The Gospel of John
Introduction
John is also available in .pdf format for printing:
JustBibletruth.com/bookofjohn.pdf

This is the "Modern World Translation"© of the Bible book of John. Most scholars agree the original Greek text was written by the apostle John, the son of Zebedee. [Mark 1:19] It is believed to have been completed about 98 CE, when John would have been over 80 years old. By that time, the apostle would have had many years to reflect on and to comprehend, what he had heard and witnessed in the presence of Christ Jesus some 60 odd years before. God used his spirit to help John convey that knowledge to us in John's account of the life and work of Jesus Christ. [2 Tim 3:16]

This is not a strict sense translation of the original language text by John. Rather, the Literal English Translation was compared and tempered with the recognized works of over twenty other translators and/or translation committees. The clearest understanding gleaned from referencing those translation works is then put forth as the Modern World Translation. Comparative selection from those works is weighted first by harmony with the rest of John and the other three Gospels, and then by the consensus among the group of translators considered. The attempt is to modernize and harmonize the literal translation, producing the Modern World Translation (MWT). Some individuals may not appreciate the MWT because it highlights a logical comparison between modern day religious leaders and the hypocritical religious leaders of ancient Judaism; those men Jesus contended with and who were responsible for putting him to death. [John 18:29-19:16] Many will assert no such comparison is valid, because those men were not Christian, as many of these modern religious leaders claim to be. [Mat 7:15] Jesus was born a Jew, and educated in the Jewish religious Law and customs. He kept the Jewish religious festivals right up to the night of his death. During his ministry, he supported much of what he taught using the Hebrew "Old Testament" Bible record, often by saying, "have you not read," or "again it is written;" in making introduction as he quoted from or cited those Hebrew scriptures. Jesus came as the promised Jewish Messiah to fulfill the Law Code; and to replace, complete, or extend that Law Code and Judaism itself into the birth of Christianity. Jesus opened the way to eternal life for both Jews and Gentiles; to all persons who would put their faith in him as God's son. [Joh 10:1-18] Jesus's life was in fulfillment of Jewish Messianic prophecy. As Christianity is thus an extension and/or the fulfillment of Judaism, modern Christendom religious leaders are reasonably compared with their ancient Jewish counterparts.

In presenting this Modern World Translation, we distinguish ourselves as very different from any religious entity: In that we highlight your personal need to learn what Jesus taught; FOR YOUR-OWN-SELF!!! We can't help you beyond directing you to Christ! No one can... (2 Cor 5:20-21 of 5:17-6:2) Mankind has been misguided to view religion as our need to identify, and then join with and to be approved by, the "right religious group." The "right" group, then, "all" of them, proudly view themselves as Christian, our membership in their sect as our only hope and salvation, and view outsiders as lesser people (as those not having the truth), and in many cases, even, as unworthy of life. True Christians realize they are not judges of others, for bad or for good. Christians simply join the followers Jesus started gathering a little over 2000 years ago; not by joining any man or sect, but become one of the Lord's sheep (Mat 25:31-34 & 41) just and only by becoming an individual follower of Jesus. They do so privately (not meaning they don't tell others about their choice), [John 4:23] in the innermost person of the heart, and no man or group holds or even knows who is on that membership roll! [1 Cor 4:1-5] A person saying they are Christian does not make it so! [Jam 1:22-25] Christians simply parrot the words of Christ to any who will hear, and each hearer then judges themselves by their response to the words of Christ; just like when Jesus himself first spoke the words to the people gathered around him 2000 years ago. [John 12:48; Mark 3:31-35]

