John’s Good News
An EasyEnglish Version with Notes (1200 word vocabulary) on the Gospel of John
Cynthia Green
This translated Bible text has been through Advanced Checking.
Words in boxes are comments on the text.
Words marked with a *star are described in the word list at the end.
John, a son of Zebedee, wrote this book. (Most teachers agree about this.) He was one of the 3 *disciples who were close to the *Lord Jesus Christ. He called himself ‘the *disciple that Jesus loved’. This *Gospel was written after those of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Students think that John wrote it in the city of Ephesus. He wrote it about 70 (seventy) years after the birth of Christ.
John’s *Gospel is different from the other three *Gospels. It contains much that is not in the other *Gospels. It calls several stories ‘signs’ or ‘*miracles’. John says that they are to help people find God’s way of life (John 20:31). John wants them to see that Jesus is the Son of God. He wants people to see that Jesus can give us life.
There is much in the *Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke that is not found in John. But John tells us much more about who Jesus was. He was God and man. John teaches us more about the *Holy Spirit, and other things, too.
In the very first part of the book, John speaks of many great *truths. They are hard to understand. But he helps to show us how much God loves each one of us. He helps us to see that God always was and always will be. John called Jesus the Son of God, ‘The Word’.
v1 The Word was in the beginning. The Word was with God. The Word was God. v2 He was with God in the beginning. v3 The Word made everything. Christ made everything (that was made). v4 He was the one who gave life. His life was like a light. This light gave life to everyone. v5 The light shines in the dark. But the dark cannot put out the light.
v6 God sent a man called John. v7 He came to tell people about the light. God wanted everyone to believe what John said. v8 John himself was not that light. He only came to tell people about the light. v9 That was the true light. The true light gives light to everyone. The true light was coming into the world.
When John speaks about the Word he is speaking about God himself. ‘Word’ means that he was together with all of God in the beginning. The Word gives light to the body and life to the *believer. He is light. He helps us to understand things about God. The dark means the power of God’s enemy, *Satan. He tries to hide the *truth. God’s light shines in the dark. *Satan’s power cannot put out the light. Jesus said later that he himself was the light of the world.
v10 He was in the world. He had made the world. But the world did not know who he was. v11 He came to his own people. But his own people did not receive him. v12 Yet he gave some people his authority to become the children of God. He gave this to those who did receive him. They were the people who believed in his name. v13 These children were not born in the usual human way. They were not born because of what some *humans wanted. No! They were born from God. v14 The Word became a human. He came to live among us. We saw his *glory. This was the *glory of the only true son of the Father. He was full of *grace and *truth.
v15 John told people about the Word. He cried out, ‘This is the man that I told you about. He came after me but is greater than I am. He was there before I was born’. v16 The Word is full of *grace. Every one of us has received gifts from him, one after another. v17 God gave us the *law through Moses. But Jesus Christ has brought us *grace and *truth. v18 No person has ever seen God. But the only true Son is very near to the Father. No one can be closer. This Son has shown him to us.
Jesus Christ was a very special person. That is what John is saying at the beginning of his book. And he is telling us that Jesus had important work to do. The rest of his book shows us how he did this. He was the Word of God. He was the only person who really knew God. He knew what *humans were like too. He could show us what God was like because he was both man and God. Only Jesus could help us to be the people that God meant us to be. He wanted to give us ‘Life in his name’.
The rest of this book tells us what Jesus said and did to make this clear. It also tells us what other people said about him and his teaching.
v19 The leaders sent *priests and *Levites from Jerusalem to ask John, ‘Who are you?’ This is what he said. v20 John did not refuse to answer. He said, ‘I am not the *Christ (the one sent by God). v21 So they asked him, ‘Well then, who are you? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘No, I am not’. ‘Are you that *prophet?’ He answered, ‘No’. v22 Then they said, ‘Tell us who you are. We must say something to the people who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ v23 He said, ‘I am the voice shouting in the wild places. Make a straight path for the *Lord to travel. You will remember that is what the *prophet Isaiah said’. v24 The men who came to ask these questions were *Pharisees. v25 They said, ‘Why do you *baptise people if you are not Christ nor Elijah nor the *prophet Isaiah?’
v26 John answered them and said, ‘I *baptise people with water. There is someone here among you that you do not know. v27 He is the one who comes after me. But he will take the first place. I am not good enough even to take off his shoes’. v28 This all happened at a place east of the river Jordan. It was a village called Bethany. John was *baptising there.
v29 The next day, John saw Jesus. He was coming towards John. John said, ‘Look, there is the *Lamb of God. He will take away the *sin of all people. v30 This is the man that I told you about. He is the one who comes after me. But he is greater than I am. Before I was born, he already was. v31 I did not know him. But I had to show *Israel who he was. That is why I am *baptising with water’. v32 John told them, “I saw the *Holy Spirit come down from the sky. He came like a dove (a bird) and rested on Jesus. v33 I would not have known who he was. But God had told me to *baptise with water. He said, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and rest on someone. That man will *baptise with the *Holy Spirit’. v34 Now I have seen this, I can tell you that this is the Son of God”.
v35 John and two of his *disciples were standing there the next day. v36 Jesus was walking past them. John saw him and said, ‘Look! There is the *lamb of God’. v37 When they heard this, the two *disciples followed Jesus. v38 Jesus turned round and saw them. He asked them, ‘What do you want?’ They said, ‘Rabbi, (teacher) where are you staying?’ v39 ‘Come and see’, Jesus replied. So they went and saw where he was staying. They stayed with him for the rest of the day. It was about 4 o’clock in the afternoon. v40 Andrew was one of the two *disciples who had followed Jesus. They had heard what John had said about Jesus. Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother. v41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother. He said to him, ‘We have found the *Messiah (Christ)’. v42 And he brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon, son of John. Your name will be Cephas (which means Peter)’.
v43 The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip. He said to him, ‘Follow me’. v44 Philip, Andrew and Peter all came from the town of Bethsaida. v45 Philip went to find Nathanael. He said, ‘We have found the man that Moses wrote about. He wrote it in the book of the *Law. The *prophets wrote about him, too. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth’. v46 Nathanael asked, ‘Can any thing good come out of Nazareth?’ ‘Come and see’, Philip replied. v47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him. He said, ‘Here is a true *Israelite. There is nothing false in him’. v48 ‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, ‘I saw you before Philip called you. You were standing under a *fig tree’. v49 Nathanael said, ‘Teacher, you are the son of God. You are the King of Israel’. v50 Jesus said, ‘You believe just because I told you that I saw you under the *fig tree. You will see much greater things than that’. v51 And he said, ‘I am telling you the *truth. You will see the sky open. You will see God’s *messengers coming on the Son of Man. And you will see them going back’.
The *Pharisees were *Jews who were very careful to obey the *Law of Moses. They also had other rules that they thought were very important. They did not like people who did not agree with them.
Verses 29-36 ‘The *Lamb of God’ was what John the *Baptist called Jesus. This *reminded people of the *lamb that was killed for the *Passover meal. The blood of the *lamb was put over the doors of *Jewish homes. God used this blood to save their sons from death. *Lambs were also killed to take away the *sin of the *Jews at other times. So Jesus Christ was the *Lamb of God. John spoke as a *prophet. Jesus came to die to take away our *sin. He came to save us from *sin and the *punishment which God gives. God did this by taking our *punishment on himself.
Verse 35 There were two *disciples of John who followed Jesus. One was Andrew. Many students think that John (the writer of this *Gospel) was the other.
Verse 46 Nathanael knew the teachings of the *Jews. He had never heard that a *prophet would come from Nazareth. But when he met Jesus, he changed his mind. Many people change their ideas about Jesus when they meet him. But some refuse to listen to him. We can only tell people about Jesus. They have to decide whether they will believe in him.
Verse 50 Jesus called himself the ‘Son of Man’. The name shows that he is a man who came to earth from God. He came with the authority of God. The *prophets spoke about him (for example, Daniel 7:3). He was the *Messiah.
People are *baptised to show that they are promising to change their lives. They go under water and then rise up again. They are showing that they want God to change them. God can make their whole lives new. They are asking him to give them a new beginning. People asked John to *baptise them when they were sorry for the wrong things that they had done. But Jesus would *baptise with the *Holy Spirit. He could give them a *totally new life.
v1 Two days later there was a *wedding. It was in the town of Cana, in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. v2 Jesus and his *disciples also went to the *feast. v3 People had drunk all the *wine. Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more *wine’. v4 ‘*Dear woman’, Jesus said. ‘Why do you tell me this? My time has not yet come’. v5 His mother said to the servants, ‘Do what he tells you’. v6 There were 6 water jars there, made of stone. Each jar could hold 20 to 30 gallons of water. These jars held water for washing. The *Jews had special rules about washing themselves. v7 Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’. So they filled them to the top. v8 Then he said, ‘Now take some of the water from the jars and give it to the master of the *feast. They did so, v9 and the master of the *feast tasted the water. But the water was now *wine. The master did not know where it had come from. But the servants who had given it to him knew. Then the master called to the bridegroom (the man who was being married). v10 He said, ‘Every one brings out the best *wine first. Then he gives people cheaper *wine when they have had plenty to drink. You are different; you have kept the best until now’. v11 This was the first time that Jesus did something that no one else could do (a sign or *miracle). He did it in Cana in Galilee. In this way, Jesus showed everybody his *glory. Then all the *disciples believed in him.
Jesus did many *miracles, but John only tells us about 7 of them. John called them ‘signs’. Jesus was a man filled with God’s *Holy Spirit. He always did what God told him to do.
At the *wedding in Cana, Jesus first showed his power. He was kind to the people who had too little *wine. He made more *wine to help them. He wants to help us in every part of our lives.
v12 After this Jesus went down to Capernaum. His mother and brothers went with him. They stayed there for a few days. v13 It was almost time for the *Jews’ *Passover. So Jesus went to Jerusalem. v14 He found men selling animals and birds in the *temple. There were men changing money there, too. v15 So Jesus made a *whip from small pieces of *cord. He made all the men and animals run out of the *temple. He turned over the tables and threw all the money on the ground. v16 He told the men who sold birds to take them away. He said, ‘Do not make my Father’s house into a market!’ v17 His *disciples remembered what was written in God’s word. ‘My love for your house burns inside me like a fire’ (Psalms 69:9). v18 Then the *Jews asked Jesus, ‘What authority do you have to do this? If you have authority from God, show us a sign to *prove it’. v19 Jesus answered them ‘If you destroy this *temple, I will raise it up again in 3 days’. v20 The *Jews replied ‘It took a lot of men 46 years to build this *temple. And you say that you will raise it in 3 days all on your own!’ v21 But when Jesus was speaking about the *temple, he really meant his body. v22 The *disciples remembered this when he had died and come back to life. Then they believed the word of God and the words that Jesus had spoken. v23 While Jesus was in Jerusalem for the *Passover he did many very special things (*miracles). Many people saw these things and believed in his name. v24 But Jesus did not *trust them. He knew what they were really like. v25 He knew what was in the hearts and minds of all *humans.
Jesus was angry with some people in the *temple. They were thinking more about money than about God. Jesus knew that they were not keeping God’s rules. He sent them out of his father’s house. He wanted to keep it ‘clean’ for God. And no one stopped him.
The *Passover *feast was a time that was very special to the *Jews. All their men had to come to the *temple for it, every year. Many years before, God had led their fathers out of Egypt. It was at this time of the year. God had saved them from being slaves to the people of Egypt (the Egyptians). He had killed all the *eldest sons of the Egyptians. But he saved the sons of the *Israelites (*Jews). He told them to put the blood of a *lamb (young sheep) over their doors. If they did that, they would not die (Exodus 12).
