Chapter 1
1 In an ancient time there was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was powerful. 2 [The Word] was with God long ago, 3 and through him it all came to be… life came to be, 4 and this life was the light of all men. 5 [Now] the light is shining in darkness, and he hasn’t been defeated by the darkness.
6 Then came a man named John who had been sent by God. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He wasn’t the light, but he was to testify about the light.
9 The true light that enlightens all men was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world – and through him the [whole] world began – but [even] the world didn’t know him. 11 He came to his home, but his own people offered no welcome. 12 Yet, he gave all those who offered him welcome (all those who believed in his name) the authority to become the children of God. 13 And they were not born from blood, or from the will of the flesh, or from man’s will, but from God.
14 So, the Word became flesh and tented among us; and we looked on his glory, the glory of the only one born to a Father. And he was filled with kindness and truth.
15 John witnessed about him. He’s the one who said it; he even yelled it out loud, ‘He who’s coming behind me came before me, because he was first… before I was.’
16 We all received kindness after kindness from his wealth. 17 And though the Law was given through Moses, kindness and truth came through Jesus the Anointed. 18 No one has ever seen God. But, the only-created god (the one in the bosom of the Father) has explained him.
19 Now, this is the testimony that John gave when the
Judeans sent Priests and Levites from
21 And when they asked, ‘Then, who [are you]? Are you EliJah?’
He said, ‘No, I’m not.’
‘Are you the Prophet?’
And he answered, ‘No!’
22 Finally, they asked, ‘Then, just who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?’
23 And he said, ‘I’m the voice of someone calling out in the desert, Straighten the way of the Lord, as the Prophet Isaiah said.’
24 Now, those who came were sent by the Pharisees. 25 So they asked him, ‘Then why do you baptize, if you aren’t the Anointed One, or EliJah, or the Prophet?’
26 And John replied, ‘I baptize in water. But someone is standing in your midst who you don’t know. 27 He’s the one coming behind me, the laces of whose sandals I’m unworthy to untie.’
28 These things happened in
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
‘Look! The Lamb of God who lifts sin from the world!
30 This is the one I meant when I said, The one coming behind me has come
before me, because he was first, before I was. 31 Even I didn’t know him.
But, the reason why I came baptizing in water was so that he might be shown to
32 John also testified to this: ‘I saw the Breath [of God] coming down from the sky as a dove and it stayed upon him. 33 Even I didn’t know him, but the One who sent me to baptize in water told me, Whoever you see the Breath coming down and remaining on, this is the one who baptizes in Holy Breath. 34 I have seen it and I testify to the fact that this is the Son of God.’
35 The next day, John was standing there with two of his disciples. 36 And when he saw Jesus walking by, he again said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’ 37 And the two disciples who heard him say this, followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and noticing them following him, asked, ‘What are you looking for?’
And they replied, ‘Rabbi (Teacher), where are you staying?’
39 Then he said, ‘Come and see.’
So, they went and saw where he was staying and spent the day with him, until about the tenth hour.
40 Then Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter (one of the two who heard what John said and followed [Jesus]) 41 [immediately] went and found his brother Simon and told him, ‘We’ve found the Messiah (which translates as the Anointed One).’ 42 Then he led him to Jesus.
And when Jesus saw him, he said, ‘You’re Simon, the son of Jona. You will be called Cephas (Peter).’
43 The next day, he wanted to leave for
44 Now, Philip was from
46 But NathaniEl asked, ‘Can anything good come out of
However, Philip said, ‘Come and see.’
47 Well, when Jesus saw NathaniEl coming, he said, ‘Look, an Israelite who really says what’s on his mind.’
48 Then NathaniEl asked, ‘How do you know me?’
And Jesus replied, ‘Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’
49 Then NathaniEl said, ‘Rabbi, you’re the Son of God. You’re the King of Israel.’
50 And Jesus asked, ‘Do you believe that simply because I said that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.’ 51 He continued, ‘I tell you men the truth; you will see the heavens open up and messengers of God ascending and descending to the Son of Man.
Chapter 2
1 Now, on the third day there was a wedding banquet in Cana of Galilee, and Jesus’ mother was there. 2 So, Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the banquet. 3 And when the wine started to run out, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They don’t have any more wine.’
4 But Jesus said, ‘Why is this any of my business, woman? My hour hasn’t come yet.’
5 Then his mother told the waiters, ‘Do whatever he tells you to do.’
6 Well, there were six stone water jars sitting there, which the Judeans required for washing, and each held fifteen gallons. 7 Then Jesus told them to fill the jars with water, and they were filled to the brim. 8 Then he told them, ‘Now dip some out and take it to the banquet director.’ So, they took it [to him]. 9 And when the banquet director tasted the water that had been turned into wine, but didn’t know where it came from (although the waiters who drew the water knew), the director called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, ‘Everyone else puts out the fine wine first, and after people are intoxicated, the inferior. But you’ve saved the finest wine until now!’
11 So, there in Cana of Galilee was where Jesus started the signs that showed his glory, and his disciples put faith in him.
