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The Gospel of John

Introduction

      The Gospel of John is called the Gospel of Love. It is written by that disciple whose heart was, over time, totally surrendered. John, the Beloved Disciple, focuses on the practical, simple, and direct.

      The Gospel according to John shows us the exquisite beauty and simple yet practical message of God's nature and the meaning of His commandment for all who would call themselves Christ's disciples: the law of love. This love is love of the highest order, the divine love that enables us to love God and each other as He loves us. In no other book do we find stated so clearly the answer to the question: Who is God?.

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 there is 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 water pots, 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, I speak what I know, testify that I have seen, and you do not accept it. 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 of Judaea. He stayed with them and baptized. John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim. There was an abundance of water, so many people came to 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 worshiped 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 worshipers 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 marveled that He talked with the woman. Yet no one asked, Why do you talk to her?

The woman then left her water pot 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 each other, 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 each other 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 for 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 each other, 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 because 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 worshiper 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 worshiped 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 more so. 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.

Jesus said to her, Your brother will rise again. Martha said, I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even if he is dead, still will live. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? She said, Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God come into this world. And when she said this, she went and called Mary, her sister, saying, The Master has come and calls for you.

As soon as Mary heard, she got up quickly and went to Him. Jesus was not yet in the town but was where Martha met Him. Some of the Jews who were comforting her in the house saw Mary hastily rise up and go out. They followed her, saying, She goes to the grave to weep there.

When Mary saw Jesus, she fell down at His feet saying to Him, Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died. When Jesus saw her weeping, and those who came with her also weeping, He became troubled and was very upset. He said, Where have you laid him? They said, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, Look how much He loved him! And some of them said, Could He, who opened the eyes of the blind, not have prevented this man's death? Jesus, again upset, went to the grave. It was a cave and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of Lazarus, said, Lord, by this time there will be a stench, he has been dead for four days. Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you that, if you believe, you would see the glory of God? They removed the stone from the grave.

Then Jesus lifted His eyes and said, Father, I thank you for hearing me. And I know that you hear me always. For the sake of those standing here, I say this so they may believe that you sent me. Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. Now he who was dead came forth bound hand and foot with grave clothes and his face was wound about with a scarf. Jesus said to them, Loose him and let him go.

Many of the Jews who saw the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what was done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What can we do? This man does many miracles? If we leave Him alone, everyone will believe in Him and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.

One of them, named Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year, said to them, You know nothing at all, nor do you consider it expedient that one man should die so the whole nation does not perish. He said this not of himself, but as high priest, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation, and not for that nation only, but also for the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day, they were in agreement to put Him to death. Jesus, therefore, no longer walked openly among the Jews but went to a country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim. He stayed there with His disciples.

Passover was near at hand. Many people went to Jerusalem in order to purify themselves. Then they looked for Jesus. As they stood in the temple, they said to each other, What do you think? Will He stay away from the feast? The chief priests and Pharisees had given an order that, if any man knew where Jesus was, he should speak out so they could arrest Him.

12.        Six days before the passover, Jesus went to Bethany where He had raised Lazarus from the dead. There they made Him a supper. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly ointment of spikenard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who would betray Him, said, Why was this ointment not sold for its great worth and the money given to the poor? He said this, not out of concern for the poor but, because he was a thief who held their money bag and controlled what was put in it. Jesus said, Leave her alone. She has saved this toward the day of my burial. And, as for the poor, you always have them to care for, but you will not always have me.

Many of the Jews knew that He was there. But they did not come for Jesus' sake only, but also to see Lazarus whom He had raised from the dead. The chief priests considered putting Lazarus to death also because he was the reason many of the Jews left and believed in Jesus.

The next day, many people who had come for the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. They took branches of palm trees and went to meet Him. They cried, Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when He had found a young colt, sat upon it; for it is written: Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold, thy King comes, sitting on an ass's colt.

His disciples did not at first understand this. But when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. The people who were with Him when He called Lazarus from his grave and raised him from the dead, bore record. Other people went to see Him because they heard He had done this miracle. The Pharisees, therefore, said among themselves, Do you see that we do not prevail? Look, the whole world is gone after Him.

There were certain Greeks among those who came to worship at the feast. Some of them went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him if they could meet Jesus. Philip went to Andrew. Then together, Andrew and Philip went to Jesus. Jesus said to them, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Verily, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. He who loves his life in this world will lose it; and he who hates his life will have life eternal.

If any man will serve me, let him follow me. Where I am, there also will my servant be. If any man serves me, my Father will honor him. Now my soul is troubled. But what will I say? Father, save me from this hour? But this hour is the reason I came into the world. Father, glorify thy name. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

The people that stood by and heard it said that it thundered. Others said, an angel spoke to Him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world. Now will the prince of this world be cast out. And I, being lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me. He said this to signify the death He was to die.