Worshiping God "as a group" does not work! Group worship can never work because of individual free choice and group responsibility! Please understand, Judaism was an organizational or group form of worship, but Jesus came to change that! [John 4:19-26] The Jews had a national binding agreement with God, and that made them responsible as a group. [Ex 19:7-9] That meant when one sinned, they were all responsible. [Joshua 22:20; Joshua 7:1; Joshua 7:12-26] The Christian arrangement is very different. Each Christian is responsible for their own actions. Men can no longer allow other men to intercede with God for them; men who can then approve or condemn their worship. Jesus, don't you now begin to understand, has become our one and only mediator. [1 Tim 2:5] Jesus taught he was replacing the formalized group worship, supported and approved by the leaders of his Jewish group; and by extension the leaders of various modern groups. He was replacing group worship by a form of worship born from spirit and truth (or out of a heart seeking truth and being drawn to Christ by the spirit of God). [John 6:41-45] So, then, each Christian is responsible before God based on their own faith founded in their personal knowledge and understanding of the truth brought by Jesus. [John 4:19-21 & 23-26] Jesus' early followers then taught how easy it is to gain that Bible knowledge. These few scriptures, along with the Book of John, now make you responsible: (Deu 30:19-20; Deu 30:15-16) Answerable individually and very personally, to have a relationship with God through your faith in his son Christ Jesus. (Rom 2:6-11 of 1-11) If you want God's gift of life, you do have to "really" want it. That means you must begin by sitting at Jesus's feet and learning what he said; because your faith must be based on what you personally know Christ taught. Jesus did warn we must be very careful about believing what people say he taught! [Acts 20:30; Mat 7:15] And please take special note, God's only later day command (since Jesus started preaching - Heb 1:1-2) is to listen to his son... [Mat 17:5]

This Modern World Translation of the Bible book of John is to help you easily gain a personal knowledge of what Christ taught: Most complete Bibles contain nearly two thousand pages. The Bible's sheer size can be intimidating to contemplate studying. Remember, however, the Bible is comprised of 66 individual books. The first 39 are known as the Old Testament, or Hebrew Scriptures. They contain the first 1200 or so pages. The OT explains, in the first three or four pages, how mankind lost favor by rebelling against God, but how God immediately promised to raise up a seed from the woman to become the Messiah; the Christ who would crush satan's head. Genesis 3:15 is thus the first Messianic promise. The balance of the Old Testament expands knowledge of God's promised seed, [Gal 3:23-25] providing many prophecies about the coming Christ/Messiah. The Old Testament explains how Christ came to be, as well as demonstating why we need him. Next in the Bible, we find the four short books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are referred to as the Gospels and are the first four Books of what is known as the Christian Greek scriptures, or, the New Testament. They are four parallel accounts of the appearance of that Messiah promised by the Old Testament, giving us the teachings Jesus was sent to provide. [John 18:37; Gal 3:23-29] The 23 books which follow the Gospels contain some additional prophecy, along with the accounts of the early followers of Christ Jesus in their efforts to apply his teachings and to direct us to them. Do you perceive what possessing the simple knowledge you just heard means for you? It means the whole of the Bible is a tutor leading us to Christ. (Gal 3:23-25) That means YOU can "hear" what God has commanded you to learn, [Mark 9:7] and then obviously, you will understand the theme of the Bible. You can to that by simply taking to heart the words of Christ. [ is God's Hebrew Name as He gave it to Moses on the stone tablets. (Exo 31:18)] That all comes just by gaining a clear understanding of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and yes, the Gospel of John. All 4 Books together total only a little over 100 pages, or about 5% of the Bible. The 40 or so pages of just the Book of John can gain you a good understanding of Jesus' teachings. That everyone alive must hear Jesus is the point being made. [Rom 14:10-12] Listening to and learning from Christ is what you personally require if you want life. You must have your own personal understanding of what Jesus said! How else could you be sure your faith is real? Please consider and realize: No relationship or membership with any man or group can benefit you, except as they might direct you to Christ and help you understand the Bible; mostly, of course, by helping you realize introducing the teachings of Jesus is the purpose of the rest of the Bible. [Gal 3:23-29] If any group has led you to imagine a membership in their sect is a sign you have attained your goal to become a Christian, they likely are not trying, or are not able, to help you at all! [Mat 7:15]

Please use this Modern World Translation of the Bible Book of John to look in on the life of Christ Jesus, as he presents himself as the Messiah mankind has looked for since the Garden of Eden. [Joh 10:24-25; Joh 4:25-26] Introducing himself as the son of God, [Joh 1:34] and as the one sent by God to provide eternal life to all who will accept that gift; gained simply by having faith. [Joh 10:1-18] Jesus came to break up the works of the devil. [1 John 3:8]