12 After that, he, his mother, his brothers, and [his] disciples
went down to
13 Now, the Jewish Passover was near, so Jesus went up to
17 And his disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for Your House will consume me.
18 After that, the Judeans asked, ‘Since you’re doing all these things, what sign can you show us?’
19 And Jesus answered, ‘Tear down this
20 Well, the Judeans asked, ‘This Temple took forty-six years to build and you’ll rebuild it in three days?’
21 Of course, he was talking about the
23 While he was in
Chapter 3
1 Now, there was a man named Nicodemus (one of the Pharisees and a ruler of the Judeans) 2 who came to him one night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you came as a teacher from God, because no one can perform signs like you’re doing unless God is with him.’
3 Then Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless someone is
born from above, he can’t see the Kingdom of
4 So, Nicodemus asked, ‘How can a man be born after he’s old? He can’t go back into his mother’s womb a second time to be born, can he?’
5 And Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth; unless someone is born from water and [God’s] Breath,
he can’t enter the
9 Then Nicodemus asked, ‘How can things like this happen?’
10 And Jesus answered, ‘You’re a teacher of Israel, yet you don’t know? 11 I tell you the truth; we know what we are talking about and we testify to the things we’ve seen, but you (all) don’t accept the testimony that we give. 12 If you don’t believe the earthly things, then how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 Nobody has gone to heaven other than he who came from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses raised the snake in the desert, that’s how the Son of Man must be raised, 15 so that everyone who believes in him can get life in the age.
16 ‘This is how God loved the world: He gave His only-created Son so that everyone who believes in him won’t be destroyed, but will get life in the age. 17 God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge it, but for the world to be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in [the Son] won’t be condemned. However, those who don’t believe have already been condemned, because they haven’t shown faith in the name of God’s only-created Son, 19 for this is [the basis for their] judgment. The light came into the world, but men loved darkness more than light because the things they were doing were wicked. 20 Those who are doing bad things hate the light, and they don’t they come into the light so [they won’t] be disciplined for the things they are doing. 21 But, those who do what is true come to the light, so the things that they are doing can be shown as having been done with God.’
22 After that, Jesus and his disciples traveled into the Judean countryside where he spent some time with them, doing baptizing. 23 John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim (there’s a lot of water there) and people kept coming to be baptized [by him], 24 because John hadn’t been thrown into prison yet.
25 Then an argument broke out between John’s disciples and certain Judeans over baptizing. 26 So, they came to John and said, ‘Rabbi, the man who was with you across the Jordan and who you testified about is also baptizing, and everyone is going to him.’
27 Then John replied: ‘A man can have nothing unless he receives it from heaven. 28 You are witnesses that I said I’m not the Anointed, but I have been sent ahead of him. 29 The one with the bride is the bridegroom. But the bridegroom’s friend, when he stands and listens to him, gains much joy from the voice of the bridegroom. So, now my joy is complete, 30 and he must increase while I must decrease.
31 ‘He who’s from above is over all, but he who comes from the earth comes from the ground and talks about things that are earthly. He who comes from heaven is above all the others, 32 for he tells about things that he’s seen and heard. However, no one is accepting his testimony. 33 He who welcomes his testimony is proving God to be true. 34 And, since the one sent by God speaks God’s words, he doesn’t just dole out [small] portions of [God’s] Breath.
35 ‘The Father has love for the Son, and into his hands He’s entrusted all things. 36 So, he who believes in the Son will have life in the age. But, those who disobey him won’t see life, for God remains angry with them.’
Chapter 4
1 Now, when the Lord realized that the Pharisees had learned that [he] was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus really didn’t really do any baptizing, his disciples did), 3 he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
4 On the way, he had to travel through Samaria. 5 And there he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, which was close to the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph, 6 and that’s where Jacob’s [well] was located.
Now, Jesus was tired from the journey, so he sat down at the edge of the [well] (at about the sixth hour), 7 and a Samaritan woman was there who had come to draw water. So, Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ 8 Now, his disciples had gone into the city to buy food.
9 But the Samaritan woman asked him, ‘So, why are you, a Jew, asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink (because Jews didn’t have anything to do with Samaritans)?
10 And Jesus replied, ‘If you knew about the gift of God and who’s asking you for a drink, you might have asked him and he would give you living water.’
11 Then she said, ‘Master, you don’t have anything to draw water with and it’s a deep well, so where will you get this living water? 12 You aren’t greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well and who drank from it with his sons and cattle, are you?’
13 Then Jesus replied, ‘Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I give him won’t be thirsty in this era, for the water that I give will become a fountain inside him that will bubble up life through the age.’
15 Then the woman said, ‘Lord, give me this water, so I won’t be thirsty again and have to keep coming to this place to draw water.’
16 Then he said to her, ‘Go call for your husband to come here.’
17 But the woman said, ‘I don’t have a husband.’
And Jesus said, ‘It’s good that you say you don’t have a husband, 18 because you’ve had five husbands, and the one you have now isn’t your husband. You have told the truth.’
19 At that, the woman said, ‘Lord, I see that you’re a Prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped here on this mountain, but you people say that Jerusalem is where people ought to worship.’