The fathers of the *Jews were first called *Israelites. They were the sons of Jacob (Israel). Many years later some *Israelites were taken away. Only the people of the *tribe of Judah were left. So they stopped calling them *Israelites and started calling them *Jews.
v1 Nicodemus was a *Pharisee, and one of the *Jewish rulers. v2 He came to Jesus at night. He said, ‘Rabbi (teacher). We know that God sent you to us. We have seen the *miracles that you are doing. No one could do these if God were not with him’. v3 Jesus replied ‘I am telling you the *truth. No one can see God’s *kingdom unless he is born again’. v4 ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. He cannot go back into his mother’s body. He cannot be born a second time. v5 Jesus explained, ‘I am telling you the *truth. A man must be born through water and the *Spirit. If he is not, he will not get into God’s *kingdom. v6 A human baby is born from a human mother in the usual way. But those born by the work of the *Spirit understand things about the *Spirit. v7 I tell you that you must be born again. What I just said should not surprise you. v8 People born of the *Spirit are like the wind. The wind blows where it wants. You can hear it. But you cannot say where it came from, or where it is going’. v9 ‘How can this happen?’ Nicodemus asked. v10 ‘You are a great teacher in Israel’, said Jesus. ‘And yet you do not understand these things! v11 I am telling you the *truth. We speak of things that we know. But you people still do not believe our words. v12 I have spoken of things that happen in this world. And you do not believe me. Will you believe me if I tell you about things that happen in *heaven? v13 The Son of man came from *heaven. No one else has been there. v14 Moses made a snake out of metal. He held it up to the *Israelites when they were going from Egypt to Israel. In the same way, people will lift up the Son of man for everyone to see. v15 Then everyone who believes in him may have life that never ends. v16 God loved all the people of the world very much. He gave his Son to save them. All those who believe in his Son will have this life’.
Before the *Israelites (*Jews) came to their land, Moses was their leader. When they left Egypt, Moses led them through lands where no one lived. He told them what God wanted them to do (Numbers 21:4-9). When the people did bad things, God *punished them. Once they had said very bad things about God and Moses. So God sent snakes to bite them, and many people died. Then the people were sorry. So God told Moses to make the metal snake. He told him lift it up where people could see it. God said, ‘Anyone that the snakes have bitten must look at this metal snake. If they look at it, they will not die’.
Jesus said that people would lift him up like the snake that Moses made. Later, they lifted up Jesus on a cross to die. He was telling people that if they looked to him, they would not die. They must tell God that they were sorry for any bad things that they had done. Then they must listen to Jesus, and do the things that he said. They would be like the men bitten by the snakes, and God would save them. Then they would have life that never ends.
v17 God did not want the people of the world to die. He sent his son to save them and to give them life that never ends. God will not *judge those who believe in his son. v18 But God has already *judged some people. They will die if they do not believe in the name of God’s only true *Son. v19 This is the *judgement. People have seen the light of God. But men have loved the *darkness more than the light. This is because they were doing bad things. v20 Everyone like this hides from the light. People are doing wrong things. They are afraid that people will see them. v21 But whoever does true things is not afraid for people to see what he does. He will be doing the good things that God told him to do. And he will want everyone to see that he was obeying God.
v22After this, Jesus and his *disciples went out of the town and into Judea. Jesus stayed with his *disciples for some time, and they *baptised people there. v23 John was *baptising people too. He was at Aenon near Salim because there was a lot of water there. v24 (This was before the rulers put John in prison.) v25 A certain *Jew began to argue with John’s *disciples. They did not agree about some rules about washing. v26 The *disciples came to John and said, ‘Teacher, you remember the man called Jesus that you showed to us. He was with you on the other side of the Jordan river. Well, now he is *baptising and everyone is going to him’.
v27 John replied, ‘A man can only receive what God gives to him. v28 You yourselves will remember what I said. I said that I am not the Christ. God sent me before Jesus came. v29 A man chooses a woman to marry and she is his. That man’s friend stands near him and listens. He is full of *joy for his friend. I am like that friend. I am full of *joy for Jesus. v30 Jesus must become more important. I must become less important’. v31 God sent Jesus from *heaven above. He gave him his authority. Those who have not been born again by the *Spirit think only about the things on earth. They talk only about things on the earth. The one who comes from *heaven v32 tells people what he has seen and heard. But no one believes what he is saying. v33 When people *trust his message, that shows that they have believed God. God speaks the *truth. v34 The one that God has sent speaks God’s words. God has filled him completely with God’s Spirit. The Father loves the Son. He has given the Son authority over all things. Anyone who believes in the Son has life that never ends. But whoever will not believe in the Son will never see *real life. God will continue to *punish him.
John said that God sent him before the *Lord Jesus Christ. He was like the *messenger that a king sends. He had to tell people that the king was coming to visit them. The *prophet Malachi (Malachi 4:6) had told the *Jews that someone would come before the *Christ. This *messenger would tell them that their *Messiah (Christ) was coming soon.
v1 The *Pharisees heard that many people were joining Jesus’ group of *disciples. v2 Jesus had more *disciples than John. Jesus himself did not *baptise anyone. v3 People were saying that Jesus *baptised more people than John did. Jesus heard this so he left Judea and went back to Galilee. v4 On his way, Jesus had to go through Samaria. v5 He came to a town called Sychar. It was near to the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son, Joseph, many years earlier. v6 Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired after his journey. He sat down by the well. It was noon. The *disciples had gone to buy food in the town. v7 A *Samaritan woman came to the well. v8 Jesus said to her, ‘Please will you give me a drink?’ v9 The *Samaritan woman said, ‘You are a *Jew and I am a *Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?’ (The *Jews will not use the same cups as the *Samaritans.)
Samaria was the part of Israel between Judah and Galilee. When some foreign people had taken the *Jews to another country, other foreign people had come to live there. They did not *worship the *Lord God of Israel. Some people *worshipped gods of wood or stone. That is why *Jews keep away from *Samaritans.
v10 Jesus answered the woman ‘You do not know what God can give. If you knew who was asking for a drink, you would have asked him. Then he would have given you life-giving water’. v11 The woman said, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where would you get this life-giving water? v12 Jacob, our father made this well. He, his family and his animals all drank its water. Are you saying that you are greater than Jacob?' v13 Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks from this well will get *thirsty again. v14 But whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never get *thirsty. The water that I will give him will be like a river. It will fill him with *real life that never ends’. v15 The woman said to him, ‘Please give me this water. Then I shall never get *thirsty again. And I will not have to keep coming here to get water’.
v16 He told her ‘Go, fetch your husband, and come back’. v17 ‘I have no husband’, she replied. Jesus said to her, ‘You have told me the *truth. You certainly do not have a husband. v18 The fact is that you have had 5 husbands. Now you are living with a man who is not your husband. What you have said is quite true’. v19 ‘Sir, the woman said, ‘I can see that you are one who speaks for God. v20 Our fathers *worshipped on this mountain. But you *Jews say that we should go to Jerusalem to *worship’. v21 Jesus spoke with authority, ‘Believe me, woman, the time will come when you will not *worship the Father on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. v22 You *Samaritans do not really know what you *worship. We know what we *worship. God will use the *Jews to tell people how he can save them. v23 The time is coming when people will *worship the Father as he really is. In fact it has already come. By the power of God’s Spirit they will give him the true *worship that he wants. v24 God is spirit. People can only *worship him as he really is by the power of his Spirit’. v25 The woman said, ‘I know that the *Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us’. v26 Then Jesus said, ‘I, who am speaking to you, am he’.
v27 At this moment, the *disciples returned. They were surprised to find Jesus talking to a woman. But none of them asked, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you talking to her?’ v28 Then the woman left her bucket and went back into the town. She said to the people, v29 ‘Come and see a man who told me all about myself. Could this be the Christ?’ v30 They came out of the town and went to find him.
v31 While the woman was away, the *disciples said to Jesus, ‘Please eat something’. v32 But he said to them, ‘I have eaten food that you do not know about’. v33 Then his *disciples asked each other, ‘Could someone have brought him some food?’ v34 Jesus said, ‘My food is to do the work of the one who sent me. And I must finish it. v35 You could say “The *harvest will be ready in 4 more months”. But I say that you should look at the fields. They are ready for *harvest now. v36 God is paying the workers. They are starting to bring in the fruit for the *real life that never ends. Those who planted the seed and those who bring in the fruit will be happy together. v37 So what people say is true. One man plants the seed and another brings in the fruit. v38 I sent you out to fetch fruit that you have not worked for. Other people did the hard work. You have brought in the fruit that they worked for’.
The woman of Samaria said that she wanted to know where to *worship. Jesus told her that the place was not important. The most important thing is how to *worship God. He said that the *Jews understood this better than the *Samaritans. Jesus said that true *worship comes from inside a person. The things that we think and know about God are very important. They are more important than obeying rules made by men. Because God is spirit we must *worship with the power of his Spirit. Jesus is showing us how to do this. In this world seeing is believing.
v39 Many of the *Samaritans of that town heard the woman’s story. She said, ‘He told me everything that I ever did’. Because of this, they believed in Jesus. v40 They went to Jesus and asked him to stay with them. So he stayed for two more days. v41 Many more people believed when they heard the words of Jesus. v42 The people spoke to the woman. ‘We now believe in him because we have heard him for ourselves. We do not only believe because of what you said. We know that this man really is the one who will save the world’.
v43 Jesus left to go to Galilee after two days. v44 (Jesus said earlier that *prophets were never believed in their own towns.) v45 When he arrived in Galilee the people welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem. They also had been at the *Passover *feast.
v46 Jesus went again to Cana in Galilee. This is where he had made water into *wine. One of the king’s officers was at Capernaum. This officer had a son who was dying. v47 He heard that Jesus had come to Galilee from Judea. Then he went to ask Jesus to make his son better. v48 ‘You want to see me do things that only God can do (*miracles)’, Jesus said. ‘If you do not see them, none of you will believe’. v49 ‘Please Sir, come with me now before my child dies’, said the king’s officer. v50 ‘Go home’, said Jesus. ‘Your son will live’. The man believed Jesus and started to go back. v51 On the journey home, his servants met him. They told him that his son was going to live. v52 He asked them, ‘At what time did he start to get better?’ They told him, ‘Yesterday, at one hour after noon’. v53 Then the father knew that this was the same hour at which Jesus had spoken to him. It was when he had said, ‘Your son will live’. So the man and all his family believed. v54 This was the second *miracle that Jesus did after returning to Galilee.
v1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He was going to a *feast of the *Jews. v2 There is a pool near the sheep gate in Jerusalem. Its name is Bethesda in the Aramaic language. There is a building with 5 covered spaces round the pool. v3 A large number of sick people were lying there. Some were *blind, and some could not move or walk. v4 At times, the water started to move. Then the sick people all tried to get in the pool. The first person in the water became well. He got better, whatever his illness was. v5 One man there had been ill for 38 years. v6 Jesus saw him. He learnt that the man had been like this for a very long time. So he asked the man, ‘Do you want to get well?’ v7 ‘Sir’, the man said, ‘no one will help me. I want to get into the water when it starts to move. But someone always gets in before me’. v8 Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your bed and walk’. v9 The man got better at once. He picked up his bed and started to walk. All this happened on a *Sabbath day. v10 The *Jewish rulers said to him, ‘You must not carry your bed on the *Sabbath. You are not obeying the rules’. v11 He replied, ‘A man made me well. He told me to pick up my bed and walk’.
v12 So they asked him, ‘Who is this person who told you to pick it up and walk?’ v13 The man who was made well did not know who it was. For Jesus had gone away into the crowd that was there. v14 Later, Jesus found the man in the *temple. He said to him, ‘Listen, you are well again. Stop doing wrong things or something worse may happen to you’. v15 The man went to the *Jews. He told them that it was Jesus who had made him well. v16 The *Jewish rulers made a lot of trouble for Jesus. They were angry because Jesus had made a man well on the *Sabbath. v17 Jesus spoke to them. He said, ‘My Father is still working, and so am I’. v18 The *Jews got even angrier. They wanted to kill him. He was not only working on the *Sabbath. He was also calling God his Father. If Jesus was God’s son, he was making himself equal with God.
