so He has given the Son life in Himself. The Father has given Him authority to exercise judgment because He is also the Son of man.
Marvel not at this because the hour is coming in which all who are in graves will hear His voice and come forth. Those who have done good will go to the resurrection of life. Those who have done evil will go to the resurrection of condemnation.
I can do nothing on my own. I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just because I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who sent me.
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of me; and I know that his witness of me is true. You sent for John and he gave testimony to the truth. Though I do not require testimony from man, I say this so you may be saved. He was a burning and a shining light and you were willing, for a time, to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John. The works that the Father has given me to complete are a testimony on my behalf. Furthermore, the Father Himself has borne witness of me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His shape and you do not have His word abiding in you because you do not believe the one He sent.
You search the scriptures and think that in them you have eternal life. They testify of me. Yet you will not come to me for that life! I do not require praise from men but I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in my Father's name and you do not receive me. But if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
How can you believe when you only value honors from eachother and do not seek the honor that can come only from God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. The one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you trust. If you really believed Moses you would believe me because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how can you believe my words?
6. After these things Jesus went across the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. A large crowd followed Him because they saw the miracles He did on those who were diseased. Then Jesus took His disciples up into a mountain. It was near the time of Passover.
When Jesus saw the large crowd, He said to Philip, How can we buy food for them to eat? He said this to test Philip because Jesus Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, All of the bread we could get would not be enough for everyone in this crowd to take even a little. One of Jesus' disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are they among so many?
Jesus said, Have the men sit down on the grass. So the men, about five thousand, sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves. When He had given thanks, He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to those who were seated. Then Jesus did the same thing with the fish. When all were filled, He said to His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain so that nothing is wasted. The disciples filled twelve baskets with the leftover fragments of the five barley loaves.
Those who saw the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is truly that prophet that is supposed to come into the world. When Jesus sensed they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him a king, He went into the mountains.
It was now evening. the disciples went down to the sea and got in a boat to go to Capernaum. It grew dark and a great wind began to stir up the sea. When they had rowed a few miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat. They were afraid. But He said to them, It is I. Be not afraid. As they welcomed Him into the boat, they were immediately at the land where they were heading.
The next day, the people who stood on the opposite shore saw that there was no other boat there, except the one His disciples entered. They knew that the disciples left alone and Jesus did not go with them. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks. When all these people saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they took boats to Capernaum to look for Him.
When they found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, Rabbi, when did you come here? Jesus answered, You seek me not because you saw the miracles, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for food that perishes but for the food that endures for life everlasting. This is what the Son of man will give you for on Him the Father has set His seal.
Then they asked Him, What is that work? Jesus said, This is the work of God, that you believe in the one He sent. They asked, What sign can you give us that we may see and believe you? What can you do? Our fathers ate manna in the desert; as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Jesus said, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave that bread from heaven. My Father gave you the true bread from heaven; for the bread of God is He who came down from heaven to give life to the world. Then they said, Lord, give us this bread forever. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never hunger. He who believes in me will never thirst. But I also told you that, although you have seen me, you do not believe me.
All that the Father gives me will come to me and I will not cast out anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of the one who sent me. And it is the will of the one who sent me that I lose nothing of what He gave me, but should raise it up on the last day. It is the will of the Father who sent me, that every one who sees the Son and believes in Him will have everlasting life. And I will raise him on the last day.
The Jews murmured about Him because He said, I am the bread that came down from heaven. They said, Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He say, I came down from heaven? Jesus said to them, Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him to me. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and has learned about the Father, comes to me.
He who believes in me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness and still died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven that a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. And the bread that I give is my flesh which I give for the life of the world.
The Jews argued among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? Then Jesus said to them, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him. The living Father has sent me and I live by the Father. Therefore, he who feeds on me will also live by me. This is that bread that came down from heaven and not the manna your fathers ate. He who partakes of this bread will live forever. Jesus taught this in the synagogue at Capernaum.
When they heard this, many of His disciples said, These are hard words. Who can hear it? Jesus knew that His disciples murmured at it and said, Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It is the spirit that is life. The flesh means nothing. The words I speak are about spirit and about life. But there are some of you who do not believe. Jesus knew from the beginning who did not believe and who would betray Him. He said, That is why I told you that no man can come to me unless it is granted by my Father. From that time many of His followers went back and walked with Him no more.