The people said, We have heard from the law that Christ lives forever. What do you mean, The Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man? Then Jesus said to them, Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness fall upon you. For he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have light, believe in the light, so you may be called the children of light.

Jesus said these things and then departed and hid Himself. Even though He had done many miracles before them, they still did not believe Him. Thus it was that the saying of Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled: Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore, they could not believe because Isaiah also said: He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart and be converted, and I should heal them. Isaiah said this when he saw His glory and spoke about Him.

Nevertheless, among the chief rulers many believed in Him. But, because of the Pharisees, they did not say anything lest they be put out of the synagogue. They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Jesus said, He who believes in me, believes not in me, but in the one who sent me. He who sees me sees Him who sent me. I came into the world as a light so that whoever believes in me will not dwell in darkness.

If anyone hears my words and does not believe, I do not judge him, because I came not to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not accept my words has one who judges him. He whose words I have spoken will be the judge on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own, but for the Father who sent me. He gave me a commandment of what I should say and what I should speak. I know that His commandment is for life everlasting. Whatever I speak, I speak as the Father spoke to me.

13.        It was before the feast of the passover. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. Supper was ended. The devil now put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Him. Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into His hands and that He came from God and went to God.

He arose from supper, laid aside His garments, took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet. He then wiped them with the towel with which He had girded Himself.

When He came to Simon Peter, he said to Him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered, What I do you do not know now but you will understand later. Peter said, You will never wash my feet. Jesus replied, If I do not wash you, then you have no part of me. Peter then said, Lord, then not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said, He who is washed does not need to wash more than his feet, for every part of him is clean. You are clean. But not all of you are clean. Jesus said this to indicate that He knew who would betray Him.

He washed their feet, put on His garments, and sat down again. He said to them, Do you know what I have done? You call me Master and Lord. And you speak correctly for so I am. Now if I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash one another's feet also. For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you. Truly, I say to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. And He who was sent is not greater than He who sent Him. If you understand these things, you will be happy to do them.

I do not speak about all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But this scripture must be fulfilled: One who eats bread with me has lifted his heel against me. So I tell you before it comes so, when it happens, you may believe who I am. I tell you, He who receives whomever I send, receives me. He who receives me, receives the one who sent me.

Jesus said He was troubled in spirit and testified saying, One of you will betray me. Then the disciples looked at each other, wondering who He meant. There was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter beckoned to that disciple and said he should ask Jesus who was the betrayer. The disciple said, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is to whom I will give a sop when I have dipped it. When He had dipped the sop He gave it to Judas Iscariot. Then Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, What you do, do it quickly.

No one at the table knew why Jesus said this to him. Some of them thought, because Judas held the money, that Jesus said to him, Buy those things that we need for the feast, or that he should give something to the poor. Judas, then, having received the sop, went immediately out. It was night. After he was gone, Jesus said, Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself.

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me and, as I told the Jews, Where I go, you cannot come. So now I give you a new commandment. Love one another as I have loved you. By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you have love for each other.

Simon Peter asked Him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus answered, Where I go you cannot follow now, but you will follow me later. Peter said to Him, Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for your sake. Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for my sake? I tell you, You will deny me thrice before the cock crows.

14.       Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe in me also. In my Father's house there are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself so that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you will know, and you will know the way.

Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you know me, you know my Father also, and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.

Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father and it is enough for us. Jesus said, Have I been with you so long and still you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. Why say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me?

The words I say to you, I say not on my own but from the Father who dwells in me. It is He who does the works. Either believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me, or, at least, believe me for the very works' sake. I tell you, He who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And greater works than these will he do also. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name I will do it. If you love me, keep my commandments.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter to abide with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth which the world cannot receive because it will not see Him and will not know Him. But you will know Him for He will dwell with you and will be in you. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you.

In a little while the world will see me no more. But you will see me because I will live and you will live also. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father. I will love him and show myself to him.

Judas, not Iscariot, said to Him, Lord, how is it that you will show yourself to us and not to the world? Jesus answered and said, If a man loves me, he will keep my words and my Father will love him. We will come to him and make our abode with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words. The word you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

These things I tell you while I am yet with you. The Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things. He will explain all the things I have given you to remember.

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you, not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said to you, I will go away and come again to you. If you love me then rejoice, because I am going to my Father who is greater than I am. And now I have told you beforehand so that, when it comes to pass, you will believe. After this, I will not say much to you, for the prince of this world has come. He has no power over me, but, what I do, I do so the world may know that I love the Father and do as the Father commanded me. Arise, let us go hence.