Verse 1 John’s wrote his *Gospel to Christians. They were not all *Jews so he had to tell them about the *Jewish *feasts.
Verses 8-15 The *Sabbath was the seventh day of the week. God had said that people must not work on the *Sabbath. That was the day to *worship him. But Jesus wanted to show that he was obeying God. And God chose to make the man well on the *Sabbath. The man was not really working by carrying his bed. (It was a little carpet, not a big heavy thing.) God had made good rules. Jesus wanted the *Jews to see that they were making more rules. Jesus was not afraid to tell his enemies what was true. He said, ‘My Father is always working’. He used God’s power to do what God told him to do. The things that Jesus did showed that he was the Son of God. The *scriptures spoke about him. But many *Jews did not believe that Jesus was the man in the *Scriptures. Because Jesus was God, he had God’s life in him. He said that he could give life that never ends to any person. But that person must believe in him. Many people would not listen to him.
v19 Jesus answered them, ‘I am telling you the *truth. The Son can do nothing by himself. He can only do what he sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the son does also. v20 For the Father shows the Son all that he does. This is because he loves him. Yes, you will be very surprised. The Father will show the Son even greater things than these. v21 The Father raises the dead and gives them life. In the same way, the Son gives life to everyone that he chooses. v22 More than that, the Father does not *judge anyone. He has given the Son full authority to *judge. v23 This is so that people will value the Son as they value the Father. They may think that the Son has little authority. Then they will think that the Father has no power. v24 I am speaking the *truth. Anyone may hear my word and believe in the one who sent me. If they do believe, they have the *real life that goes on for ever. I will not *judge them for the wrong things that they have done. They have moved from death into life’.
v25 ‘I am telling the *truth. A time will come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. In fact this time has already come. Those who hear his voice and do what he says will live for ever. v26 The Father causes people to have life. He has given the Son the power to give life, too. v27 He has given the Son authority to *judge. This is because he is the Son of Man. v28 Do not be surprised by this. A time will come when all who have died and been buried will hear the son’s voice. v29 They will come out. Those who have done good things will rise and have life for ever. Those who have done bad things will rise to be *punished.
v30 I can do nothing by myself. I *judge only as my Father tells me. When I *judge, I *judge *correctly. I do not want to please myself. I try to please the one who sent me. v31 What I say about myself has little value. People will not listen to my words. v32 There is someone else who knows about me. And I know that he tells the *truth. v33 You have sent your people to John. He told the *truth about me. v34 I do not need any man to speak for me. I am telling you this so that God may save you. v35 John was like a star, burning and shining. And what he said was like a light. It made you happy for a time. v36 The works that the Father gave me to do speak for me. They speak louder than John’s words. What I do shows that the Father has sent me. v37 The Father himself has spoken about me. You have never heard his voice, nor seen his face. v38 You do not keep his word in your hearts. This is why you do not believe that I am the one that he sent. v39 You study the *scriptures *carefully. You think that they will give you *eternal life (the life that never ends). These *scriptures tell you about me. v40 But you refuse to come to me to find *real life.
v41 I do not want men to say that I am great. v42 But I know what kind of people you are. I know that you do not really love God. v43 I have come with my Father’s authority, but you do not really listen to me. But if someone comes who speaks only for himself, you will listen to him. v44 You like it when people *praise you. But you do not try to win *praise from God. So you cannot believe me. v45 Do not think that I will tell the Father that you have done wrong. You hope that Moses will help you. But he will say that you are wrong. v46 If you had believed Moses you would have believed me. v47 You do not believe what Moses wrote. So you cannot believe what I say’.
Verses 28-47 When Jesus said, ‘I am telling you the *truth’, he was always saying something very important. Here he is saying that he is God’s son. So he has God’s power. He does only what God chooses, with God’s authority. He and God have one mind. The *miracles that Jesus did showed that Jesus was very special. People who did not believe these things were *blind (in spirit). They would not believe God’s *truth. They did not want to obey God. The ‘scriptures’ were the writings of some of the *Jewish people in the past. Moses had written the books of the *law. Several *prophets had written books too. Other men had written books about the way that God had led his *Jewish people. Some men also wrote songs of *worship (psalms).
v1 Some time later, Jesus went across the sea of Galilee. (Its other name is the sea of Tiberias.) v2 A great crowd of people followed him. They had seen his *miracles. They had seen him make sick people well. v3 Jesus went up a hill and sat down with his *disciples. v4 It was nearly the time for the *Jewish *Passover *feast. v5 Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd of people coming towards him. He said to Philip, ‘Where can we get enough food to feed all these people?’ v6 He asked this to *test Philip. Jesus already knew what he was going to do. v7 Philip answered, ‘A man would have to work for 8 months. Then he might have enough money to buy a little bread for each person here’. v8 Then Andrew, another *disciple, spoke. (He was Simon Peter’s brother.) He said, v9 ‘Here is a boy with 5 small loaves and two little fishes. But they will certainly not be enough to feed so many people’. v10 Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down’. There was a lot of grass there. They sat down. There were about 5000 men. v11 Jesus took the loaves and thanked God for them. He broke them up. They gave pieces to all the people. Every one had enough to eat. Jesus did the same with the fish. v12 When all the people had had enough to eat, Jesus spoke. He said to his *disciples, ‘Do not waste anything. Pick up all the pieces that are left’. v13 So they picked them up. They filled 12 baskets with the pieces of bread that the people had not eaten. v14 The people had seen this *miracle that Jesus did. Then they began to talk. They said, ‘This must be the *Prophet who is to come into the world’. v15 Jesus knew that the people wanted to take him and make him their king. (He did not want them to do that.) So he went away to the hills again alone.
v16 When it was evening, the *disciples went down to the lake. v17 They got into a boat and started to travel towards Capernaum. It was dark by then. Jesus had not yet joined them. v18 There was a strong wind. The water was moving *powerfully. v19 The *disciples were trying to push the boat through the water with oars (special pieces of wood). When they had gone 3 or 4 miles (5-6 kilometres), they saw Jesus. He was coming towards them, walking on the water. And they were very afraid. v20 But he said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. It is I’. v21 So the *disciples were happy to take him into the boat. Immediately the boat came to the place where they wanted to be.
v22 Some people had stayed on the far side of the lake. The next day they looked round. They saw that the only boat had gone. They knew that the *disciples had taken it. And they knew that Jesus had not gone with them. v23 Then some boats from Tiberias arrived near to the place where they were. This was the place where Jesus had given thanks for the bread and fed the crowd. v24 Then they discovered that Jesus had gone as well as his *disciples. So they got into the boats and went to Capernaum. They were looking for Jesus.
v25 They found him there. They asked him, ‘Rabbi, (Master) when did you come here?’ v26 Jesus answered, ‘I am telling you the *truth. You saw me do a*miracle. But you have not come because of that. You are looking for me because you had as much bread as you could eat. v27 Do not work to get food that does not keep. But work for the food that gives *real life. This is the life that never ends. The Son of man will give you this food. God has given him his authority to do this’.
v28 Then the *Jews asked him, ‘How can we do the things that please God?’ v29 Jesus answered, ‘Believe in the one that God sent to you. This is what God wants you to do’. v30 Then the people asked him, “What miracle will you do? If we see a miracle, then we will believe you. What will you do? v31 Our fathers ate ‘*manna’ in the wild places. They wrote, ‘God gave them bread from the sky to eat’ ”. v32 Jesus said to them, ‘I am telling you the *truth. It was not Moses that gave you that bread. My Father gives you the true bread from the sky. v33 The one who came down from the sky is the bread of God. He gives life to all people’. v34 ‘Sir’, they said, ‘give us this bread now and always’.
v35 Then Jesus spoke. ‘I am the living bread. Anyone who comes to me will never be hungry. And anyone who believes in me will never need anything important. v36 But you have seen me and do not believe me. I have told you so before. v37 Everyone that the Father gives to me will come to me. If anyone does come to me, I will never send that person away. v38 I have not come from the sky to please myself. I have come to obey the one who sent me. v39 He does not want to lose even one of the people that he has given to me. He wants me to raise them up on the last day. v40 My Father has decided that anyone who listens to the Son and believes in him will have *eternal life. And I will raise them up on the last day’.
John calls the 7 *miracles, which he describes in his *Gospel, ‘signs’. But they did not point to a place. They were signs that pointed to the person of Jesus. They showed that Jesus was the Son of God. They showed that Jesus had God’s authority. Jesus spoke God’s words. He spoke only what was true. The first ‘sign’ was when Jesus turned water into *wine (chapter 2). The second ‘sign’ (4:54) was when Jesus made a sick boy well. The third ‘sign’ was feeding 5000 people with five small loaves and two small fishes. In this story, the people wanted Jesus to feed them again. They *reminded him how God had fed their fathers in the wild places. He had given them food from the sky, called ‘*manna’. This was after he had saved them from being slaves in Egypt (Exodus 16:4-6). But Jesus wanted them to understand that he could give them living bread. This bread of the *Holy Spirit could give them the true life that lasts for ever.
v41 The *Jews started saying bad things about Jesus, because Jesus said, ‘I am the bread that came down from the sky’. v42 They said, ‘But this is Jesus, the son of Joseph. We know his father and mother. How can he say that he came from the sky?’ v43 Jesus answered, ‘Stop this *argument among yourselves. v44 The Father has sent me. No one can come to me unless the Father brings them to me. And I will raise them to life on the last day. v45 The *prophets wrote in their books “God will teach all the people” (Isaiah 54:13). Everyone who hears the Father and learns from him comes to me. v46 No one has seen the Father except the one that God sent. He is the only one who has seen the Father. v47 I am telling you the *truth. The person who believes this has the life that never ends. v48 I am the bread that gives you life. v49 Your fathers ate ‘*manna’ in the wild places where no man lives. But they died. v50 This bread from the sky is different. Anyone who eats it will not die. v51 I am the living bread that came down from the sky. If anyone eats this bread, he will live for ever. This bread is my body. I will give it so that all people may live’.
v52 Then the *Jews quarrelled with one other even more. ‘How can this man give us his body to eat?’ v53 Jesus said, ‘I tell you the *truth. You have no life in you if you do not eat the body of the Son of man and drink his blood. v54 Whoever eats my body and drinks my blood has *eternal life.And I will raise him up on the last day. v55 My body is *real food and my blood is *real drink. v56 Whoever eats my body and drinks my blood remains part of me. And I will remain in him. v57 The Father who gives life sent me. And I live because of him. So the one who eats me will live because of me. v58 This is the bread that came down from the sky. It is not like the ‘*manna’ that your fathers ate. They still died. But the person who feeds on this bread will live for ever’. v59 Jesus said this while he was teaching in Capernaum. He was in the *synagogue - the place where the *Jews *worshipped God.