As you consider John's account of Jesus' teachings, please take note of the thread of warning that pops up over and over throughout: The warning about false Christians and hypocritical religious leaders, [Mat 23:1-15] which warning can help us recognize and understand the stark difference between "religion" and "Christianity." Modern day religion has utterly and completely failed mankind. Religionists run the false light spectrum from those blowing up the men, women, and children who won't join them; to those spreading hatred in less obvious ways, by attaching Jesus's name to their lies. Many false Christians assert, and some seemingly believe, their expressions of judgment and hate toward those they judge unworthy of life is actually an expression of "love." [Mat 15:7-9] They include Religionists who judge and pronounce some horrible future for non-members of their sect. Such false Christians publicly judge as wicked, any individuals who actually do "join Jesus" by avoiding sectarian memberships; their judgment of others exposing what they themselves actually are. [Luke 13:26-27] Please understand: Such religious groups are not followers of the God of creation. It may be that many of these people mean well, but they do not truly comprehend who Jesus Christ is. Why? They are not actually listening to Jesus Christ! Please do not be led to associate all the badness you have seen done by even self-proclaimed Christian religion, with what the Son of God actually teaches in the Bible. Make the wise choice to learn for yourself what Jesus taught! [Rom 14:11-12]

Recognize and become familiar with God's personal name… The Almighty God of the Old Testament (or Hebrew Scriptures) was very careful to make his name known to his worshipers. [Ex 6:2-3; Ps 83:18] God inspired The Jewish Tetragrammaton, () which are the four Hebrew letters representing the Personal Name of God, to be used over 6000 times in the oldest available Hebrew Scripture text. The "sound" of that name represented in English is (as in Yea go team followed by the first two letters of Vault). This latest revision of the Modern World Translation of the Bible properly uses for God's personal name, as did the original Hebrew Scriptures and the Stone Tablets written on by the finger of . (Exo 31:18) (The "sound" of God's name being represented by the English letters "Y-e-a--V-a-h" does not mean those letters are a proper written representation of the Divine Name. God has given no direction or permission to attempt to translate his Name into any other language. [Lev 24:16] The letters "Yea-Vah" are used only to convey to English speakers the sound made by those who speak Hebrew when they pronounce the Name of the God of the Hebrew Bible. Let me say again to be clear:You should not write the English letters "Y-e-a--V-a-h" to represent   יהוה ; other than to explain what the Name sounds like to those who read English. It would seem dangerous to attempt to translate God's name to another language! [Ex 20:7]) The Hebrew letters  י  "Yod" |  ה  "He" |  ו  "Vah" |  ה  "He"  -   יהוה   -  written right to left, is the only proper way to write the Name producing the one same sound everyone alive on earth should utter, as they speak of our Creator, no matter what language you speak. It is the sound of unity to all who worship the one true God through an expressed faith in his son.

   
As you consider the teachings of Jesus Christ from the Bible Book of John,
keep these 4 important scriptural points in mind:
      1. The Bible says of itself that it is a tutor leading to Christ. [Gal 3:23-25]
     2. God said he has spoken to mankind in many ways over the centuries, but has, in these last days, spoken by means of his son. [Heb 1:1-2]
     3. God has given only one command since Jesus started teaching: "This is my approved son, listen to him." [Mark 9:7] Please realize: God's command to listen to his son can only be obeyed by reading Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Never get caught up and distracted from the Bible theme by worrying about what one Bible verse means. Read through the teachings of Jesus (recorded in the four Gospel Books) beginning to end, thus gaining his meaning for individual scriptures from context.
     4. Jesus said at John 6:63, the words he spoke are spirit and are life. So... Reading the words of Christ is the act of taking in God's spirit. Meditate on that when Jesus tells you about taking in "life giving waters" from him; and says you should "eat his flesh" and "drink his blood," and that he is the "living bread" that came down from heaven. You should recognize all those teachings equate with taking in God's spirit by learning what Jesus came to pour out his life's blood to bring you: The message from his Father. You take in God's spirit by learning what God sent Jesus to teach. There is no "few word" shortcut to learning what Jesus taught. You must sit at his feet and listen: You must read and reread the Gospels so as to become familiar with what Jesus taught. [Mark 3:31-35] Become Jesus's friend! [John 15:14-15 of  11-15] Become my friend...