Then Jesus said to the twelve, Will you also go away? Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and are sure that you are Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus said, Have I not chosen you twelve and yet, one of you is a devil? He spoke of Judas Iscariot who would betray Him.
7. After these things Jesus walked in Galilee. He would not go into Judea because the Jews sought to kill Him. However, the Jewish feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brothers said to Him, Leave here and go into Judaea so your disciples may also see the works you do. No one can work in secret if he desires to be known publicly. If you really do these things, show yourself to the world. His own brothers did not believe in Him.
Jesus said, My time is not yet come, but the time is always right for you. The world cannot hate you but it hates me because I testify that the ways of the world are evil. You go to the feast. I am not going because my time has not yet fully come. Jesus stayed in Galilee until His brothers were gone, then He went alone to the feast.
The Jews sought after Him at the feast and said, Where is He? There was much murmuring among the people about Him. Some said, He is a good man. Others said, No; He deceives the people. However, no one spoke openly about Him for fear of the Jews.
About halfway through the feast, Jesus went into the temple and taught. The Jews were amazed and said, How does He know all this since He has no training? Jesus answered, My teachings are not mine but the teachings of the one who sent me. If any man does His will he will know whether the doctrine is from God or whether I speak on my own. He who speaks on his own seeks his own glory. He who seeks the glory of the one who sent Him is truthful and has nothing false in Him.
Did Moses not give you the law; yet none of you keep the law? Why are you about to kill me? The people said, You have a devil. Who is about to kill you? Jesus answered, I have done one work and you all marvel. Moses gave you circumcision, which was handed down to him, and you circumcise a man on the sabbath day. If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath day so the law of Moses is not broken, are you offended because I have healed a man on the sabbath day? Do not judge by appearances, but judge by what is just.
Some of them said, Is He not the one they seek to kill? Yet He speaks openly and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers really know that this is the Christ? How is it that we know where this man is from; but, when the Messiah comes, no one is supposed to know where He is from? As Jesus was teaching in the temple He cried out, You know me and you also know where I am from. I did not come on my own, but I came from the Father, whom you do not know. I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent me.
Then they sought to take Him, but no man laid hands on Him because His hour was not yet come. Many of the people believed in Him and said, Could Christ do more than the things this man has done? The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things about Him and they, along with the chief priests, sent officers to arrest Him.
Jesus said to them, I will be with you a little while longer and then I will go to Him who sent me. You will look for me and will not find me. And where I am going, you cannot come. The Jews said to eachother, Where will He go that we will not find Him? Will He go to those dispersed among the Gentiles and teach them? What kind of saying is it that He said, You will look for me and will not find me? And, where I am going, you cannot come?
On the closing day of the feast, Jesus stood up and said, If any man thirsts, let Him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, it is written in the scripture: out of his belly will flow rivers of living water. Jesus said this to signify the Spirit which those who believe in Him would receive. The Holy Spirit was not yet revealed because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Many of the people, when they heard this, said, Truly, this is the prophet. Others said, This is the Messiah. This is the Christ. But some asked, Can He come from Galilee? Has the scripture not said that He will come from the seed of David and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? Now there was a division among the people about Him. Some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
When the officers went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, they asked, Why have you not brought Him? The officers answered, No one ever spoke like this man. The Pharisees said, Are you deceived also? Have any of the rulers or any of the Pharisees believed Him? These people who do not know the law are cursed! Nicodemus, the one among them who went to see Jesus at night, said to them, Does our law judge any man before it hears him and knows what he does? They answered him, Are you also from Galilee? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee. Then each went to his own house.
8. That night Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He went back to the temple and all the people came to Him. He sat down and taught them. The scribes and Pharisees brought in a woman they accused of adultery. They put her in their midst and said to Jesus, Master, this woman was taken in the very act of adultery. Moses, in the law, commanded us to stone such a person. What do you say? They said this to trap Him so they would have grounds to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and, with His finger, wrote on the ground as if He did not hear them. When they repeated the question to Him, He stood up and said to them, He who is without sin, let him cast a stone at her. Then He stooped down again and wrote on the ground.