v60 Many of the people who followed Jesus said, ‘This teaching is too difficult. How can anyone accept it?’ v61 Jesus knew, without anyone telling him, that the *disciples were arguing. He said, ‘Does this make you want to turn away too? v62 What would you feel if you saw the Son of man go back? *Suppose you saw him go up to the place where he came from. v63 God’s Spirit gives life. Man’s power cannot give life. The words that I have spoken to you bring God’s Spirit. They can give you *real life. v64 But some of you do not believe these words’. (Jesus had always known which of them would believe, and which would not believe. And he knew who would tell his enemies about him and hurt him.)
v65 Then Jesus said these words. ‘This is why I told you that only the Father can bring people to me. No one can come to me if the Father does not want him to’. v66 From that time many of Jesus’ *disciples left him. They did not follow him any more. v67 Jesus asked the 12 special *disciples, ‘Do you want to go away, too?’ v68 Simon Peter answered him, ‘Master, who should we go to? You have the words that give *eternal life. v69 And we believe and we know that you are the *Holy one who has come from God’. v70 Jesus said, ‘I have chosen the 12 of you. Yet one of you is a *devil’. v71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Judas was one of the 12. But later he was going to turn against Jesus.)
v1 After this, Jesus visited many places in Galilee. He did not want to visit Judea because the *Jews there wanted to kill him. v2 It was almost time for the *feast of *shelters. v3 Jesus’ brothers said, ‘You should leave this place and go to Judea. Then your *disciples can see the works that you do. v4 No one keeps their work secret if they want everyone to see what they are doing. You should show yourself to everybody’. v5 (Not even his brothers believed in him.) v6 Jesus answered, ‘The time for me to go has not yet come. For you any time is right. v7 People in the world have no reason to *hate you. But they hate me. Because I tell them that what they do is wrong. v8 You go to the *feast. I am not going yet. It is not the right time’. v9 He said this and then stayed in Galilee for a few days.
v10 After his brothers had gone, Jesus also went to the *feast. But he went *secretly. v11 The *Jewish authorities were looking for him. ‘Where is that man?’ they asked. v12 Small groups in the crowds were talking *quietly. Some said, ‘He is a good man’. But other people said, ‘No, he is not speaking the *truth’. v13 But no one spoke *loudly about him. They were afraid of the *Jewish leaders.
v14 When the *feast was half finished, Jesus started to teach in the *temple. v15 The *Jews were really surprised. They asked, ‘How does this man know so much? He has not learned in our schools’. v16 Jesus answered, ‘My teaching is not my own. It comes from God, who sent me. v17 Anyone can choose to do what God wants. Then he will know if my teaching came from God. He will know if it came from my own thoughts. v18 When a man teaches his own ideas he wants men to think that he is great. But he may want to show that someone else is great. Then he will speak the *truth. He is an *honest man. v19 Moses gave you the *law. But not one of you obeys the *law. Why are you trying to kill me?’ v20 The crowd answered, ‘A *devil is using you. Who wants to kill you?’ v21 Jesus replied, ‘I once made a sick man well on the *Sabbath, and you were all surprised. v22 But you will *circumcise a child on the *Sabbath. You do this because Moses told you to *circumcise your sons. Your fathers did this even before Moses was born. v23 A child can be *circumcised on the *Sabbath. So why are you angry with me? Is it because I made a man well on the *Sabbath? v24 You must be fair when you decide what is right. Your values must be true’.
The *Sabbath was the seventh day of the week. God had said that no one was to do any work on the *Sabbath. It was a day to be with God and to *worship him. But it was a day to help other people, too. It was a day to be kind to people to show that God loved them (Exodus 20:8). The *feast of *shelters lasted for a week. The people lived in *tents in the fields. This helped them to remember past years. Long ago, their fathers had left Egypt and lived in *tents. God had saved them from being slaves in Egypt. They held the *feast when they had brought in all the year’s fruits. It was to thank God for all his being so good to them (Numbers 29:12-35). God had said that men must *circumcise *Jewish boys. It showed that they belonged to God. A boy was *circumcised 8 days after he was born. The eighth day might be a *Sabbath. Abraham was the first man that God told to do this. Moses wrote about *circumcision in the book of the *law. Jesus was doing good things, which were not against the *law. The authorities had no reason to kill him.
v25 Some of the people in Jerusalem began to ask, ‘Is this not the man that they want to kill? v26 Here he is, speaking to the crowds. And they are not saying anything! Do the authorities think that he really is the *Christ? v27 But we all know where this man came from. When the Christ (*Messiah) comes, no one will know where he is from’. v28 Jesus spoke in the *temple in a loud voice ‘Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own authority. The one who sent me is true. You do not know him. v29 But I know him. I have come from him, and he sent me’. v30 When they heard this, they tried to take him to prison. But no one could hold him. It was not yet the time for this to happen. v31 But many in the crowd believed in him. They said, ‘The *Messiah is coming. Will he do more *miracles than this man has done?’
v32 The *Pharisees heard what the crowds were *quietly saying about Jesus. Then the *priests and *Pharisees sent their soldiers to take him away. v33 Jesus said, ‘I am only with you for a short time. Then I will go to the one who sent me. v34 You will look for me, but you will not find me. You cannot go where I shall be’. v35 The *Jews asked each other ‘What is he trying to tell us? Where can he go so we cannot find him? Is he going to our people in the *Gentile cities? Is he going to teach them? v36 Why did he say, “You will look for me, but you will not find me”, and, “You cannot come where I am going” ?’.
v37 The last day of the *feast was the most important day. Jesus stood up and spoke in a loud voice. He said, ‘If anyone is *thirsty, he should come to me. And whoever believes in me should drink. v38 *Scripture says that there are streams of the water that gives life. These will pour out from his heart’. v39 Jesus meant that the Spirit was like this water. He would give God’s Spirit to those who believed in him. But God had not yet given his Spirit to those who believe. God had not yet lifted Jesus to enjoy a place with him in *glory.
v40 Some of the people in the crowd heard Jesus say this. Then they said, ‘This really is the *Prophet that we have been waiting for!’ v41 Other people said, ‘He is the *Messiah’. But some said, ‘The *Prophet will not come from Galilee! v42 *Scripture says that King David will be the father of the *Messiah. He will come from Bethlehem, the town of David’. v43 The crowd could not agree about Jesus. v44 Some people wanted to take him to the authorities. But no one touched him.
v45 The soldiers returned to the *priests and the *Pharisees. They asked the soldiers, ‘Why did you not bring him here?’ v46 ‘No one ever spoke like this man’, the soldiers answered. v47 The *Pharisees asked, ‘Has he made fools of you, too? v48 None of the *Pharisees or leaders believes in him. You must know that. v49 But this crowd does not know the *law of Moses. God will destroy them’. v50 Nicodemus was one of the *Pharisees. He was the man who had gone to see Jesus before. He said to the other people, v51 ‘Our *law says that we must hear what a man has to say. We must find out what he has done. Then we can *judge him’. v52 They answered, ‘Are you from Galilee, too? Study the *scriptures. No *prophet ever comes from Galilee’.
Many early translations do not have the first 11 verses of chapter 8 here.
v1 Then everyone went home. But Jesus returned to the *Mount of Olives. v2 Early the next morning he went back to the *temple. All the people came to him. He sat down and began to teach them. v3 Men who taught God’s *Law and the *Pharisees brought a woman to him. They had caught her. She was having sex with a man who was not her husband. They made her stand in front of the crowd. v4 They said to Jesus, ‘Master, we caught this woman having sex with a man who was not her husband. v5 The *law of Moses says that she should be *stoned to death. What do you say about this?’ v6 This was a difficult question. They did not want Jesus to agree with the *law of Moses. Then they could ask the authorities to *punish him. But Jesus bent down. He started to write on the ground with his finger. v7 They kept on asking him questions. Then he stood up and said, ‘Which of you has never done anything wrong? He may be the one to throw the first stone at her’. v8 He bent down again and wrote on the ground with his finger. v9 At this, they began to leave. They went one at a time. The older ones went first. Jesus was then alone with the woman. She was still standing there. v10 Jesus stood up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Is there no one left to *punish you?’ v11 ‘No one, Sir’, she said. ‘Then nor do I *judge you’, said Jesus. ‘Go away and do not *sin again’.
The *law of Moses said that a woman must not have sex with a man who was not her husband. It also said that a man must not have sex with a woman who was not his wife. Those who found them together must throw stones at them until they died. The *Jews wanted to kill the woman that they brought to Jesus. But they did not bring the man who had been with her. Jesus did not say that the *law was wrong. But he told the woman not to *sin again.
v12 Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, ‘I am the light of the world. If anyone becomes my *disciple, he will walk in the light. This is the light that gives life. That man will never walk in the dark’. v13 The *Pharisees began to argue with him. ‘You are only one man. What you say has no value’. v14 Jesus answered, ‘But what I say does have value. Even if I speak for myself, my words are true. I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I came from or where I am going. v15 You *judge as *humans *judge. I *judge no one. v16 But if I did *judge, I would decide *correctly. This is because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me in this.
v17 Your *law says, “When two men agree about something, they are speaking the *truth”. v18 I speak for myself. The Father who sent me also speaks for me’. v19 Then they asked him ‘Where is your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know me or my Father. If you knew me you would also know my Father’. v20 Jesus said all this as he taught in the *temple. He was near the place where they kept the gifts of money. No one took him away to *judge him, because the time for this had not yet come.
v21 Again Jesus said to them, ‘I will go away. You will look for me, but you will die in your *sin. You cannot go where I am going’. v22 The authorities asked each other, ‘Does he mean to kill himself? He says that we cannot go where he is going’. v23 Jesus answered, ‘You belong to this world down here. But I come from above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. v24 I told you that you would die, if you did not believe in me. I am who I am’. v25 ‘Who are you then?’ they asked him. Jesus answered, ‘I am that very person that I told you I was. I have told you that from the beginning. v26 I have much to say about you. I must *judge the things that you do. But the one who sent me is true. I tell the world only what he has told me to say’. v27 They did not understand that he was telling them about the Father. v28 So Jesus said, ‘You will lift up the Son of man. Then you will know that I am who I am. Then you will know that I do nothing on my own authority. I say only what the Father has taught me to say. v29 The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone. This is because I always do the things that please him’. v30 Many of those who heard Jesus say these things believed in him.
v31 Then Jesus spoke to those who had believed in him. He said, ‘If you obey my teaching, you really are my *disciples. v32 You will know the *truth, and the *truth will make you free’. v33 ‘Abraham is our father’, the *Jews said. ‘We have never been anyone’s slaves. How can you say, “You will be free”?’
v34 Jesus answered them, ‘I am telling you the *truth. Everyone who *sins is a slave to *sin. v35 A slave does not belong to a family for always. But a son always belongs to the family for ever. v36 So, if the Son makes you free, you really will be free. v37 I know that you are Abraham’s sons. But you are still trying to kill me. You will not accept my words. v38 I talk about what my Father has shown me. But you do what your father has told you’.
v39 They answered, ‘Abraham is our father!’ Jesus said, ‘If you really were Abraham’s children, you would do what he did. v40 As it is, you want to kill me. Abraham did not do such things. I told you the *truth that I heard from God. v41 You do what your father did’. They said to him, ‘God is our true father, and we are his true sons’. v42 Jesus said to them, ‘If God really was your father, you would love me. I came from God. I did not come because it was my own idea. God sent me. v43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you will not listen to my *message. v44 You are the children of the *Devil. And you want to do the things that he wants. He has always murdered people, from the very beginning. He has nothing to do with the *truth. There is no *truth in him. He tells *lies. It is easier for him to tell lies than to tell the *truth. He is a *liar and the father of all lies. v45 But I tell you the *truth. And that is why you do not believe me. v46 Which of you can tell of any *sin that I have done? You should believe me if I am telling the *truth. v47 Those that God sent will listen to his words. But you are not from God. That is why you will not listen’.