21 Then Jesus said to her, ‘Believe me, woman; the time is coming when you won’t worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You worship what you haven’t known, but we worship what we have known, because salvation comes from the Jews. 23 But the time is coming – and it’s now – when true worshipers will worship the Father with [God’s] Breath and with truth, because the Father is searching for people like this to worship Him. 24 God is an unseen force, so those who worship Him must worship him in truth and with [His] Breath.’
25 Then the woman said, ‘I know that the Messiah (who is called the Anointed One) is coming, and when he gets here, he will explain everything to us.’
26 And Jesus said, ‘I (the one speaking to you) am he.’
27 At that point, his disciples arrived and they were puzzled, because he was talking to a woman. Of course, no one asked what she was looking for or why he was talking to her. 28 Then the woman left her water jar, and went back into the city and told the men, 29 ‘Come here and see a man who told me everything I did. This couldn’t be the Anointed One could it?’ 30 Then they came to him from the city.
31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, saying, ‘Rabbi, eat.’
32 But he told them, ‘I have food to eat that you don’t know about.’
33 So, the disciples started asking each other, ‘Nobody has brought him anything to eat, has he?’
34 Then Jesus said, ‘Doing the will of the One who sent me and finishing His work is my food. 35 Don’t you say that there are four more months until the harvest? {Look!} I tell you to look up and see the fields, for they’re white and ready for harvesting. 36 The harvester is already getting his pay and gathering in the fruit of life in this age; so the planter and the harvester can rejoice together. 37 The saying is true, one does the planting, and another does the harvesting. 38 I sent you out to harvest what you didn’t work on… others did the work and you’re benefiting from their efforts.’
39 Now, many of the Samaritans from that city put faith in [Jesus] because of what the woman testified to when she said, ‘He told me everything I did.’ 40 So, when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he spent a couple of days there. 41 As the result, many more believed because of the things he said, 42 and then they told the woman, ‘We don’t believe just because of what you said anymore, but because we’ve heard for ourselves and we know that this man certainly is the savior of the world.’
43 Well, after two days he left for Galilee. 44 There, Jesus himself witnessed the fact that a Prophet has no honor in his hometown. 45 But, when he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him because they had seen all the things he did in Jerusalem at the festival, since they had been there too.
46 Then he returned to Cana of Galilee (where he turned the water into wine). It was there that a royal man whose son (who was in Capernaum) was ill, 47 and when this man heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went and asked him to heal his son who was about to die. 48 However, Jesus said to him, ‘You [people] just refuse to believe unless you see signs and omens.’
49 But the royal man urged him, saying, ‘Lord, come on, before my little boy dies!’
50 Finally Jesus said, ‘Go on your way. Your son is alive.’
So, the man believed what Jesus said and went away. 51 Then, on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy was alive. 52 And when he asked them exactly what time he got better, they told him, ‘The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.’ 53 At that, the father recognized it was the same time that Jesus told him, ‘Your son is alive.’ And he and his whole household started to believe. 54 This was the second sign that Jesus performed when he came out of Judea into Galilee.
Chapter 5
1 Later on, there was a Jewish festival, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 There in Jerusalem, at the [Temple’s] Sheep-gate Pool (called BethZatha in Hebrew), are five stone columns 3 where many who were sick, blind, lame, and those with physical handicaps were lying down. 4 – –
5 And there was a man who had been extremely weak for thirty-eight years. 6 So, when Jesus saw this man lying there (being aware of the long time he had this condition), Jesus asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’
7 And the sick man answered, ‘Lord, I don’t have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is shaking. And while I’m trying to get in, someone else steps in ahead of me.’
8 Then Jesus said, ‘Get up, pick up your cot, and walk around.’ 9 And with that, the man immediately became healthy, picked up his cot, and walked around.
Now, that day was a Sabbath. 10 So, the Judeans started telling the cured man, ‘It is the Sabbath, so it’s illegal for you to carry the cot.’
11 But he told them, ‘The one who cured me said, Pick up your cot and walk.’
12 Then they asked, ‘Which man was it that told you to pick it up and walk?’
13 But the healed man didn’t know who he was, because Jesus had faded into crowd.
14 Later on, Jesus found the man in the Temple and told him, ‘See; now you’re healthy. Don’t sin anymore so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.’
15 Then, the man went off and told the Judeans it was Jesus who had cured him. 16 So, this is why the Judeans started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But he told them, ‘My Father has kept working until now and I keep working.’
18 As the result, the Judeans started looking [for ways to] kill him. Because, not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he also called God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
19 Then Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, the Son can’t do anything on his own, other than what he sees the Father doing. Whatever [the Father] does is what the Son does. 20 And because the Father cares about the Son, He shows him everything He does. Besides, [God] will show him greater works than these just to amaze you.
21 ‘As the Father raises the dead and makes them alive, the Son can also make whomever he wishes alive. 22 And the Father doesn’t judge anyone, but He has left all the judging to the Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
24 ‘I tell you the truth; the one who hears what I say and believes in the One that sent me, will have life in this age. He won’t have to be judged, for he has crossed over from death to life.’
25 ‘I also truthfully say that the time is coming (and it’s now) when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who listen will live. 26 For, just as the Father has life in Himself, He has also given the Son life in himself 27 and authorized him to do judging. This is because he’s the Son of Man.