Those who heard this were stricken by their own consciences. One by one, they went out, beginning with the eldest and down to the youngest. Jesus was now left alone with the woman still standing in the midst. When He stood up again and saw no one except the woman, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you? She said, No one, Lord. Then Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.
Then Jesus spoke again to the people. He said, I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. The Pharisees said to Him, You bear record of yourself. Your record is not true. Jesus answered, Though I bear record of myself, my record is true because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you cannot tell from where I came, or to where I go. You judge according to the flesh. But I judge no man. And yet, if I judge, my judgment is true because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent me are one.
It is written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one who bears witness of myself. The Father who sent me also bears witness of me. Then they said to Him, Where is your Father? Jesus answered, You neither know me nor my Father. If you had known me you would have known my Father also. Jesus said this in the treasury as He taught in the temple. No man laid hands on Him becuase His hour had not yet come.
Jesus said to them, I will go my way. You will seek me and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you cannot come. Then the Jews said, Will He kill Himself because He said, Where I go, you cannot come? Jesus said to them, You are from below. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. I told you that you will die in your sins because if you do not believe who I am, you will destroy yourselves in the darkness of your sins.
Then they said to Him, Who are you? Jesus said, I am the same that I said to you from the beginning. There are many things that I, myself, could say and accuse you of, but He who sent me is true. I speak to the world the things that I have heard from Him. The people did not understand that He spoke to them about God.
Then Jesus said, When you have lifted up the Son of man, you will know who I am. I do nothing of myself. I speak only what my Father has taught me. He who sent me is with me. The Father has not left me alone because I always do what pleases Him. As Jesus spoke these words many believed Him. Jesus said to the Jews who believed Him, If you remain in my word, then you are my disciples indeed. You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.
They answered Him, We are Abraham's seed and were never bound to any man. How is it you say, We will be made free? Jesus answered, Verily, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. The servant does not abide in the house forever, but the Son does abide forever. If the Son will make you free, you will be free indeed.
I know you are Abraham's seed; but you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you. I speak about what I have seen with my Father; and you do what you have seen from your father. They said to Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus answered, If you were Abraham's children you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I have heard from God. You do the wicked deeds of your ancestors.
Then they said to Him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, God. Jesus said, If God were your Father you would love me because I proceeded forth and came from God. I did not come on my own, but from the one who sent me. Why do you not understand me? Is it because you cannot hear my words?
You are of your father the devil and you will do the wicked deeds of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning. He never dealt in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own because he is a liar, and the father of all lies. Yet, I tell you the truth and you do not believe me. Who of you can convict me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? He who is of God hears God's words. You do not hear them because you are not of God.
The Jews said, Are we wrong in saying you are a Samaritan and have a devil? Jesus answered, I do not have a devil. I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I do not seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges. I tell you, if anyone keeps my word he will never see death.
Then the Jews said, Now we know you are possessed by a devil. Abraham is dead and so are the prophets. Yet you say, If anyone keeps my word he will never taste of death. Are you greater than our father Abraham and the prophets who are dead? Who do you make yourself out to be?
Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing. It is my Father, who you claim is your God, who honors me. Yet you have not known Him. But I know Him and, if I say I do not know Him, I am a liar like you. But I know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He looked forward to it and was glad.
Then the Jews questioned, You are not yet fifty years old and say you have seen Abraham? Jesus said, Verily, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then they took up stones to cast at Him. But Jesus hid Himself and left the temple by passing through the midst of them.
9. Jesus passed by a man who was blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, Master, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned nor his parents; but he is blind so the works of God may be made manifest in him. I must work the works of the one who sent me while it is day. The night comes when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.
He went and washed and came out of the pool seeing. The neighbors and those who knew him when he was blind, said, Is this not he who sat and begged? Some said, This is he. Others said, He is like him. But he said, I am that man. They asked him, How were your eyes opened? He answered, A man called Jesus made clay, put it on my eyes, and said, Go to the pool of Siloam and wash. I went and washed and I got my sight back. Then they said, Where is He? The man answered, I do not know.
Then they took the man to the Pharisees. It was also the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Once again, the Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight. He said to them, He put clay on my eyes, and I washed and now see.
Therefore, some of the Pharisees said, This man is not of God because He does not keep the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man who is a sinner do such miracles? A division arose among them. Then they said to the blind man again, what do you think about the one who opened your eyes? The man answered, He is a prophet.