15.       I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes and purges so it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abide in the vine, no more can you unless you abide in me.

I am the vine. You are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, brings forth much fruit; for, without me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is a branch that is cut off and will wither. Men gather these and cast them into the fire to be burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, all that you ask will be done. This is how my Father is glorified; that you bear much fruit and, by doing so, are my disciples.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Continue in my love. If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love. I tell you this so that my joy will remain in you and your joy will be full.

This is my commandment, That you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends. If you do what I command you, I do not call you servants. The servant does not know what his lord does. But I call you friends because all that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you.

You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you so you will go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit will remain so that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, He will give it to you.

These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But you are not of the world. I have chosen you out of the world. Therefore the world will hate you. Remember that I told you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you for my name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent me.

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would be innocent of sin. But now they have no cloak to hide their sin. He who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done works which no other man has done, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.

This all comes to pass so that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law: They hated me without a cause. But when the Comforter comes, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about me. And you also will bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning.

16.        I am telling you these things so you are not offended. They will put you out of the synagogues. The time will come when whoever kills you will think that he does God a service. And they will do these things to you because they have not known the Father nor me. I did not tell you these things at the beginning because I was with you. But now I am going away to the one who sent me. And none of you ask, Where are you going? But because I have said these things sorrow has filled your hearts.

But, I tell you the truth, it is best for you that I go away. If I do not go the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of sin, because they do not believe in me. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you see me no more. Of judgment, because the evil one who is prince of this world is condemned.

I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot hear them now. However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth because He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will reveal. He will show you things to come. He will glorify me because He will take from what is my own and reveal it to you. All things that the Father has are mine and that is why I said He will take from my own and reveal it to you. In a little while you will not see me. And then, in a little while, you will see me, because I am going to the Father.

Then some of His disciples said among themselves, What is this that He said to us? In a little while you will not see me? And in a little while you will see me, because I am going to the Father? What is this little while? We cannot tell what He said. Now Jesus knew that they wanted to ask Him, and He said to them, Are you wondering about In a little while you will not see me, and, in a little while, you will see me?

I tell you, You will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful but your grief will be turned into joy. When a woman is in labor she is troubled because her hour has come. But as soon as she delivers the child she remembers her anguish no more because of her joy over a new birth to the world. So you now have sorrow. But I will see you again. And your heart will rejoice. And no one can take your joy from you. In that day you will need to ask nothing of me. Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so your joy may be full.

I have said these things as examples. But the time will come when I will use no more examples because I will show you plainly from the Father. On that day you will ask Him in my name and I will not have to say that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father Himself loves you because you love me and believe that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I leave the world and go to the Father.

His disciples said to Him, now you speak plainly. Jesus said, Do you now believe? The hour comes, yes, has now come, when you will be scattered and on your own. You will leave me alone. Yet, I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said these things to you so that, in me, you will have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But, be of good cheer, because I have overcome the world.

17.       Jesus spoke these words. Then He lifted His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify thy Son so that thy Son may also glorify thee, as you have given Him power over all flesh so He could give eternal life to as many as you have given Him. This is life eternal, that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work that you gave me to do.

And now, glorify me, Father, with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. I have manifested your name to those you gave me from the world. They were yours and you gave them to me. They have kept your word. Now they know that all things you have given me are from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me. They have received them and they know truly that I came from you, and they have believed that you did send me.

I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those you have given me, because they are yours. All of mine are yours, just as yours are mine; and I am glorified in them. Now I am in the world no more but they are in the world. I come to thee, Holy Father. Keep, through your own name, those you have given me, so they may be one, just as we are One.

While I was with them in the world I kept them in your name. I have kept those that you gave me. None of them is lost, except the son of perdition so that the scripture would be fulfilled. Now I come to you and speak these things in the world so they will have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

I have given them your word. The world has hated them because they are not of the world as I am not of the world. I do not pray that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from evil. They are not of the world as I am not of the world. Perfect them through your truth. Your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have also sent them into the world. And, for their sakes, I sanctify myself that they also might be perfected through the truth.

Neither do I pray for these alone. But I pray also for those who will believe in me through their word so that they all may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you. They also may be one in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. And the glory which you gave me, I have given them, so they may be made perfect in one, as we are One, and so the world may know that you have sent me, and love them as you love me.

Father, I wish those you gave me may also be with me where I am. May they behold my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world began. O righteous Father, the world has not known you. But I have known you, and the ones you have sent me have known you. I have declared your name to them. And I declare that the love, with which you have loved me, be in them, and I in them.