The Gospel of John, Chapter 1 - MWT

(The existence of Christ before he was born as the "son of man." John announces Christ's coming and then identifies Jesus as the Messiah; God is producing children for himself through our faith in the words of Jesus!
Christ begins selecting his disciples.)

(1) In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was a God. (2) This one was in the beginning with God. (3) With this Word, God created all other things. Not even one thing was made without the Word. (4) What came into existence received its life from him, and his life gave light to everyone. (5) And the light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out. (6) There was a man named John who was sent by God, (7) he came to tell about the light and to encourage people to have faith through that light. (8) John wasn't that light. He came only to announce his coming. (9) The true light that illuminates every person was about to come into the world. (10) The Word was in the world, the world which God made through him, but no one knew him. (11) He came to his own nation, but his own people did not welcome him. (12) But as many as did accept him, and put their faith in his name, to them he gave the right to be the children of God. (13) They were not made God's children by birthright of blood, or because of any human desires. By God's own efforts they were made His children. [John 6:44] (14) The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father. Through him all the kindness, and all the truth of God have come down to us. (15) John bore witness about him and cried out, "This is the one I told you would come! He is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born." (16) Because of all that the Son is, we have received one blessing after another. (17) For the Law was given through Moses, but Jesus Christ brought us undeserved kindness and truth. (18) No person has ever seen God. The only begotten [or unique] Son, who is truly closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like. (19) This is the response of John, when the Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and temple helpers to ask him, "You, who are you?" (20) And he confessed and did not deny, but told them plainly, "I am not the Messiah [Hebrew word meaning "the Anointed One"]." (21) Then they questioned him and asked: "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "No, I am not!" And when they asked if he were the Prophet, he also said "No!" (22) Finally, they said, "Who are you then? We must give an answer to the ones who sent us. Tell us who you are!" (23) John answered, quoting the words of the prophet Isaiah, "I am only someone crying out in the wilderness, 'Get the road ready for   יהוה !'" [Isaiah 40:3] (24) Those who had been sent to question John had come from the Pharisees. (25) They continued questioning him and said to him, "Why are you baptizing people, if you are not the Christ [Greek for "the Anointed One"] or Elijah or the Prophet?" (26) John answered them and said, "I use water to baptize people. But standing in your midst is someone you don't know. (27) Even though he came after me, still he existed before me, and I am not good enough to untie his sandals." (28) These things took place in Bethany, east of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. (29) The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look! The Lamb of God, the one taking away the sin of the world! (30) He is the one I told you about when I said, "Someone else is coming who is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born." (31) I didn't know who he was. But I came baptizing with water so that he would be revealed to everyone in Israel. (32) I was there and saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from the heavens. And the Spirit remained on him. (33) Before this I didn't know who he was. But the one who sent me to baptize in water had told me, "You will see the Spirit come down and stay on someone. Then you will know that he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit." (34) I myself saw this happen, and my witness is that he is the Son of God. (35) The next day, John was there again with two of his followers. (36) Seeing Jesus walking by, John said, "Look! The Lamb of God!" (37) And John's two disciples heard him speaking, and they followed Jesus. (38) When Jesus turned and saw them, he asked, "What do you want?" They answered, "Rabbi, [which is, being interpreted, teacher] where do you live?" (39) Jesus answered, "Come and see!" It was already about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him and saw where he lived. So they stayed with him for the rest of the day. (40) One of the two men who had heard John and followed Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. (41) The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother and tell him, "We have found the Messiah!" (42) Andrew brought his brother to Jesus. And when Jesus saw him, he said, "Simon son of John, you will be called Cephas." [This name can also be translated as "Peter."] (43) The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. There he met Philip, Jesus said to Philip, "Be my follower." (44) Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. (45) Philip next found Nathanael and said, "We have found the one that Moses and the Prophets wrote about. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph who is from Nazareth." (46) Nathanael asked, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip answered, "Come and see." (47) When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said, "Look! A true descendant of our ancestor Israel. And he is not at all deceitful." (48) "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." (49) Nathanael said, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are King of Israel!" (50) Jesus answered, "Did you believe me just because I said that I saw you under the fig tree? Greater things than these you will see. (51) Most positively, I say to you, you will see heaven open and God's angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man."