28 ‘Don’t be surprised at this, because the hour is coming when everyone in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out; those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced what is bad to a resurrection of judgment.
30 ‘I can’t do anything on my own; I judge by what I hear and my judgments are righteous, because I’m not looking to do the things that I want, but to do the will of Him that sent me.’
31 ‘If I should testify about myself, that testimony isn’t true. 32 But when someone else testifies about me, I know the testimony he gives about me is true. 33 Now, you’ve sent [people] to John and he testified to the truth. 34 However, I don’t require the testimony of men, because I’m telling you these things to save you.
35 ‘[John] was a burning, shining lamp and you wanted to rejoice in his light during his time. 36 However, I have a testimony that’s greater than John’s, because I’m doing the work that my Father assigned me to finish. It’s these things that testify about me [and prove] that the Father sent me.
37 ‘Why, even the Father who sent me has testified about me. You’ve never heard His voice or seen His shape, 38 and His words don’t stick with you, because you don’t believe the One who He sent. 39 You search the Scriptures, because you think they will give you life in the age. [Yet these same scriptures] testify about me, 40 and you still refuse to come to me so you can have life.
41 ‘[You] men don’t glorify me, 42 [and that’s how] I know that you don’t have God’s love in you. 43 I’ve come in my Father’s Name, but you don’t welcome me. If someone else came in his own name, you would welcome him. 44 So, how can you believe when you receive glory from each other and you don’t look to glorify the one who comes from the only God?
45 ‘Don’t think that I’m going to accuse you to the Father. For, he who accuses you is Moses, the one in whom you’ve put your hope. 46 Because, if you believed Moses you would also believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But if you don’t even believe what he wrote, then how will you believe the things I’m saying?’
Chapter 6
1 After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberius). 2 However, a large crowd kept following him just to see the signs he was performing upon those who were sick.
3 There, Jesus went up a mountain and sat down with his disciples. 4 It was close to the time of the Jewish Passover festival. 5 So, when Jesus looked up and noticed the huge crowd coming, he asked Philip, ‘Where should we buy bread for everyone to eat?’ 6 However, he just said this to test him, because he already knew what he was going to do.
7 Then Philip answered, ‘Why, two hundred silver coins worth of loaves wouldn’t be enough to provide everyone with just a little.’
8 And one of his disciples (Andrew the brother of Simon Peter) said to him, 9 ‘Here’s a little boy who has five loaves of barley bread and two small fish. But, what good is this when there are so many?’
10 Then Jesus said, ‘Have the men lie down as they would at a meal.’
Now, there was a lot of grass there, so the men (about 5,000 of them) reclined. 11 Then Jesus took the bread, and after giving thanks, distributed it to those lying there. [He also did the same with] the small fish, [giving them as much] as they wanted. 12 But when they were all full, he told his disciples, ‘Pick up the leftovers, so nothing is wasted.’ 13 And when they picked them up, they filled twelve baskets with leftovers from the five loaves of barley that those who ate left behind.
14 So, when the men saw the signs he performed, they started saying, ‘This really is the Prophet who was to come into the world.’
15 And Jesus (because he knew that they were about to come to take him and make him their king) went away again, up on the mountain by himself.
16 That evening, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and traveled to the other side of the Sea to Capernaum. Well, by then it had grown dark and Jesus hadn’t come to them yet. 18 Meanwhile, a strong wind came up and the seas became very rough. 19 And after rowing for about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea approaching the boat, and this frightened them. 20 But he said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, it is me!’ 21 At that, they were finally willing to let him into the boat. And soon they came to shore at the place where they were going.
22 The next day, the crowd that was on the opposite side of the sea saw just the single little boat, but not the other. They also knew that Jesus hadn’t gotten into the boat with his disciples and that [the disciples] had left by themselves. 23 However, some boats arrived from Tiberias, close to the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks. 24 And when the crowd realized that Jesus and his disciples weren’t there, they got into the little boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus.
25 Then, when they found him across the sea, they asked, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’
26 And Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, you aren’t looking for me because you saw signs, but because you had enough bread to eat. 27 Don’t work for food that can spoil. Rather, [work for] for the food of life that lasts through the age. The Son of Man will give you this, because he was sealed by the God and Father.’
28 Then they asked, ‘What must we do to perform the work of God?’
29 And Jesus answered, ‘This is what God’s work is: Believing in the one whom He sent.’
30 So, they asked, ‘Then, what sign will you perform for us so we can see and believe you? What are your deeds? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the desert, for as [the Scriptures tell us], He gave them bread to eat from heaven.’
32 Then Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth; Moses didn’t really give you the bread from heaven, but my Father will give you the true bread from heaven. 33 For, God’s bread is the one who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.
34 Then they said, ‘Lord, always give us this bread.’
35 And Jesus went on to say, ‘I’m the bread of life, and whoever comes to me won’t ever get hungry; and he who believes in me won’t ever get thirsty. 36 But I tell you this: You’ve seen me, yet you still don’t believe. 37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I won’t reject anyone who comes to me, 38 because I didn’t come from heaven to do my will, but [to do] the will of the One who sent me.