The *Jewish leaders were becoming more and more angry with Jesus. Some people believed in Jesus, but many did not. Jesus said that he was the light of the world. (The *feast of *shelters was also called the *feast of lights.) The people did not believe that God was Jesus’ Father. The *Jews used ‘I am’ as the name of God. Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world’ or ‘I am that I am’ (8:12, 24, 28, 58). Then he was saying that he was God.
The *Jews were very angry because they could not accept this. They said that Jesus had a *devil. They thought that they should kill him with stones. Jesus had to say that they were *murderers, like the *Devil. They were telling lies when they said that they did not want to kill Jesus. They would not listen to him. Yet they could not show that he had done anything that was wrong.
v48 The *Jews answered him, ‘*Surely you are a *Samaritan. And you have a *devil in you!’ v49 ‘There is no *devil in me’, said Jesus. ‘But I want people to think that my Father is better than any other person. You do not think well of me. v50 I am not trying to get *honour for myself. There is One who wants me to have this *honour. And he is the *judge. v51 I am telling you the *truth. If anyone obeys my words, he will never really die’. v52 The *Jews shouted, ‘Now we know that a *devil lives in you! Abraham and all the *prophets died. Yet you say that someone who does what you say will not die! v53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died and so did all the *prophets. Who do you think you are?’ v54 Jesus replied, ‘If I say that people should give me *honour, this means nothing. My Father gives me *honour. You call him your God. v55 You have never known him, but I know him. And I obey him. v56 Your father Abraham was happy when he heard that my day was coming. It came, and he was really happy’. v57 The *Jews said, ‘You are not yet 50 years old. And you say that you have seen Abraham?’ v58 ‘I am telling you the *truth’, Jesus said. ‘Before Abraham was born, I am’. v59 They picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus hid himself, and left the *temple.
v1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who was *blind. He had been *blind since he was born. v2 His *disciples asked him, ‘Why is this man *blind? Was it because he *sinned, or did his parents *sin?’ v3 Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents *sinned. He is *blind so that God can show his power. God will *heal him. v4 We must do the work of the one who sent me. It is day now, but night is coming. Then no one can work. v5 I am like a light for the world while I am here’. v6 When Jesus had finished speaking, he made water in his mouth. He mixed it on the ground to make *mud. He put some of the *mud on the *blind man’s eyes. v7 Jesus said to him, ‘Go and wash in the pool of Siloam’, (the name Siloam means ‘sent’). So the man went and washed. Then he went back home. He could see. v8 People who knew the man, and some who had seen him ask for money, spoke to each other. ‘Is this not the man who used to sit here and ask for money?’ they asked. v9 ‘No’, said some people. ‘It is someone very like him’. But other people said, ‘Yes, it is him’. So the man himself said, ‘I am that man’. v10 Then they asked him ‘What happened to make you see?’ v11 He answered, ‘The man called Jesus made some *mud. He put this on my eyes. He sent me to wash in the pool of Siloam. So I went and washed. And then I could see’. v12 ‘Where is this man?’, they asked him. ‘I do not know’, he replied.
v13 The people took the man who had been *blind to the *Pharisees. v14 (Jesus had taken the *mud and made the man well on the *Sabbath day.) v15 Then the *Pharisees asked the man how he had been made well. This was the second time that someone had asked him this question. The man replied, ‘Jesus put *mud on my eyes and I washed. Now I can see’. v16 Some of the *Pharisees said, ‘The man who did this cannot be from God. He does not obey the *Sabbath rules’. But some of them asked, ‘How can anyone who is a *sinner do such *miracles as these?’ So they did not agree with one another. v17 The *Pharisees spoke to the man again. ‘What do you say about him? After all, he opened your eyes’. ‘He is a *prophet’, the man replied.
v18 The *Jewish authorities did not want to believe that the man had really been *blind. So they sent for the man’s parents. v19 ‘Is this your son?’ they asked them. ‘You say that he was *blind when he was born. But now he can see. How did this happen?’ v20 The parents spoke, ‘We know that this is our son. And we know that he was *blind when he was born. v21 But we do not know how he can now see. Nor do we know who made him well. Ask him. He is old enough. He can answer for himself!’ v22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the *Jews. The *Jewish leaders had already agreed to *punish anyone who said that Jesus was the *Messiah.The leaders would not let such people belong to the *synagogue. v23 That is why the parents said, ‘Ask him, he is old enough’.
v24 The authorities sent for the man who had been *blind. They said to him, ‘Promise that you will speak the *truth. You are in front of God. We know that this man is a *sinner’. v25 ‘I do not know if this man is a *sinner or not’, the man replied. ‘But I do know one thing. I know that I was *blind, and now I can see’. v26 They asked him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he make you see?’ v27 He answered them, ‘I have already told you. And you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Perhaps you want to become his *disciples?’ v28 They were very angry with him. They shouted at him, ‘You are that person’s *disciple. But we are Moses’ *disciples. v29 We know that God spoke to Moses. We do not even know where that man came from’. v30 The man answered, ‘That is very strange. You say that you do not know where Jesus comes from. Yet he was the one who made me see. v31 We know that God does not listen to *sinners. But he does listen to those who *respect and obey him. v32 No one has ever before made a *blind man see. No one has done this since God made the world. v33 This man who made me well must have come from God. He could only do such things with God’s help’. v34 The *Jews answered, ‘You have always been a *sinner, from the day that you were born. How can you try to teach us?’ And they pushed him out of the *synagogue.
v35 Jesus heard what had happened. So he found the man and asked him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ v36 The man answered, ‘Sir, please tell me who he is. Then I can believe in him’. v37 Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him. I am that man. This is the one who is talking to you now’. v38 ‘I believe, *Lord’, said the man. He went on his knees and *worshipped Jesus. v39 ‘I came to show the people of this world that they were *sinners. Those who think that they are *blind can see this. But some who think that they can see are *blind’. v40 Some of the *Pharisees who were there heard this. They asked him, ‘You do not mean that we are *blind, do you?’ v41 Jesus answered, ‘You would not have any *sin if you were *blind. But you say that you can see. So your *sin will be *judged’.
God *punishes people who *sin, or who do bad things. Sometimes he let them become sick, or get into trouble. The *Jews thought that God had made the man *blind. They believed that he, or his parents, had done some bad thing. Jesus taught that there was another reason. The man was not *blind because he or his parents had *sinned. He was *blind so that Jesus could show everyone God’s power. Jesus knew that people might not believe that God had sent him. He said that these people were *blind in their minds. But people who believed in him could see what was true.
The *Messiah was a man that God would send to save the *Jewish people. The *Jews thought that he would come to send away the *Roman soldiers. They thought that he would be a king like David. They believed that he would make sick people well too.
The *prophets had said that he would be born in David’s city of Bethlehem.
v1 Jesus said, ‘I am telling you the *truth. A *shepherd keeps his sheep in a field. A man may climb over a wall to get into that field. The man who does this is not the *shepherd. That man is bad. He has come to take away the sheep that do not belong to him. v2 The *shepherd goes in through the gate. v3 The man who watches the gate will open it for the *shepherd. The *sheep will recognise the *shepherd’s voice. He calls them each by their name. The sheep will let him lead them out. v4 All his *sheep will come out of the field. Then he will go in front of them, and they will follow him. They will follow because they know his voice. v5 They will not follow a stranger. They will run away from a stranger because they do not know his voice. v6 Jesus told them this story as a *parable. They did not understand what he was trying to say to them.
v7 Jesus spoke again. ‘I am telling you the *truth. I am like the gate for the *sheep. v8 Many other men came *pretending to take care of the *sheep. They all wanted to take them away. But the *sheep did not listen to them. v9 I am the gate. Whoever comes in through me will be safe. He will come in and go out, and will find food. v10 The one who comes to take away my *sheep only comes to kill and destroy them. I have come to give life. I want to give them *real life. Then they may have a life that is whole.
v11 I am the good *shepherd. A good *shepherd is *willing to die to save his *sheep. v12 A man who is paid to work with them does not own the *sheep. He is not a *real *shepherd. Such a man sees a *wolf (a hungry wild animal) coming to take a *sheep. He leaves the *sheep and runs away. The *wolf makes the *sheep run in all directions. Then he takes what he wants. v13 The man ran away because they were not his own *sheep. He would not lose money if anything happened to them. v14 I am the good *shepherd. I know my own *sheep, and they know me. v15 I know them as my Father knows me, and I know him. And I am ready to die for them. v16 There are other *sheep which belong to me, but they are not in this field. I must bring them. They will listen to my voice. They will all be one group, with one *shepherd. v17 The Father loves me because I am ready to give up my life. I give it so that he can give it back to me. v18 No one is taking my life from me. I choose to give it. I have the authority to give my life, and to take it again. My Father has told me to do this’.
v19 The people could not agree about this teaching. v20 Many of them said, ‘He has a *demon! His mind is sick! Why do you listen to him?’ v21 But other people said, ‘A man with a *demon could not talk like this! A *demon could not make *blind people see!’
v22 It was winter, near the time of the *feast of lights. At this time, people remembered how the *temple had been made clean to *worship the true God. v23 Jesus was walking under a roof by the side of the *temple. It was called Solomon’s *porch. v24 The *Jews stood round him. They asked, ‘How long must we wait for you to tell us the *truth? Are you the *Messiah, or not?’ v25 Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, but you do not believe me. My Father gave me the authority to do all these things. Those things tell you who I am. v26 But you refuse to believe, because you are not my *sheep. v27 My *sheep listen to what I say. I know them, and they follow me. v28 I give them *real life that has no end. They shall never die. No one can take them away from me. v29 My Father has given them to me. He is greater than all. No one can take them out of my Father’s hand. v30 My Father and I are just one person’.
v31 The *Jews again picked up stones to throw at Jesus. v32 Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good things as the Father told me to do. And you have seen me do them. For which of these do you want to throw stones at me?’ v33 They answered, ‘We do not want to do this because of any good things that you have done. We want to throw stones at you because you are speaking against God. You are only a man. But you are saying that you are God’. v34 Jesus answered, “Your own *law says that God said, ‘You are gods’. v35 God called the people to whom he spoke ‘gods’. His message does not change. v36 As for me, the Father chose me and sent me into the world. Why do you say that I *sin against God? Is it because I said that I was God’s Son? v37 If I did not do the things that my Father told me to do, only then should you not believe me. v38 But if I do the things that he wants, you should certainly believe them. Then you will believe. Then you will know that the Father and I are like one and the same person’. v39 Once more the *Jews tried to catch Jesus. But he got away from them. v40 Jesus went back across the Jordan river again. He went to the place where John had *baptised people, and stayed there. v41 Many people came to him. They said to each other, ‘John did not do any *miracles. But everything that he said about this man was true’. v42 So many people believed that Jesus was who he said that he was.
A shepherd is a man who looks after *sheep. The *prophets had often said that God was like a *shepherd. He looked after his people just as a *shepherd looks after his sheep. Jesus said that he would be a good *shepherd to the people that God gave him.
Jesus used the *feast of lights as a picture. He was like a light to the world. He was using God’s power to do *miracles. He wanted people to know this, too.