John Chapter 2 MWT

(First miracle at wedding feast. Drove merchandisers our of God's temple.
First mention of his death, and of his resurrection 3 days later.)

(1) Three days later Mary, the mother of Jesus, was at a wedding feast in the village of Cana in the region of Galilee. (2) Jesus had also been invited, with his disciples, and they were all there. (3) When the wine was all gone, Mary said to Jesus, "They have no more wine." (4) Jesus replied, "What concern is that to me or you, woman. My time has not yet come!" (5) His mother then said to the servants, "Do whatever Jesus tells you to do." (6) At the feast there were standing six stone water jars, according to the purification rites of the Jews. Each jar held two or three measures [about twenty or thirty gallons]. (7) Jesus said to the servants, "Fill them to the top with water." Then after the jars had been filled, (8) he said, "Now take some and give it to the man in charge of the feast." The servants did as Jesus told them, (9) and the man in charge drank some of the water that had been made wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants did. He called the bridegroom over (10) and said, "Every person puts out the best wine first. Then after the guests have drunk freely, the other wine is served. But you have kept the best until last!" (11) This was the beginning of the signs Jesus did, and he did it in the village of Cana in Galilee. There Jesus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (12) After this, he went with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples to the town of Capernaum, where they stayed not many days. (13) The Jewish festival of the Passover was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (14) There he found in the temple people selling cattle, sheep, and doves. He also saw moneychangers sitting there. (15) And having made a whip of ropes, he chased everyone out of the temple, together with their sheep and cattle. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers with their coins. (16) Jesus said to those selling doves, "Get those doves out of here! Stop making my Father's house a house of merchandise." (17) The disciples then remembered that the Scriptures say, "My love for your house will consume me." [Psalm 69:9] (18) The Jewish religious leaders asked Jesus, "What sign of authority do you have [what miracle will you work] to show us as to why you have done these things?" (19) Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up!" (20) The Jewish religious leaders replied, "This temple was built in forty-six years. What makes you think you can rebuild it in three days?" (21) But Jesus spoke concerning the temple of his body. (22) And when he was resurrected from death, his disciples remembered he told them these things. Then they believed the Scriptures and the words of Jesus. (23) In Jerusalem during Passover many people put their faith in Jesus, because they saw the miracles he performed. (24) Jesus, however, was wary of these new believers, because he knew what was in their hearts. (25) No one had to tell him what humankind was like. He already knew.

John Chapter 3 MWT

(Jesus explains the idea of being born again by spirit; as a child of God!
Jesus will be lifted up like Moses lifted up the copper snake to save the people by faith.
Reveals the basis of judgment.
Christ brings God's message, does not give spirit by measure.)