39 ‘This is what the will of the One who sent me is: That I shouldn’t destroy anything He has given me, but rather, that I should resurrect it on the Last Day. 40 This is what my Father’s will is: That everyone who pays close attention to the Son and believes in him should have life in the age, and I will resurrect him on the Last Day.’
41 At this, the Judeans started to grumble about him, because he was saying that he’s the bread that came from heaven. 42 So, they asked, ‘Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we all know? So, how is it that he tells us he came down from heaven?
43 Then Jesus replied, ‘Stop your grumbling! 44 Nobody can come to me unless the Father who sent me attracts him [to me] and then I will resurrect him on the last day. 45 The Prophets wrote, They will all be taught by God. So, everyone who listens to the Father and learns comes to me.
46 ‘Of course, nobody has seen the Father, other than the one who was with God… he has seen the Father. 47 I tell you the truth: The one who believes has life in the age.
48 ‘I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the desert and died, 50 but this is the bread that comes from heaven and no one who eats it will die. 51 I’m the living bread that came from heaven, and if anyone eats this bread, he will gain life in the age. The bread that I will give is my flesh and it will provide life to the world.’
52 At that, the Judeans started fighting with each other, asking, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’
53 So Jesus told them, ‘I tell you the truth; if you don’t eat the flesh of the Son of Man or drink his blood, you won’t live. 54 For if you chew my flesh and drink my blood, you’ll have life within yourselves, and then I’ll resurrect you on the Last Day, 55 because my flesh is truly food and my blood is truly drink. 56 Those who chew on my flesh and drink my blood will stay in me and I [will stay] in them.
57 ‘The living Father sent me and I’m alive because of the Father. Likewise, the one who chews on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. It’s not [the same thing] that your fathers ate and then died, for the one who chews on this bread will have life in the age.’
59 These are the things he said while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
60 Well, when they heard this, many of his disciples said, ‘Those are tough words. Who can listen to them?’
61 But Jesus, knowing what his disciples were grumbling about, asked them, ‘Is this a trap you? 62 Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man going back up to where he came from? 63 Your breath is what makes you alive, for the flesh is useless. And these things that I’ve told you are breath and life, 64 but some of you don’t believe.’
Jesus knew from the start who wouldn’t believe and who would betray him, 65 so he went on to say, ‘This is why I told you that nobody can come to me unless the Father allows him.’
66 But as the result of this, many of his disciples went back to the things [they left] behind and wouldn’t walk with him anymore.
67 So, Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Don’t you want to go back also?’
68 But Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, who should we go off to? You say the words of life in the age, 69 and we have known and believed that you’re the Holy One of God.’
70 Then Jesus said, ‘I chose you twelve, didn’t I? But one of you is a slanderer.’
71 Of course, he was talking about Judas ([the son] of Simon IsCariot), because, although he was one of the twelve, he was about to betray [Jesus].
Chapter 7
1 After that, Jesus [limited] his travels just to Galilee, for he no longer cared to travel through Judea, because the Judeans were looking to kill him.
2 However, the Jewish Festival of Tents was coming up, 3 so his brothers said to him: ‘Leave here and go to Judea so your disciples there can also see the things you’re doing. 4 Because, no one does things in secret when he wants everyone to know what he’s saying.’ 5 (It’s a fact that his brothers didn’t believe in him.)
6 So, Jesus told them, ‘It isn’t my time yet… but it’s always your time. 7 For the world doesn’t have any reason to hate you, but it hates me, because I testify to the fact that what it does is wicked. 8 So, you go on up to the festival. I’m not going to this festival, because my time hasn’t arrived yet.’
9 And he remained in Galilee [a while] after telling them this.
10 However, after his brothers went to the festival, he also went… not openly, in secret.
11 And the Judeans were looking for him at the festival, for they were asking, ‘Where is that [man]?’ 12 And there was a lot of discussion about him among the crowds. Some would say, ‘He’s a good man.’ But others would say, ‘No he isn’t; he misleads the masses.’
13 Of course, nobody would talk about him publicly, because they were all afraid of the Judeans.
14 Then, when the festival was half over, Jesus finally [arrived and] went into the Temple and started teaching. 15 This caused the Judeans to wonder and ask, ‘How does this man understand the writings when he hasn’t studied them?’
16 So, Jesus answered, ‘What I teach isn’t mine, but belongs to the One who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do His will knows whether the things I’m teaching come from God or if I’m making this up myself. 18 The one who tells things that he made up himself is trying to glorify himself. But, he who wants to glorify the One who sent him is true and there isn’t any unrighteousness in him.
19 ‘Didn’t Moses give you the Law? Yet, none of you obey the Law. For, why are you looking to kill me?’
20 At that, the crowd answered, ‘You’re demonized! Who’s looking to kill you?’
21 And Jesus answered, ‘I did just one thing that bothers you. 22 Moses gave you the circumcision (not that it’s from Moses but from your forefathers), thus you circumcise men on the Sabbath. 23 So, if a man is circumcised on a Sabbath to keep from breaking the Law of Moses, why are you furious with me because I made an entire man healthy on a Sabbath? 24 Quit judging from the way things look on the surface; judge righteously.’