He began to tell them that God and he were like a Father and his son. Then people became angry. They knew that there was only one God. They did not believe that God and Jesus were like one person.
v1 Lazarus was a man who lived in Bethany. He became sick. Mary and her sister Martha lived in Bethany, too. v2 (This was the same Mary who had poured *perfume over the feet of Jesus. And then she had cleaned his feet with her hair. Lazarus was her brother.) v3 The two sisters sent a message to Jesus. ‘*Lord, your dear friend is ill’. v4 Jesus heard the message. He said, ‘This illness will not end with the death of Lazarus. No, it is to show how powerful God is. It will be used to bring *glory to God’s Son, too.
v5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and their brother, too. v6 He heard the news that Lazarus was sick. Yet he stayed where he was for two more days. v7 Then he said to his *disciples, ‘Let us go back to *Judea’. v8 They said, ‘*Rabbi, just a few days ago, the *Jews there tried to kill you with stones. Are you really going back there?’ v9 Jesus answered, ‘You know that there are 12 hours in the day. A man who walks in the day will not fall. He can see where he is going. This is because he sees the one who gives light to the world. v10 But if he walks in the dark, he falls over things. He cannot see because he has no light in himself’. v11 After this, Jesus went on to say ‘Our friend Lazarus is asleep. I am going to wake him up’. v12 The *disciples answered, ‘If he is asleep, *Lord, he will get well’. v13 But Jesus meant that Lazarus had died. The *disciples thought that Jesus was talking about *normal sleep. v14 So Jesus told them clearly, ‘Lazarus is dead. v15 But I am *glad that I was not with him. This is so that you may learn to believe in me. We must go to him now’.
v16 Thomas (called Didymus) spoke to the rest of the *disciples, ‘Let us go with our teacher. Then we can die with him!’ v17 Jesus arrived in Bethany. Then he learnt that Lazarus had died 4 (four) days earlier. v18 Bethany was less than two miles (about 3 kilometres) from Jerusalem. v19 Many people from that part of the country had come to see Martha and Mary. They wanted to show them how sorry they were. v20 Martha went out to meet Jesus. She had heard that he was near. But Mary stayed at home. v21 Martha said to Jesus, ‘If you had been here, *Lord, my brother would not have died. v22 But I know that even now, God will hear you. He will do whatever you ask’. v23 ‘Your brother will live again’, Jesus told her. v24 She replied, ‘I know that he will rise again on the last day’. v25 Jesus said, ‘I am the one who raises people from the dead. I give them life. If anyone believes in me, he will continue to live. He will live, even when he has died. v26 A person who really lives and who believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ v27 ‘Yes, *Lord’, she answered. ‘I do believe. You are the *Messiah, (Christ) the Son of God. You are the one that God promised to send into the world’.
v28 After this, Martha went home and spoke *quietly to her sister, Mary. ‘The teacher is here, and is asking to see you’, she said. v29 When Mary heard this, she got up and hurried out to meet Jesus. v30 (Jesus had not yet arrived in the village. He was still in the place where Martha had seen him.) v31 The people in the house who were weeping with Mary saw her get up quickly. They thought that she was going to the *tomb to weep there. v32 When Mary came to the place where Jesus was, she fell at his feet. She said, ‘*Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died’. v33 Jesus saw her weeping, and the people with her weeping, too. Jesus felt very sad in his *spirit. He was very sorry for them. v34 ‘Where is his body?’ he asked them. ‘Come and see, *Lord’, they answered. v35 Jesus wept. v36 The people said to one another, ‘See how much he loved him!’ v37 But some of them said, ‘He made the *blind man see. He must have had power to save Lazarus from dying’.
v38 Jesus continued to be very sad. He went to the *tomb. (This was a big hole in the side of a hill. A very big stone covered it.) v39 ‘Take the stone away’, he said. Martha, the sister of the dead man said, ‘But *Lord, his body will have a bad smell. He has been dead for 4 days!’ v40 Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that you would see how powerful God is? If you will believe, you will see his *glory’. v41 So they took the stone away. Jesus looked up towards the sky. He said, ‘Father, I thank you for listening to me. v42 I know that you always listen to me. But I said this for the people here. I said it so that they will believe that you sent me’. v43 When he had said this, Jesus called out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ v44 The dead man came out. There were pieces of cloth round his hands and feet. Another piece of material was over his face. ‘Undo the cloths and let him go’, Jesus told them.
v45 Many of the people who had come to visit Mary saw what Jesus did. They believed in him. v46 But some went away to tell the *Pharisees what Jesus had done. v47 Then the *Pharisees and the leaders of the *priests called a meeting of the *Sanhedrin. They asked one another, ‘What shall we do? See how many *miracles this man is doing. v48 If we let him continue to do *miracles, everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman leaders will come and destroy our *temple and our people’. v49 One of them, called Caiaphas, was *high priest that year. He said, ‘You do not understand the problem. v50 It is better for one man to die for the people, than for the Romans to destroy all the people’. v51 He did not say this on his own, but as a *prophet. Because he was the *high priest, he *prophesied that Jesus would die for all the *Jewish people. v52 In fact, Jesus’ death would bring together all the people of God from many different places. They would become one family. v53 From the day that Caiaphas spoke these words, things got very bad. The *Jews really wanted to find how they could kill Jesus. v54 So Jesus left *Judea. He travelled in secret to a town named Ephraim, near to the *desert. He stayed there with the *disciples.
v55 It was almost time for the *Jewish *Passover *feast. Many people were going up to Jerusalem to make themselves ready. They wanted God to see them as clean before they went to the *feast. v56 They kept looking for Jesus. They asked each other, ‘Do you think that he will come to the *feast?’ v57 The *priests and the *Pharisees said to the people, ‘You must tell us if you know where Jesus is. We want to put him in prison’.
The leaders of the *priests and the *Pharisees were very angry when Jesus said that he was God’s Son. They were even angrier when Jesus made the dead Lazarus come alive again. They were not happy to see the *miracle. They did not want to believe Jesus. They *were afraid that they would lose their power and authority. They were afraid that the *Jewish people would make Jesus their leader, or even a king. Then the Romans would *punish all the *Jews.
v1 Six days before the *Passover, Jesus went to Bethany. Lazarus lived there. He was the man that Jesus raised from death. v2 Some of Jesus’ friends were giving a dinner to *honour Jesus. Martha gave out the food, and Lazarus sat among the visitors, with Jesus. v3 Then Mary brought a pound of expensive oil with a sweet smell, (*real spikenard). She poured it over Jesus’ feet and she brushed them with her hair. The smell of the oil filled the whole house. v4 One of Jesus’ *disciples, Judas Iscariot, spoke. (He was the one who would help the leaders to put Jesus in prison. This was because they wanted to kill him.) Judas said v5 ‘She could have sold this expensive oil for a year’s *wages. She could have given the money to poor people. v6 He said this because he wanted the money himself. He did not really want to help the poor. He kept the money bag, and sometimes took money from it for himself. v7 But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop her! She can keep what she has. She can use it on the day that my body is put into the *tomb. v8 Poor people will always be among you, but I will not always be with you’.
v9 By this time, a large crowd of *Jews had heard that Jesus was there. They came to see him, and they also came to see Lazarus. He had died, but Jesus had made him alive again. v10 So the leaders of the *priests wanted to kill Lazarus, as well as Jesus. v11 This was because many *Jews were leaving them. These *Jews believed in Jesus because of what he had done for Lazarus.
v12 The next day, a large crowd were in Jerusalem for the *feast. They heard that Jesus was on his way there. v13 They took branches from the trees. They moved them about over their heads. They went out to meet Jesus, shouting, ‘*Praise God! *Bless the man who comes in the name of the *Lord God. *Bless the one who will rule Israel!’ v14 Jesus found a young *donkey and sat on it. God’s written word says, v15 ‘Do not be afraid, Zion (Jerusalem). See your king coming. He is riding on a young *donkey’ (Zechariah 9:9).
Jesus was showing people that he was the ‘king’ in the book of Zechariah the *prophet. But this only made the *Jewish leaders angrier than before. Jesus was not the kind of king that the *Jews wanted. They wanted a leader who would send away or kill all the Romans. They did not want a man who would bring them closer to God. They did not want someone to die to save them from their *sin.
v16 Jesus’ *disciples did not understand all this at that time. They only understood after he had been given *glory by God. Then they remembered the things that God’s word had said about him. And they remembered that this is what had happened. v17 The crowd who had seen Jesus bring Lazarus out of the *tomb kept on telling people about it. v18 That is why the crowd came to meet him. They heard that he had done this *miracle. v19 The *Pharisees spoke to one another, ‘This is not what we wanted. Look! All the people are running after him!’
v20 There were some Greeks among the people who had come to *worship God at the *feast. v21 They came to see Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, ‘Sir, we want to see Jesus’. v22 Philip went to tell Andrew. Then these two men went to tell Jesus. v23 Jesus said to them, ‘Now is the time for God to give the Son of man great *glory. v24 I am telling you the *truth. A seed of *wheat remains a single seed, unless it is put into the ground and dies. It only becomes many seeds if it dies. v25 Anyone who loves his own life will lose it. Whoever does not love himself will have the life that has no end. v26 Whoever wants to be my servant must follow me. Then he will be with me, where I am. My Father will give *honour to my servant’. v27 I feel very troubled. What can I say? “Father, save me from this *trial!” But this is the reason why I came to the world. I came to go through this time of *trial. v28 Father, show people your *glory’.
Then a voice came from *heaven, ‘I have shown people my *glory, and I will do it again’. v29 The crowd that was standing there heard the sound, and some said that it was like the noise of a storm. But other people said, ‘One of God’s *messengers spoke to him!’ v30 Jesus said, ‘These words were not to help me. They came to help you. v31 The time has now come for God to *judge the people of this world. Now he will throw out the ruler of this world. v32 But they will lift me up from the earth. Then I will pull everyone towards me’. v33 (He said this to show what kind of death he was going to die.) v34 The crowd said, ‘Our *law tells us that the *Messiah’s life will have no end. How can you say “The Son of man must be lifted up”? Who is this Son of man?’ v35 Jesus answered, ‘The light will be with you for a little longer. So, walk while you still have the light. Then the dark will not put out your light. The one who walks where there is no light does not know where he is going. v36 Believe in the one who causes the light to shine, while he is with you. Then you will be people of the light’. When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Jesus said that he would be ‘lifted up’. He was telling the *Jews that he would be lifted up on a cross of wood to die. The Romans were the rulers of Israel and of most other countries in the time of Jesus. They used to *punish bad men in this way. The Romans did not let the *Jews kill anyone who did bad things. The leaders of the *priests and the *Pharisees were the rulers of the *Jews. They did not want to make their Roman masters angry with them. They were afraid that the Romans might think that they wanted to make Jesus king.
v37 Jesus had done many *miracles when the people were with him. Even then, they did not believe in him. v38 This was to show that the words written by the *prophet Isaiah had been true. Isaiah had said, ‘*Lord, who has believed our message? The *Lord has shown that his power is very great!’ v39 Isaiah also said why the people could not believe. v40 He said, ‘God has made their eyes *blind, and closed their minds. So they cannot see with their eyes, or understand with their minds. They will not return to me, for me to make them whole’ (Isaiah 6:10). v41 Isaiah spoke here about Jesus. He said this because he had seen Jesus’ *glory.
v42 But many of the *Jewish authorities did believe in Jesus. But they kept this a secret. They were afraid that the *Pharisees would not let them join in the meetings in the *synagogue. v43 They wanted *praise from men more than they wanted *praise from God.