(1) There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a Jewish religious leader. (2) One night he went to Jesus and said, "Rabbi, we know that God has sent you to teach us. You could not work these miracles unless God were with you." (3) Jesus replied, "I tell you for certain, unless someone is born again, they cannot see God's kingdom!" (4) Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" (5) Jesus answered: I tell you positively, before you can get into God's kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit. (6) Humans give life to their children [they are born of water]. But only God's Spirit can change you into a child of God. [visit: justbibletruth.com/HowCanFaithHelp.html] (7) Don't be surprised when I say it is necessary for you to have a second birth. (8) The wind goes where its pleasure takes it, and the sound of it comes to your ears, but you are unable to say where it comes from and where it goes: So it is with everyone whose birth is from the Spirit. Only God's Spirit gives birth to a new person. (9) "How are these things able to happen?" Nicodemus asked. (10) Jesus replied: "How can you be a teacher of Israel and not know these things?" (11) I tell you for certain that we know what we are talking about because we have seen it ourselves. But none of you will accept what we say. (12) If you don't accept it as truth when I talk to you about things on earth, how can you possibly believe if I talk to you about things in heaven? (13) No one has gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, who came down from heaven. (14) And the Son of humanity must be lifted up, just as the metal snake was lifted up by Moses in the desert, [Numbers 21:4-9] (15) so that everyone who has faith in the Son of Man will have eternal life. (16) God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who manifests faith in him will have eternal life. (17) God did not send his Son into the world to judge its people. He sent him to save them! [John 12:46-50] (18) No one who has faith in God's Son will be condemned. But everyone who doesn't have faith in him has already been judged for not having faith in the teachings of God's only Son. (19) Now this is the basis of judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light. [Because they love wickedness done in the dark, they refuse to put faith in the son of God.] (20) Everyone practicing evil hates the light and won't come to the light, because it clearly shows what they have done. (21) But everyone who lives by the truth (those who love others) will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is helping them into the light [helping them to become upright]. (22) After these things, Jesus and his disciples went to Judea, where he stayed with them and they were baptizing people. (23) John was at Aenon near Salim, where there was a lot of water, and people were coming there for John to baptize them, (24) for John had not yet been put in prison. (25) John's followers got into an argument with a Jewish man about ceremonial washing (purification rites). (26) And they came to John and said, "Rabbi, the man you were with east of the Jordan, and whom you said was the son of God, he is now baptizing people and everyone is going to him." (27) John answered and said: No one can receive anything that is not given him from God in heaven. (28) You surely remember how I told you I am not the Christ. I am the one sent ahead of him. (29) At a wedding, the one having the bride is the bridegroom. The best man is glad just to be there and to hear the groom's voice. That's why my joy is made full. (30) Jesus must become more important, while I become less. (31) God's Son comes down from heaven and is above all. Everyone who comes from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all others. (32) He testifies about what he has seen and heard, and yet no one believes his witness. (33) But everyone who does believe him has given witness that he believes God is truthful. (34) The Son was sent to bring God's message, and he does not give God's spirit by measure. [John 6:63] (35) The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. (36) The one receiving [or putting faith in] the Son has eternal life. But no one who refuses to believe will ever share in that life, but God's wrath is on them forever.

John Chapter 4 MWT

(Samaritan woman given living water: That water being Jesus's teachings.
Ruler's son healed; second miracle. )