25 At that, some who lived in Jerusalem asked, ‘Isn’t this the man that they’re looking to kill? 26 Look, he’s here speaking in public and they don’t say anything to him! Have the rulers come to know for a fact that he’s the Anointed One? 27 Yet, we know where this man is from. But when the Anointed One comes, no one will know where he’s from.’
28 Well, as he was standing there teaching in the Temple, Jesus shouted aloud, ‘You know me and you know where I’m from! But coming here wasn’t my idea. He who sent me is real and you don’t know Him. 29 I know Him, because I came from Him, and because He sent me here!’
30 So, they started looking for ways to grab him, but nobody laid a hand on him, because his time hadn’t come yet.
31 However, many in the crowd started to believe him and said, ‘When the Anointed One arrives, he surely won’t perform more signs than this man has, will he?’ 32 And the Pharisees overheard what the crowd was saying about him, so the Chief Priests and Pharisees sent officers to take him.
33 Then Jesus said, ‘I will be here with you just a little while longer before I go to the One who sent me. 34 You will look for me but won’t find me, and where I’m [going] you can’t come.’
35 So the Judeans started asking each other, ‘Where does he plan to go that we won’t be able to find him? He doesn’t intend to go to those scattered among the Greeks and start teaching the Greeks, does he? 36 What does he mean when he says, You’ll look for me but won’t find me, and where I’m going you can’t come?’
37 Now, on the last day, which is the climax of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38 For the scripture says about those who’ll put faith in me: Rivers of living water will flow from him.’
39 [Of course] when he said this, [he was talking] about the Breath [of God], which those who were putting faith in him were about to receive. But the Breath hadn’t arrived yet, because Jesus hadn’t been glorified yet.
40 At this, some of the crowd who heard these words started saying, ‘This is surely the Prophet,’ 41 while others were saying, ‘This is the Anointed One.’ But, some were saying, ‘The Anointed One won’t really come from Galilee, will he? 42 Didn’t the Scriptures say the Anointed One is from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village that David came from?’
43 So, the crowd became divided over him. 44 And although there were some [who came there] to grab him, nobody laid a hand on him. 45 And when the [Temple] officers returned to the Chief Priests and Pharisees, they were asked, ‘Why didn’t you bring him in?’
46 But the officers replied, ‘No man has ever spoken like this.’
47 Then the Pharisees asked, ‘You haven’t been misled also, have you? 48 None of the rulers or Pharisees believes in him, do they? 49 But this crowd that doesn’t know the Law is cursed.’
50 Then Nicodemus (who came to him previously and who was one of [Jesus’ followers]) said to them: 51 ‘Our Law doesn’t allow us to judge a man unless we first hear from him and get to know what he’s up to, does it?’
52 And they answered, ‘You aren’t a Galilean too are you? Search [the Scriptures] and you’ll see that no Prophet is to come from Galilee.’
Chapter 8
(1-11) 12 So, Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world, and whoever follows me won’t ever walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
13 Then the Pharisees said to him, ‘You’re testifying about yourself, so what you’re witnessing to isn’t true.’
14 And Jesus answered, ‘Even if I do testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I will return. But, you don’t know where I came from or where I’m going, 15 because your judgment is fleshly. However, I don’t judge anyone. 16 And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because I’m not alone. The Father who sent me is with me.
17 It’s written in your Law that whatever two men testify to is true; 18 so I’m testifying about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.’
19 Then they asked, ‘Where is your Father?’
And Jesus answered, ‘You don’t know me or my Father, for if you knew me you would also know my Father.’
20 [Jesus] said these things in the Treasury while he was teaching in the Temple. Yet, nobody grabbed him, because his time hadn’t come yet.
21 He told them again, ‘I’m going away and you’ll look for me, but you will die in your sins. Because where I’m going you can’t come.’
22 So, the Judeans started asking, ‘He’s not to kill himself, is he? Because he says, Where I’m going you can’t come.’
23 But he went on to tell them, ‘You come from the things below and I come out of things from above. You are from this world, but I’m not from this world. 24 So, as I told you before, you will die in your sins. If you don’t believe that I’m [the One], you will die in your sins.’
25 Then they asked, ‘So, who are you?’
And Jesus replied, ‘Why am I even talking to you at all? 26 I have so many things to tell and to judge about you, but the One who sent me is truthful, and I’m telling the world the things that I heard from Him.’
27 And because they really didn’t understand that he was talking to them about the Father, 28 Jesus said, ‘When you hang the Son of Man up, then you will know that I’m [the one] and that I’m not doing anything on my own. I’m just saying what that the Father taught me. 29 The One who sent me is with me. He didn’t send me off alone, because I always do things to please Him.’
30 And as he was saying these things, many started to believe in him.
31 Then Jesus addressed the Judeans who believed him: ‘If you hold onto these things that I’m saying, you’re really my disciples. 32 You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.’
33 But they replied, ‘We are the seed of Abraham and we’ve never been slaves to anyone. So, why are you saying we’ll be set free?’
34 Then Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth; everyone who sins is a slave to sin, 35 and a slave doesn’t live in the house through the age. Only the son lives there through the age. 36 So, if the Son sets you free, you will really be free.