v44 Jesus said in a loud voice, ‘Whoever believes in me, believes both in me, and in him who sent me. v45 Whoever looks at me, sees the one who sent me. v46 I have come into the world to be a light. I came so that anyone who believes in me will have this light. He will not stay in the dark. v47 If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I will not *judge him. I did not come to *judge the people of the world. I came to save them. v48 Whoever *rejects me and will not listen to my words has something else to *judge him. The words that I have spoken will *judge him. They will *judge him on the last day. v49 The words that I taught did not come from me. The Father sent me. He told me what to say and what to teach. v50 And I know that the life that never ends comes from the Father’s *commandments. So whatever I say is what the Father has told me to say’.
v1 The day of the *Passover *feast was very near. Jesus knew that it was almost time for him to leave this world and to go to the Father. In this world, he had always loved those who believed in him. He loved them to the end of his life. v2 Jesus and his *disciples were eating supper. The *Devil had made Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, want to help Jesus’ enemies. v3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him power over everything. He knew that he had come from God and was going back to God. v4 So during the meal he stood up. He took off the coat that he wore over his other clothes. He tied a thick cloth round his body. v5 Then he poured water into a *bowl and began to wash the *disciples feet. Jesus dried them with the thick cloth. v6 Jesus came to Simon Peter. Peter asked him ‘*Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ v7 Jesus answered him, ‘You do not now understand what I am doing. But later, you will understand’. v8 Peter said, ‘You will never, never wash my feet!’ Jesus said, ‘If I do not wash you, then you will not be one of my people’. v9 Simon Peter answered, ‘Then *Lord, do not just wash my feet. Wash my hands and face as well!’ v10 Jesus said, ‘A person who has had a bath is completely clean. He only needs to wash his feet. And you are clean, but not every one of you’. v11 (Jesus already knew who was going to give his enemies power over him. That is why he said that not all of them were clean.)
v12 When he had finished washing their feet, Jesus put on his coat. He went back to his place at the table. ‘Do you understand what I have just done to you?’ he asked them. v13 ‘You call me “Teacher” and “*Lord”. And you are right to say this, because that is what I am. v14 I am your Teacher and *Lord, and I have washed your feet. So you should wash one another’s feet. v15 I have given you an example. So you should do just as I have done for you. v16 I am telling you the *truth. No slave is greater than his master. And no *messenger is greater than the one who sent him. v17 Now that you know these things, you will be happy if you do them’. v18 ‘I am not talking about all of you. I know the ones that I have chosen. God’s word says, ‘One who ate food with me has become my enemy’ (Psalms 41:9). This is what must happen. v19 I am telling you this now, before it happens. Then you will believe that I am the one who always was, and who always will be. v20 I am telling you the *truth. Whoever welcomes anyone that I send welcomes me also. And whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me’.
v21 After Jesus had said this, he was very troubled. He said to them, ‘I am telling you the *truth. One of you will help my enemies to hurt me’. v22 The *disciples looked at each other. They did not know whom he meant. v23 One of them, the *disciple that Jesus loved, was lying next to Jesus. v24 Simon Peter pointed at him and said, ‘Ask Jesus whom he is speaking about’. v25 So that *disciple moved nearer to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is it, *Lord?’ v26 Jesus answered, ‘I will put some bread in the dish and give it to him. He is the man’. So he put a piece of bread in the dish and gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. v27 The *Devil became Judas’s master as soon as he took the bread. Jesus said to him, ‘Be quick and do what you have to do!’ v28 None of the other men lying round the table knew what he meant. They did not know why Jesus said this. v29 Some of the *disciples thought that Judas was going to buy what they needed. Or he was giving money to the poor people. This was because Judas kept the money for them. v30 Judas took the bread and went out at once. And it was night.
v31 When Judas had left, Jesus said, ‘Now people will see the Father give *glory to the Son of Man. And through him, people will give God *glory and *honour. v32 If the Son shows God’s *glory, then God will himself show the Son’s *glory. And he will do this at once. v33 My *dear children, I shall not be with you for much longer. You will look for me. But I tell you now what I told the *Jews. You cannot go where I am going. v34 I give you a new *commandment. Love one another. You must love one another just as I have loved you. v35 If you really love one another, then everyone will know that you are my *disciples’. v36 Simon Peter asked, ‘Where are you going, *Lord?’
Jesus replied, ‘You cannot follow me now, but you will follow me later’. v37 ‘*Lord, why can I not follow you now? I am ready to die for you’. Peter said. v38 ‘Are you really ready to die for me?’ Jesus asked. ‘I tell you the *truth. Before the morning bird calls, you will say 3 (three) times that you do not know me’.
Jesus knew that he would die on a cross of wood. The Romans *punished bad men in this way. But Jesus wanted his *disciples to know that his death would give *honour and *glory to God. And because Jesus obeyed God, God would give him *honour, too.
v1 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not let your hearts trouble you. Believe in God, and believe also in me. v2 My Father’s house has many rooms. And I am going now to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it was not true. v3 And after I have prepared a place for you, I will come back. I will take you to stay with me, so that you will be where I am. v4 You know the way to the place where I am going’. v5 Thomas said, ‘*Lord, we do not know where you are going. So how can we know the way to get there?’ v6 Jesus answered, ‘I am the way. I show people the *truth about God, and I give them life. I am the only one who leads people to my Father. v7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him, and you have seen him’.
v8 Philip said, ‘*Lord, make us see your Father. That is all we need’. v9 Jesus answered, ‘I have been with you all for a long time. Yet you still do not know me, Philip! Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. So why do you say, “Show us the Father”? v10 Do you not believe that my Father and I are just like one person? The words that I speak are not from myself alone. But it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. v11 Believe me when I say that the Father and I are like one person. Perhaps you do not believe my words. Then believe because of the *miracles that I have done. v12 I am telling you the *truth. Anyone who believes in me will do the things that I have been doing. Yes, he will do even greater things because I am going to my Father. v13 And if you ask me to do anything because you belong to me, then I will do it. Then the Son will show everyone the power of the Father. v14 You may ask me for anything, because you are mine. Then I will do it’.
v15 ‘If you love me, you will do what I have told you to do. v16 I will ask the Father, and he will send you another person to help you. He will stay with you and remain with you always. v17 He is the Spirit, who will show you what God is really like. The people of the world cannot welcome him, because they cannot see him, or know him. But you know him because he is with you, and he will be in you. v18 I will not leave you all alone. I will come to you. v19 After a little time, the people of the world will not see me again. But you will see me again. Because I will live again, you also will live. v20 When that day comes, you will know that my Father and I are like one person. And you will know that you and I are just like one person, too. v21 Some people will listen to my words and obey them. These are the people who love me. My Father will love them, and I will love them and show myself to them’. v22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, ‘*Lord, how can you show us how great you are? You would show yourself to the people of the world, too’.
v23 Jesus replied, ‘Whoever loves me will obey my words. My Father will love him. And my Father and I will come to him and live with him. v24 Whoever does not love me will not obey my words. These words are not mine, but come from the Father who sent me. v25 I have told you this while I am still with you. v26 The Father will send the *Holy Spirit, the one who will help you. He will come in my place. He will teach you everything. And he will make you remember all that I have told you. v27 I am leaving *peace with you. It is my own *peace that I am giving you. I do not give it as the world gives *peace to the people of the world. Do not be troubled in your hearts. Do not be afraid. v28 You heard me say, “I am going away, but I am coming back to you”. If you really loved me, you would be happy. I am going to the Father, and he is greater than I am. v29 I have told you this before it happens. Then, when it does happen, you will believe that what I said is true. v30 I will not talk with you much longer. The *Prince of this world is coming. He has no power over me. v31 But the people of the world must learn that I love my Father. That is why I do everything just as he tells me. Come now, let us leave’.
Jesus often has something very important to tell people. This is when he uses the words ‘I am telling you the *truth’. The things that he told his *disciples just before he died were very important. He wanted them to remember every word. He said that the *Holy Spirit would come and help them to remember.
All through John’s *Gospel, Jesus teaches the *disciples that there are two kinds of people. The people of the world will not listen to Jesus’ words. They belong to the *Prince of this world, the *Devil. But those who listen to Jesus are different. They obey the words that Jesus speaks. This shows that they love Jesus. And Jesus says that he and his Father will love those who obey him. And they will both come and live in the hearts of the people who obey them.
v1 ‘I am the *real *vine, and my Father is the gardener. v2 He cuts off every branch that is part of me but that has no fruit. And he cuts short and cleans every branch that has fruit. Then it will grow more fruit. v3 The words that I have spoken to you have already made you clean. v4 Remain joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. A branch cannot grow fruit by itself. It can only do this if it remains joined to the *vine. You are the same. You cannot give fruit unless you remain joined to me. v5 I am the *vine, and you are the branches. If you and I remain joined together, you will make much fruit. You can do nothing without me. v6 If anyone does not remain joined to me, he will become waste wood. He will dry up like a branch that is cut off from the *vine. People take these dry branches and throw them into a fire. Then they burn them. v7 You must remain joined to me, and you will keep my words in your hearts. Then you can ask the Father for anything that you want, and he will give it to you. v8 If your lives give much fruit, it will show that you are my *disciples. v9 I love you just as the Father loves me. Now remain in my love. v10 I will continue to love you if you do all that I have taught you. I have done all that the Father told me to do. So he continues to love me. v11 I have told you this so that you can be happy, as I am. Then you will be completely happy.
v12 I say that you must love one another, just as I love you. v13 The greatest love that a person can show is to die for his friends. v14 If you do what I tell you to do, then you are my friends. v15 I do not call you servants any longer. A servant does not know what his master is doing. But I have told you everything that my Father told me. So I will call you friends. v16 You did not choose me. I chose you and gave you special work to do. Your work should be like the fruit on a *vine. There should be much good fruit. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask, because you are my *disciples. v17 This is what you must do. Love one another’.
v18 ‘The people in the world may *hate you. But remember that they *hated me before they *hated you. v19 If you were one with the people of the world, they would love you. They would love you as people who belonged to them. But I chose you. This was so that you would be different from the people of this world. You do not belong to them, so they *hate you. v20 Remember what I told you. “No slave is greater than his master”. They are against me and will hurt me and they will hurt you, too. But some of them obeyed my words, so they will obey your words, too. v21 They will do all that because you belong to me. They will do it because they do not know the one who sent me. v22 I might not have come and spoken to them. Then they would not have been *judged for doing something wrong. But I have come and have spoken to them. So they cannot say, “We did not know that we were doing bad things”. v23 Whoever *hates me also *hates my Father. v24 I did many works when I was with them that no one else ever did. If I had not, then they would not have been *judged for doing wrong things. But they have seen the *miracles that I did. And they *hate both me and my Father. v25 But this had to happen. Their *law said that it would happen, and its words have come true. “They *hated me for no good reason”. v26 The Helper will come from the Father. He will show how really good and great God is. I will send him to you from the Father. And he will speak about me. v27 And you must speak about me, too. You have been with me from the time that I began to teach’.
Chapters 14 and 15 are the start of Jesus’ last words to his *disciples. The picture of the *vine is to teach them that it is very important to remain close to Jesus. Without Jesus, the *disciples cannot do the work that he wants. (The branch cannot make fruit if it does not remain joined to the *vine.) Jesus also tells them that they must love one another.