(1) When, then, Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard he was winning and baptizing more followers than John was, (2) (Although Jesus' disciples were really the ones doing the baptizing, and not Jesus himself), (3) Jesus left Judea and started for Galilee again. (4) It was necessary for him to pass through Samaria, (5) and on his way he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar. It was near the field Jacob had long ago given to his son Joseph. (6) The well that Jacob had dug was still there, and Jesus sat down beside it because he was weary from the journey. It was noon, (7) and a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well. Jesus asked her, "Would you please give me a drink of water?" (8) (For Jesus' disciples had gone into town to buy some food.) (9) "You are a Jew," she replied, "and I am a Samaritan woman. Why do you ask me for a drink when Jews and Samaritans won't have anything to do with each other?" (10) Jesus answered, "If you knew the free gift of God, and who it was asking you for a drink, you would ask me and I would give you living water." (11) "Sir," the woman said, "you don't even have a bucket to draw water, and the well is deep. From where then are you going to get this living water? (12) You are not greater than our ancestor Jacob who dug this well for us, and his family and animals drank water from it, are you?" (13) Jesus answered and said, "Everyone drinking this water will get thirsty again. (14) But everyone who drinks the water I give will never get thirsty again. The water I give will become within them a flowing fountain that gives eternal life." (15) The woman replied, "Sir, please give me some of that water so I won't get thirsty and have to come to this well again." (16) Jesus told her, "Go and call your husband to this well." (17) The woman answered, "I don't have a husband." "That's right," Jesus replied, "you're telling the truth. You don't have a husband. (18) You have already been married five times, and the man you now live with is not your husband." (19) The woman said, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. (20) Our (Samaritan) ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say Jerusalem is the place where it is necessary to worship." (21) Jesus said to her: Believe me woman, the time is coming when you won't worship the Father either on this mountain or in Jerusalem. (22) You Samaritans don't really know the one you worship. But we Jews do know the God we worship, and by using us, God will provide salvation to both you and to the whole world. (23) But a time is coming, and it is already here, when the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth. For the Father is seeking such ones to worship him. (John 6:44; John 6:65) (24) God is a Spirit, and those who worship God must be led by the Spirit to worship him according to the truth. (25) The woman said, "I know that the Messiah will come. He is the one we call Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." (26) "I am that one," Jesus told her, "and I am speaking to you now." [Jesus's words was the living water.] (27) The disciples returned about this time and were surprised to find Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman. None of them, however, asked what he wanted or why he was talking with her. (28) The woman left her water jar, and ran back into the city saying to the people, (29) "Come! See! A man who told me everything I have ever done! Could this be the Messiah?" (30) They came out of the town going to see Jesus. (31) In the meantime Jesus' disciples were saying to him, "Teacher, please eat something." (32) But Jesus told them, "I have food to eat that you don't know anything about." (33) His disciples started asking each other, "Has someone brought him something to eat?" (34) Jesus said: "My food is to be doing the will of the one who sent me! God is the one who sent me, and I must finish the work he gave me to do. (35) You may say it is still four months until harvest time. But I tell you to look, and you will see the fields are already ripe and ready to harvest. (36) Even now the harvest workers are receiving their reward by gathering a harvest that brings eternal life as payment. Then everyone who planted the seed and everyone who harvests the crop will celebrate together. (37) So the prophecy proves true, 'Some plant the seed, and others harvest the crop.' [Judges 6:3-4; Micah 6:15] (38) I am sending you to harvest crops in fields where others have planted and labored." (39) Many Samaritans in that town put their faith in Jesus because the woman had said, "This man told me everything I have ever done." (40) The Samaritans came asking him to stay in their town, and he stayed for two days. (41) Many more put their faith in Jesus because of what they heard him say. (42) So they said to the woman, "We no longer have faith in Jesus only because of what you told us. We have heard him ourselves, and we are certain that this truly is the Savior of the world!" (43) After two days, Jesus left there and went into Galilee. (44) For Jesus himself said that a prophet has no honor in his hometown. (45) When he went to Galilee, the people there welcomed him, because they had gone to the festival in Jerusalem and had seen everything he did there. (46) Jesus returned to the Galilean village of Cana, where he had turned the water into wine (performed his first miracle). There was a certain ruler in Capernaum whose son was sick. (47) And when the man heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and keep his son from dying. (48) Jesus told the official, "You won't believe unless you see miracles and wonders!" (49) The man replied, "Lord, please come before my young child dies!" (50) Jesus said to him, "Your son will live. Go on home to him." The man believed what Jesus told him and started back home. (51) Some of the official's servants met him along the road and told him, "Your child lives!" (52) He inquired when the boy got better, and they told him, "The fever left him yesterday at one o'clock." (53) The boy's father realized it was at that time Jesus had told him, "Your son will live!" So the man and everyone in his family put faith in Jesus. (54) This was the second miracle Jesus worked after he left Judea and went to Galilee.

John Chapter 5 MWT

(Heals a man by the pool of troubled waters. Jesus makes clear he is not equal to his Father.
He explains our need to learn from him, so as to know and have faith in his Father.)