37 ‘I know that you’re Abraham’s seed, but you’re looking to kill me, because what I’m saying isn’t getting through to you. 38 I’m telling you the things that I saw [while I was] with my Father, but you’re doing the things that you heard from your father.’
39 Then they said, ‘Well, our father is Abraham.’
And Jesus answered, ‘If you are really Abraham’s children, do what Abraham did. 40 You want to kill me, a man who told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham wouldn’t do this, 41 so you’re doing the things that your father wants.’
Then they replied, ‘We weren’t fathered in some immoral relationship. We have one Father, God.’
42 And Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came here from God. I didn’t come here on my own, He sent me.
43 ‘[Do you know] why you don’t understand what I’m saying? Because you aren’t listening! 44 You are from your father the Slanderer and you want to do whatever your father wishes. And he was a murderer from the start. He didn’t stick with the truth, because truth isn’t in him. So when he tells a lie, he’s telling about something that’s his, because he’s a liar and the father of the lie. 45 However, because I’m telling the truth, you don’t believe me.
46 ‘Which of you accuses me of sin? If I’m telling the truth, so why don’t you believe me? 47 He who comes from God listens to what God is saying. That’s why you don’t listen; because you aren’t from God.’
48 At that, the Judeans said, ‘Aren’t we [telling the truth] when we say that you’re a demonized Samaritan?’
49 And Jesus answered, ‘I don’t have a demon. I am honoring my Father and you are dishonoring me. 50 I’m not trying to glorify myself, but there is One who is watching and judging. 51 I tell you the truth; if anyone obeys my words, he won’t see death in the age.’
52 Then the Judeans said to him, ‘Now we know that you’re demonized! Why even Abraham and the Prophets died, but you say, If anyone obeys my words, he won’t see death in the age! 53 You aren’t greater than our Father Abraham or the Prophets who all died, are you? Just who do you claim to be?’
54 And Jesus answered, ‘If I glorify myself, my glory [doesn’t mean] anything. But it’s my Father who glorifies me… the One who you say is your God. 55 But you never knew Him. I know Him, and if I should ever say that I don’t know Him, then I’d be like you, a liar. But I do know Him and I’m obeying His instructions.
56 ‘Why, your father (Abraham) shouted in joy over the hope of seeing my day… he saw it and rejoiced!’
57 Then the Judeans asked, ‘You aren’t fifty years old yet, and still you’ve seen Abraham?’
58 And Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I existed before Abraham was born.’
59 And at that, they picked up rocks to throw them at him, but Jesus [went and] hid. Then he left the Temple.
Chapter 9
1 Now, as he was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind since he was born. 2 So, his disciples asked, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that [caused him to be] born blind?’
3 Jesus answered, ‘It wasn’t because this man or his parents sinned. It happened so that the works of God could be demonstrated through him. 4 For, I must do the work of the One who sent me while it is still day, because the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I’m in the world, I’m the world’s light.’
6 And after he said that, he spit on the ground, made a paste with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 Then he told him, ‘Go wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (which translates as The Sent Place). So he went off and washed, and came back seeing.
8 Well, when his neighbors (who knew he used to be a beggar) saw this, they asked, ‘Isn’t this is the man who used to sit and beg?’ 9 And others answered, ‘That’s him,’ while still others said, ‘No! It just looks like him.’ However, the man said, ‘I’m the one!’
10 Then they asked, ‘So, how were your eyes opened?’
11 And he answered: ‘The man called Jesus made a paste and smeared it on my eyes, then he told to me to go to Siloam and wash. So, I went and washed and started seeing.’
12 Then they asked, ‘Where is that man?’
And he answered, ‘I don’t know.’
13 Next, they took the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees. 14 Incidentally, the day that Jesus made the paste and opened his eyes was a Sabbath. 15 So, the Pharisees asked him again how he gained his sight. And he answered, ‘He put a paste on my eyes; then I washed and started seeing.’
16 So some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man isn’t from God, because he doesn’t observe the Sabbath.’ While others asked, ‘If the man’s a sinner, then how can he perform such signs?’ So, they were divided.
17 As the result, they asked the blind man once more, ‘Since he opened your eyes, what do you have to say about him?’
And the man said, ‘He’s a Prophet!’
18 However, the Judeans didn’t believe that he had once been blind and started seeing, until they called his parents 19 and asked them, ‘Is this your son who you say was born blind? And if so, then how can he see now?’
20 So his parents answered, ‘We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But we don’t know how he started to see or who opened his eyes. Ask him! He’s old enough. He has to speak for himself.’
22 His parents said this, because they were afraid of the Judeans, since they had already agreed that if anyone would admit that he is the Anointed One, they would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 This is why his parents said, ‘He’s old enough, ask him.’
24 So, they called the man who used to be blind a second time and said, ‘Glorify God! We know that man’s a sinner.’
25 But he answered, ‘Whether he’s a sinner or not, I don’t know. The one thing I do know is that I was blind and now I can see.’
26 Then they asked, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’
27 And he replied, ‘I told you already, but you aren’t listening! Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become one of his disciples?’