18.        When Jesus had spoken these words, He took His disciples across the Cedron valley and went into the garden. Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew this place because Jesus often went there with His disciples. Judas then, having been given a band of officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, approached the spot with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

Jesus, knowing the things that were to happen, stepped forward and said to them, Who are you looking for? They answered, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus then said, I am. Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. As soon as Jesus said, I am, they were astonished and fell to the ground.

Then He asked them again, Who are you looking for? They said, Jesus of Nazareth. Then Jesus said to them, I have told you that I am. If you are looking for me, let the others go their way. He said this because of His earlier words: Of those you gave me, I have lost none.

Then Peter, having a sword, struck the high priest's servant and cut his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Jesus immediately said to Peter, Put away your sword. Will I not drink the cup my Father has given me? Then the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus, bound Him, and took Him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die for the sake of the people.

Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple who was known to the high priest and went inside the palace with Jesus. Peter stood outside the door. The other disciple arranged with the woman who kept the door for Peter to go inside. Then she asked him, Are you also one of this man's disciples? He said, I am not. Peter stood by the fire along with the officers and servants who were warming themselves in the cold night.

The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples, and about His teachings. Jesus said to him, I have spoken openly in public. I taught in the synagogue, in the very temple the Jews always attend. There is nothing I have said in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have listened to me about what I have said to them? They know what I said. When He had thus spoken, one of the officers struck Jesus with the palm of his hand and said, Why do you answer the high priest that way? Jesus said to him, If I have spoken evil, tell me what it is. If not, why strike me? Then Annas had Him bound and sent to Caiaphas, the high priest.

As Simon Peter stood and warmed himself, they said to him, Are you not also one of His disciples? He denied it and said, I am not. Then one of the high priest's servants, a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut, said, Did I not see you in the garden with Him? Peter denied again. Immediately the cock crowed.

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment. It was early and they themselves did not go into the judgment hall lest they be defiled and not be able to eat the passover. Pilate went outside to them and said, What accusation do you make against this man? They said to him, If He were not a criminal we would not have brought Him to you. Then Pilate said to them, Take Him and judge Him according to your law. The Jews said, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. This agreed with Jesus' words when He spoke of what death He would die.

Pilate went into the judgment hall again. He called Jesus and said to Him, Art Thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Do you ask this on your own or did others tell you to ask this? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests have delivered you to me. What have you done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so I would not be turned over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from here.

Pilate therefore said to Him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. For this I was born and for this reason I came into the world: to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. Pilate muttered, What is truth? Then he went out again to the Jews and said, I find no fault in Him at all. But you have a custom that I release someone to you at the passover. Is it your request, therefore, that I release to you the King of the Jews? They all said, Not this man, but Barabbas. Barabbas was a criminal.

19.        Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him scourged. The officers platted a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They put a purple robe on Him and said, Hail, King of the Jews! They slapped Him with their hands. Pilate came out again and said, I bring Him to you so you know that I find no fault in Him. Then Jesus was brought out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, Behold the man!

When the chief priests and officers saw Him they cried out, Crucify Him. Crucify Him. Pilate said to them, You take Him and crucify Him. I find no fault in Him. The Jews said, We have a law and, by our law, He ought to die because He made Himself the Son of God. When Pilate heard this, he became concerned. He went back into the judgment hall and asked Jesus, Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then Pilate said to Him, Will you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have the power to crucify or release you? Jesus answered, You would have no power over me unless it was given from above. The one who delivered me to you has the greater sin. From then on Pilate tried to release Him but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Whoever makes himself a king, speaks against Caesar.

When Pilate heard this, he took Jesus to the judgment seat in a place called Gabbatha. It was the preparation for the passover and around the sixth hour. Pilate said to the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with Him. Away with Him. Crucify Him. Pilate said to them, will I crucify your king? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then Pilate handed Him over to them to be crucified. They took Jesus and led Him away.

Bearing His cross, He went into a place called Golgotha. Here they crucified Him and two others, one on either side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate made a sign and put it on the cross. The writing was, Jesus of Nazareth, The King Of The Jews.

This sign was read by many of the Jews because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city and the words were written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do not write The King of the Jews, but write, He said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written.

When they put Jesus on the cross, the officers took His garments and made four parts. Each officer took a part. But His coat was seamless and woven from the top down. They said to each other, Let us not tear it up but cast lots for whose it will be. Thus the scripture was fulfilled: They parted my raiment among them and, for my vesture, they did cast lots.

By the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then He said to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, and so that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst. A vessel full of vinegar was nearby. They filled a sponge, put it on a reed of hyssop and put it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, He bowed His head and said, It is finished.