Then Jesus tells his *disciples that the people of the world will hurt them. They have seen how these people want to hurt and kill Jesus. Only some of the people who hear Jesus’ words will believe him. Only a few will become his *disciples.
v1 ‘I have told you all this, so that you will not stop believing my words. v2 People will not let you *worship God in the *synagogues. In fact, after some time, people will think that to kill you is to help God. v3 They will do these things because they have never known the Father or me. v4 But I have told you this so that you will remember what I have said. When they begin to do these things you will remember. I did not tell you these things when you first became my *disciples, because I was with you’.
v5 ‘Now I am going to the Father who sent me. Yet none of you asks me, “Where are you going?” v6 And now you are very sad, because of the things that I have told you. v7 But I am telling you the *truth. I am going away because it will be better for you. If I do not go away, the *Helper will not come to you. If I do go away, I will send him to you. v8 And when he comes, he will show the people of the world that they are wrong. They have wrong ideas about what *sin is, and about what is right. They do not understand how God will *judge *sin. v9 They are wrong about *sin, because they do not believe in me. v10 They are wrong about what is right because I am going to the Father. And you will not see me any more. v11 They are wrong about God’s *judgement, because God has already *judged the ruler of this world. v12 I have many more things to tell you. But they are too much for you now. v13 But the *Spirit will come from God. He will show you what God is really like. He will cause you to know all the *truth that comes from God. He will tell you what he hears. He will not speak his own words. He will tell you about things that will happen later on. v14 He hears it from me, and he will tell it to you. This is how he will show you my *glory. v15 All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said, “The Spirit will listen to what I say, and then he will tell it to you” ’.
v16 ‘In a short time, you will not see me. But soon after that, you will see me’. v17 Some of his *disciples said to one another, ‘What is he trying to say? He tells us that soon we shall not see him. Then he says that we shall see him again. And he says that it is because he is going to the Father. v18 What does he mean by “a short time”? We do not know what he is talking about!’ v19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him about this. So he said to them, ‘I said, “In a little time you will not see me. Then, a short time later, you will see me”. Is this what you are asking each other? v20 I am telling you the *truth. You will cry and be sad. But the people of the world will be happy. First you will be sad, but later you will become happy. v21 When a woman is having a baby she is sad, because she has much pain. But when the baby is born, she is happy. She forgets the pain, and is happy that a baby has come into the world. v22 That is how it is with you. You are sad now. But I will see you again, and you will be happy. You will be so happy that no one can stop you from being happy. v23 When that happens, you will not ask me for anything. I am telling you the *truth. The Father will give you anything you ask for. He will do this because you are my *disciples. v24 Until now, you have not asked for anything because you are one with me. Ask, and the Father will give you what you ask for. Then you will be really happy. v25 My words have been like pictures to you. But the time will come when I will speak clearly to you, about the Father, without pictures. v26 When that day comes, you will ask him because you are my *disciples. I will not need to ask him to help you. v27 The Father himself loves you. He loves you because you love me, and you believe that he sent me. v28 I came from the Father, and I came into the world. And now I am leaving the world, and returning to the Father’.
v29 His *disciples said, ‘Now you are speaking clearly, and not in word pictures! v30 Now we know that you know everything. You do not need to ask people what they are thinking. Because of this, we believe that God sent you’. v31 Jesus answered them, ‘Do you believe now? v32 Soon, very soon, you will all run away to your homes. In fact, the time has come. You will leave me alone. But I am not really alone, because the Father is with me. v33 I have told you this so that you will have *peace, because you are one with me. The people of the world will cause you pain. Be strong! I have destroyed the power of this world’.
This chapter follows the ideas of chapter 15. It tells us that *disciples of Jesus must be ready, because people will attack them. The people who do not believe in Jesus will hurt him, and his *disciples as well. The *disciples must be strong. Then Jesus tells them that he will have to leave them and return to his Father. He knows that this will make them sad. But he gives them a promise. He will send the *Holy Spirit to them. The Spirit will tell the *disciples the things that Jesus and the Father want them to know. Jesus also promises that he will return, and that they will be happy again. Then they themselves can ask the Father for the things that they need. The Father loves them because they love his Son, and believe in him.
v1 After Jesus said this he looked up to *heaven. He said, ‘Father, the time has come. Show people my *glory so that I can show them your *glory. v2 For you gave me authority over all people. You did this so that I could give life to all the people that you gave to me. This is the true life that never ends. v3 This is how they will have this life. They will know you, the only one who is really God. And they will know Jesus, the Christ, whom you have sent. v4 I have finished all that you told me to do. I have shown your *glory to the people in this world. v5 And now, Father, give me *glory with you. Give me again the *glory that I had with you before the world was made.
v6 You gave me some people out of the world. I have shown you to them. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They have obeyed your word. v7 Everything that you gave me really comes from you. They know that now. v8 I gave them the message that you gave to me, and they accepted it. They really believe that I came from you, and that you sent me. v9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the people of the world. I am praying for the ones that you gave to me, because they belong to you. v10 All those people who belong to me belong to you. And all that belong to you belong to me. And they show what my *glory really is. v11 And now, I am not remaining in the world any longer. I am coming to you. But they are still in the world. *Holy Father, keep them safe by your power. That is the power that you gave me, so that they may be one. Then they may be one, just as you and I are one. v12 While I was with them, I kept them safe. I kept them safe by the power that you had given to me. I kept all of them safe, except one. This was the one who refused to listen to you. All this happened so that people would see that the *scripture is true. v13 And now, I am coming to you. But I am saying these things while I am still in the world. I want them to be completely happy in their hearts in the same way that I am completely happy. v14 I gave them your message. And the people of the world hated them because they do not think as the people of the world think. Those who belong to me think as I do. v15 I do not ask you to take them out of the world. But I do ask you to keep them safe from the *Devil. v16 They do not belong to the world, even as I do not belong to the world. v17 Make them yours by means of your words, which are true. v18 I have sent them into the world, just as you sent me. v19 I give myself to you, so that they may also give themselves to you.
v20 I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me because of their words. v21 I pray that they may all be one, Father, just as you and I are one. May they be one with us, just as you and I are one with each other. May they be one. Then the people of the world will believe that you sent me. v22 I have given them the *glory that you gave me. Now they may be one just as you and I are one. v23 Just as I am one with them, you are one with me. This means that we shall be completely one. v24 Father, I want those that you have given to me to be with me where I shall be. Then they may see my *glory. You gave me this *glory before you made the world, because you loved me. v25 Father, you always do what is right. The people of the world do not know you, but I know you. And these *disciples know that you have sent me. v26 I have shown them what you are like, and I will continue to do so. Then they will love other people in the same way that you have loved me. Then I may live in them’.
Jesus prays first for himself, then for his *disciples. The first *disciples are with him at the supper. But then Jesus prays for other *disciples who will hear them speak about Jesus, and believe in him. He wants them all to be united with him, and with his Father God who is in *heaven.
The people of the world are people who will not believe the words of Jesus or of his *disciples. They will hate them all. They do not know God at all. They are in the power of the *Devil.
v1 After Jesus had finished praying, he and his *disciples went out. They went across the Kidron valley. On the other side there was a garden of *olive trees. Jesus and the *disciples went in to it. v2 Judas was the man who had spoken to Jesus’ enemies. Judas told them where they could find Jesus. He knew the garden well because Jesus and his *disciples had often met there. v3 The *High Priest and *Pharisees sent some *temple soldiers with Judas. He took them and some Roman soldiers to the garden. All the soldiers had *swords and carried *torches. v4 Jesus knew everything that they were going to do to him. So he took a step towards them. He asked them, ‘Who are you looking for?’ v5 ‘Jesus of Nazareth’, they answered. ‘I am he’, he said. (And Judas, who had become his enemy, was standing with the soldiers.) v6 When Jesus said, ‘I am the man you are looking for’, the soldiers moved back, and fell on the ground. v7 He asked them again, ‘Whom do you want?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth’, they said. v8 ‘I have already told you that I am that person’, Jesus said. ‘So if you are looking for me, let these other men go’.
v9 (He said this so that what he had said earlier might come true, ‘I have not lost one of those that you gave me’.) v10 Peter pulled out his *sword. With it he cut off the right ear of the *High Priest’s slave. (The name of the slave was Malchus.) v11 Jesus spoke to Peter. ‘Put away your *sword. Let them take me. My Father has told me that this must happen’.
v12 The Roman soldiers, with their captain, took Jesus and tied him up. The *temple soldiers helped them. v13 They took him first to Annas. Annas was the father of Caiaphas’s wife. Caiaphas was the *High Priest that year. v14 It was Caiaphas who had spoken to the *Jewish authorities some time before. He told them ‘It is better for one man to die for all the people’ (11:50). v15 Simon Peter and another *disciple followed Jesus. That other *disciple knew the *High Priest. So he went with Jesus into the yard of the *High Priest’s house. v16 But Peter stayed outside by the gate. Then the other *disciple went back and spoke to the girl at the gate. He took Peter inside. v17 The girl at the gate spoke to Peter. She asked, ‘Are you not one of the people who was with Jesus when he was taken?’ ‘No, I am not!’ said Peter. v18 It was cold, so the servants and officers had made a fire to keep warm. They were standing round it. Peter went to stand with them, to keep warm.
v19 The *High Priest asked Jesus about his teaching and about his *disciples. v20 Jesus answered him, ‘I have always spoken out for all the world to hear. I have always taught in the *synagogue, or in the *temple, where all the people meet. I have said nothing in secret. v21 So why do you ask me these questions? Ask the people who heard what I said to them. They know what I said’. v22 When Jesus said this, one of the *temple soldiers hit him on the face. He said, ‘You must never speak to the *High Priest like that!’ v23 Jesus said, ‘If I said something wrong, please tell everyone what it was. But if I said something that was true, then why did you hit me?’ v24 Then Annas sent Jesus, who was still tied up, to Caiaphas, the *High Priest.
v25 Peter was still standing and trying to keep warm. The other people said to him, ‘Are you sure that you are not one of that man’s *disciples?’ Peter said, ‘No, I am not’. v26 One of the *High Priest’s servants asked, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with him?’ v27 Again Peter said, ‘No’. Immediately the morning bird gave its first call.
v28 The *Jews took Jesus from Caiaphas’s house to the Roman *Praetorium. It was early. The *Jewish leaders did not go inside. They wanted to stay ‘clean’ so that they could eat the *Passover *feast.
Good *Jews could not do many things if they wanted to go into the *temple. They might not go into the house of someone who was not a *Jew. They could not touch a dead body. There were many other things that they could not do. These things made them not ‘clean’.
v29 So Pilate went outside to meet them. He asked them, ‘What do you say that this man has done wrong?’ v30 Their answer was, ‘We would not have brought him to you if he had done nothing wrong’. v31 So Pilate said to them, ‘Then take him away. You *judge him by your own *law’. The *Jews said to him, ‘Your *law will not let us kill anyone’. v32 Jesus had told them how he would die. The *Jews’ words showed that these things were going to happen.
v33 Pilate went back into the *Praetorium. He made Jesus come to him. ‘Are you the king of the *Jews’, he asked him. v34 Jesus said, ‘Is that your own idea, or have other people spoken to you about me?’ v35 Pilate replied, ‘I am not a *Jew! Your own people and your *priests brought you to me. What have you done?’ v36 Jesus said, ‘My *kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my people would fight to keep me from the *Jewish rulers. No, my *kingdom is from another place’. v37 ‘So you are a king then’, said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this one reason. I came to tell the people the *truth about God. Whoever belongs to the *truth listens to what I say’. v38 ‘What is *truth?’ asked Pilate. Then Pilate went out again to the *Jews. He said to them, ‘This man has done no