28 At this, they spoke to him insultingly, saying, ‘You are one of that man’s disciples, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God talked to Moses, but we don’t know where this man is from.’
30 Then the man said, ‘It is truly marvelous that you don’t know where he’s from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he listens to anyone who is God-fearing and does His Will. 32 Through the ages, no one has ever heard of someone that could open the eyes of a person who was born blind. 33 And if this man wasn’t from God, he couldn’t do anything.’
34 Then they replied, ‘You were born a complete sinner, and now you’re teaching us?’ And at that, they threw him out.
35 Well, Jesus heard about them throwing him out, and when he found him, he asked, ‘Are you starting to put faith in the Son of Man?’
36 Then the man answered, ‘Just who is he Lord, so that I can believe in him?’
37 And Jesus said, ‘You have seen him. He who is speaking to you is that one.’
38 Then he said, ‘I do believe in him Lord,’ and he bowed low.
39 So, Jesus said, ‘This is the judgment that I brought into the world: Helping those who don’t see to see, and those who see to become blind.’
40 But when some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this, they asked, ‘We aren’t blind also, are we?’
41 And Jesus replied, ‘If you were blind you wouldn’t have any sin. But because you claim to see, your sin remains.’
Chapter 10
1 ‘I tell you the truth, all those who don’t enter the sheep pen through the gate but climb in at some other place, are thieves and robbers. 2 The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of those sheep. 3 The doorkeeper opens to him and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he has them all out, he leads them and the sheep follow, because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger. They will run from him, because they don’t recognize the voice of strangers.’
6 Jesus gave them this illustration, but they didn’t understand what he meant.
7 Then Jesus again said, ‘I tell you the truth, I’m the gateway to the sheep. 8 All those who come ahead of me are thieves and robbers, and the sheep won’t listen to them. 9 I’m the gateway, and whoever enters through me will be saved. He can come in or he can go out and find a place to graze. 10 The thief only enters to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so they could have life and plenty of everything.
11 ‘I am the good shepherd, and a good shepherd will give his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand who isn’t a shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep will leave them and run away whenever he sees a wolf coming, so the wolf can grab and scatter them. 13 This is because he’s just a hired hand, and he really doesn’t really care for the sheep. 14 I’m the fine shepherd… I know my sheep and they know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I’ll give my life for the sheep.
16 ‘I also have other sheep that aren’t in this pen, and I must also lead them and they will listen to my voice, and they will [all] become one flock under one shepherd.
17 ‘This is why the Father loves me; because I lay down my life so I can receive it back again. 18 Nobody is taking it from me; I’m giving it away! I’m authorized to give it and I’m authorized to receive it again. This is the commandment that I got from my Father.’
19 Once again, the Judeans became divided over these words. 20 Many were saying, ‘He’s demonized and crazy. Why do you listen to him?’ 21 But others were saying, ‘These aren’t the words of a demonized man. A demon can’t open blind peoples’ eyes can it?’
22 At that time, the Festival of Dedication was going on in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the Temple among the Columns of Solomon. 24 It was there that the Judeans gathered around him and asked, ‘How long are you going to keep our lives hanging? Just tell us if you are the Anointed One.’
25 And Jesus answered, ‘I [already] told you and you don’t believe it. The things that I’m doing in my Father’s Name testify about me. 26 But you don’t believe it, because [none of] you are my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. 28 I will give them life in the age, and none will be lost in this era… nor will anyone take them from my hands. 29 My Father who gave them to me is greater than everyone, and nobody can take them out of the hands of the Father, 30 for the Father and I are one.’
31 Then once again, the Judeans picked up rocks to stone him.
32 At this, Jesus asked, ‘I’ve shown you so you many good things that I did which came from the Father. So, for which of these good deeds are you ready to stone me?’
33 And the Judeans answered, ‘We aren’t stoning you for good deeds, but for blasphemy! Why, although you’re just a man, you’re making yourself a god.’
34 Then Jesus answered, ‘Isn’t it written in your Law, I say that you are gods? 35 If He called those who were spoken against in God’s Word gods (and you can’t void the Scriptures), 36 how can you tell me (one who was made holy and sent into the world by the Father) that I blaspheme because I say I’m God’s Son? 37 If I’m not doing what my Father wants, then don’t believe me. 38 But if I am, even if you don’t believe me, believe in what I’m doing. Then you will come to know (and keep knowing) that the Father is one with me and I am one with the Father.’
39 So, they tried to grab him again, but he slipped out of their reach. 40 Then he went off and crossed the Jordan [River] to the place where John had started his baptizing, and he stayed there. 41 Many people came to him there and said, ‘John didn’t perform a single sign, but everything John said about this man is true.’ 42 And many believed in him there.
Chapter 11
1 Now, there was a sick man, Lazarus of Bethany, from the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This was the Mary who greased the Lord with perfumed ointment and wiped his feet dry with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was sick. 3 So, his sisters sent word [to Jesus] saying, ‘Lord, {Look!} the one who you care for is sick.’
4 But when Jesus heard this, he said, ‘This sickness isn’t for death, it’s for the glory of God – so that the Son of God will be glorified by it.’
5 Now