During the preparation for the sabbath, a high day, it was not fit that the bodies should remain on the cross. The Jews besought Pilate to break their legs so the dead bodies could then be taken away. The officers broke the legs of the first and then of the other who was crucified alongside Jesus. But when they came to Him and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the officers pierced His side with a spear and, from His side, came blood and water.

He who saw it bore record, and his record is true. He knows that he told the truth so that you might believe. These things were done so that this scripture would be fulfilled: A bone of Him will not be broken. And another scripture said: They will look on Him whom they pierced.

After this, Joseph of Arimathaea, who, for fear of the Jews, was a secret disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate if he could take Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission. Nicodemus, who went to Jesus at night, was with Joseph. He brought myrrh and aloes. They took the body of Jesus, wound it in linen cloth, and prepared it with the spices as was the Jewish burial custom. In the place where He was crucified there was a new offense in the garden area. There they laid Jesus.

20.        Early on the first day of the week, when it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the offense. She saw that the stone had been taken away from the entrance. She ran to find Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. She said to them, They have taken the Lord out of the offense and we do not know where they have laid Him. Peter and the other disciple started toward the offense. They began running together. But the other disciple, having outrun Peter, arrived at the entrance first. Stooping down, he looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there but he did not go inside.

When Peter came, he went into the offense, saw the linen cloth and the scarf that covered His head. The scarf was not lying with the linen cloth, but was folded separately in a place by itself. Then the other disciple went inside and he saw, and believed. At this time they did not know the words of scripture: He must rise again from the dead. They returned home.

But Mary stood outside at the entrance and was weeping. As she wept, she stooped down, looked into the offense, and saw two angels in white. They sat, one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain. They said to her, Woman, why do you weep? She said, They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid Him.

After she said this, she turned and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know it was Jesus. He said to her, Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for? Thinking that this was the gardener, she said, Sir, if you have carried Him somewhere, tell me where you have laid Him and I will take Him away. Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned and said, Master.

Jesus said to her, Do not touch me because I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to the disciples and tell them, I am going to my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Mary Magdalene ran and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and gave them His message. In the evening of that first day of the week, where the disciples were assembled with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus appeared and stood in their midst. He said to them, Peace be to you. When He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be to you; as my Father has sent me, even so send I you. When He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them; and whose sins you retain, they are retained.

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see the print of the nails in His hands, and put my finger into the nail prints, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.

Eight days passed. The disciples were inside with the doors closed and Thomas was with them. Then Jesus appeared and stood in their midst. He said, Peace be to you. Then He said to Thomas, put your finger here and see my hands; and put you hand into my side. Do not doubt but believe. Thomas said to Him, My Lord and my God. Jesus said, Thomas, because you have seen me you believe. Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe.

And many other signs truly did Jesus do in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, you will have life through His Name.

21.        After this, Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. Seven of His disciples were gathered together: Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, James and John who were the sons of Zebedee, and two others.

Simon Peter said to the group, I am going fishing. They said to him, We will go with you. They went out and got into a fishing boat. They were out all night and caught nothing.

At dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. Then Jesus called to them, Children, have you caught anything? They answered, No. Jesus said, Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. When they threw the net over the right side, they were unable to draw it in because of the number of fish in the net. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord.

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he drew up his fishing robe and dove into the water. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net with the fish. They were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they climbed out of the boat, they saw a charcoal fire already laid with fish. And there was also bread. Jesus said, Bring the fish you caught.

Simon Peter went over and dragged in the net full of one hundred and fifty three large fish. Yet, even though there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, Come and dine. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, Who are you? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came to each one and served the bread and fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples.

After they finished the breakfast, Jesus turned to Simon Peter and said, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? Peter said to Him, Yes, Lord. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my lambs. Then He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, Do you love me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord. You know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my sheep.

He said to him yet a third time, Simon, son of John, Do you love me? Peter was upset because He asked a third time, Do you love me? He answered Jesus, Lord, You know all things. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will clothe you and carry you where you do not want to go. Jesus said this to signify by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After Jesus said these words, He said to Peter, Follow me.

Then Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. This was the disciple who leaned on Jesus' breast at supper, and who also asked, Lord, who is he who betrays you? Peter, now seeing him, said to Jesus, Lord, what about him? Jesus said, If I want him to stay until I come, what concern is that of yours? You follow me.

Then the saying spread among the others that that disciple would not die. Yet, Jesus did not say, he will not die but, if I want him to remain until I come, what concern is it of yours?

This is the disciple who testifies to these things, and has written them down, and we know that his testimony is true. There are many other things that Jesus did that, if they were all told, I do not think the whole world could contain all the books that would be written.

Amen.

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