But the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and received his sight until they called his parents. They asked them, Is this your son who you say was born blind? How then does he see? His parents answered, We know that this is our son and that he was born blind, but by what means he now sees, we do not know. Or who has opened his eyes, we do not know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself. His parents spoke this way for fear of the Jews who had made it known that if anyone said that Jesus was the Christ, he would be cast out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, Our son is of age; ask him.
They called the man once again and said to him, Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner. He answered, Whether He is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know; I was blind and now I see. Then they said to him again, What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes? He answered them, I have told you already and you did not hear. Why do you want to hear it again? Will you become His disciples? Then they reviled him and said, You are His disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses. As for this one, we do not know where He comes from.
The man answered and said to them, Why, here is an amazing thing! You do not know where He comes from and yet He has opened my eyes. Now we know that God does not hear sinners. But if any man is a worshipper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began was it ever heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind? If this man were not of God He could do nothing. They answered and said to him, You were born in the darkness of sin. How dare you teach us? And they cast him out.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out. When He found the man He said to him, Do you believe in the Son of God? The man asked, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe in Him? Jesus said to him, You have seen Him and it is He who talks with you now. The man said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him. Then Jesus said, I came into this world for judgment; so those who do not see may see, and those who see become blind. Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words and said to Him, Are we blind also? Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but you say, We see; so your sin remains.
10. I tell you, the one who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but gets in through some other way is a thief and a robber. But the one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens the gate. The sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them. And when he calls together his own sheep, he goes before them and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger because they do not know the voice of strangers. From a stranger they will flee. Jesus used this example and yet they did not understand what He spoke about.
Jesus then said, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If any man enters by me he will be saved. He will go in and out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they might have life and have it more abundantly.
I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling and not the shepherd, whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming, leaves the sheep and runs away. The wolf catches and scatters them. The hired man flees because he works for wages and does not care about the sheep.
I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and I am known by my sheep. The Father knows me, even as I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. I also have other sheep who are not of this fold. I must also call them and they will hear my voice. There will be One Fold and One Shepherd.
My Father loves me because I lay down my life so I may take it up again. No man will take it from me because I lay it down myself. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This was given to me by my Father. There was another division among the Jews over these words. Many of them said, He has a devil and is mad; why listen to Him? Others said, These are not the words of one who has a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
In Jerusalem it was winter and the feast of the dedication. Jesus walked in the temple upon Solomon's porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said, How long will you make us doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.
Jesus answered, I told you and you did not believe me. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness of me. But you do not believe because you are not my sheep. As I said to you, My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. And I give them eternal life. They will never perish, nor will any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all. No man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up rocks to stone Him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me?
The Jews answered Him, saying, We do not stone you for a good work; but for blasphemy and because you, being a man, make yourself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law: I said ye are gods? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God was given, and the scripture cannot be questioned; do you say of the one the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, You blaspheme, because I said I am the Son of God? If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me. But if I do, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so you may understand and believe that the Father is in me, and I in Him.
They sought again to take Him but He escaped out of their hand and went away again beyond Jordan to the place where John first baptized. There He stayed. Many people came to Him and said, John did no miracles but all the things John said were true. And many believed in Him there.
11. A man named Lazarus of Bethany was sick. His sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, Lord, your friend is sick. When Jesus heard this, He said, This sickness is not for his death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God might be glorified through it.
Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. However, He stayed where He was for two more days. Then He said to His disciples, Let us now go into Judaea. His disciples said, Master, the Jews tried to stone you and you are going there again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walks in the daylight, he does not stumble because he sees the light of this world. But if a man walks at night, he stumbles because there is no light in him.
Then He said to them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps but I am going to wake him. His disciples replied, Lord, if he sleeps, he will be fine. Jesus spoke about death but they thought He had spoken about taking rest in sleep. Jesus, then, said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad, for your sakes, that I was not there, so you may believe moreso. Let us go to him. Then Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go so we may die with Him.
When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already lain in the grave for four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem and many of the Jews came to Martha and her sister, Mary, to comfort them over the loss of their brother. As soon as she heard that Jesus was on His way, Martha went and met Him, but Mary remained in the house. Martha then said to Jesus, Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died. But I know, even now, whatever you ask of God, God will give it to you.