(1) After these things, there was another Jewish religious festival, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (2) Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate there was a pool, being called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five covered porches. (3) Under these were lying a great multitude of sick ones, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the water. (4) For an angel would descend into the pool and stir up the water. Then, the first person stepping in after the troubling of the water became well of whatever disease he was suffering. (5) Now there was a certain man there having an infirmity for thirty eight years. (6) Jesus having seen this one lying and knowing that a long time he had been there, he said to him, "Do you wish to become well?" (7) The sick man answered him, "Lord, I do not have a person that, whenever the water is stirred, he should put me into the pool, but while I am coming another steps in before me." (8) Jesus told him, "Get up! Take up your cot and walk." (9) And immediately the man became well and took up his cot and began walking! But it was a Sabbath day. (10) Therefore the Jewish religious leaders were saying to the one having been healed, "It is a Sabbath! It is not lawful for you to take up your cot." (11) He answered them, "The one having healed me, that one said to me, 'Pick up your cot and be walking about.'" (12) So they questioned him, "Who said to you, 'Take up your cot and walk?'" (13) But the man did not know who it was that healed him, for Jesus left unnoticed, a crowd being in that place. (14) After these things, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "Look! You have become well! Go your way and don't be sinning anymore, lest something worse should befall you." (15) The man went away and told the Jews it is Jesus who made him well. (16) For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, and were seeking to kill Him, because he was doing these things on a Sabbath. (17) But Jesus said, "My Father is working until now, and that is why I keep on working." (18) Therefore, for this reason, all the more the Jews were seeking to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he also called God his own Father, making himself equal to God. (19) Because the religious leaders said Jesus was claiming equality with God, Jesus told the people, "Most certainly I say to you, the son is not able to do anything himself, unless he sees the Father doing it, for whatever he sees the Father doing, these things the son does also. (20) "For the Father dearly loves the son, and shows him all the things which He Himself does, and greater works than these He will show him, so that you will marvel. (21) "For even as the Father raises dead ones and makes them alive, so also the son makes alive whom he wills. (22) "The Father doesn't judge anyone, but He has given all judgment to the son, (23) so that everyone will honor the son just as they honor the Father. The one not honoring the son does not honor the Father who sent him. (24) "Most truly I tell you, the one hearing my word and believing [or having faith] in the One having sent me, has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life! (25) "Most positively, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when dead persons will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those having heard will live. [Joh 11:43-44] (26) "For even as the Father has life in Himself, so He has also given to the son to have life in himself. (27) "And He also gave the son the right to judge everyone, [John 3:19] because he is the "son of man" (being the seed of the woman). [Gen 3:15] (28) "Don't be surprised at this, because an hour is coming when all those in the tombs will hear his voice, (29) and they will come out of the graves: the ones having done good things to a resurrection of life, but the ones having practiced wicked things to a resurrection of judgment. (30) "I am not able to do anything of myself. Just as I hear I judge, and my judgment is righteous, because I do not seek my will but the will of my Father who sent me. (31) "If I speak for myself, there is no way to prove I am telling the truth. (32) "There is another who is testifying concerning me, and I know that the testimony is true which He testifies concerning me. [Joh 1:32-34; Mat 17:5] (33) "You have sent messengers to John, and he has told you the truth. (34) "I am not dependent on what people say about me, but I say these things so that you may have faith and be saved. (35) "John was the burning and shining lamp, and you were pleased to be very glad for an hour [or a brief while] in his light. (36) "But I have a testimony greater than John's, for the works which the Father gave me to do, the works themselves that I am doing testify concerning me that the Father sent me. (37) "And the Father having sent me, He Himself has testified concerning me. [Mat 3:13-17] Neither have you heard His voice at any time nor have you seen His form. (38) And you do not have His word remaining in you, because the one whom the Father sent, this one you do not believe. (39) "You search the Scriptures, because you think by means of them you will have eternal life, and these are the ones which testify concerning me. (40) "And so you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life. (41) I do not accept glory from people. (42) But I do know that none of you love God. (43) I have come in the Name of My Father, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own authority, that one you will receive. (44) How are you able to believe, while you seek the praise of one another, and you don't care about praise from God? (45) Stop thinking that I will be the one to accuse you before the Father; the one accusing you is Moses, in whom you have hoped [or, have trusted in]. (46) For if you believed Moses, you would have believed me, for that one wrote concerning me. [Deu 18:15-19] (47) But if the writings of that one you do not believe, how will you believe my sayings?"

John Chapter 6 MWT

(Accept food for eternal life; that food being Christ's teachings... Jesus is the Bread from heaven. Came from Father and we must come to Jesus and express faith in his words. We must eat [be sustained by] Jesus's flesh and blood, which means living by faith in the true words he gave his very life to bring. [2 Sam 23:15-17])

(1) After these things Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (also known as Lake Tiberias). (2) And a large crowd was following him, because they had seen him work miracles to heal the sick. (3) But Jesus went up into the mountain, and was sitting there with his disciples. (4) It was almost time for the Jewish religious festival of Passover. (5) Then Jesus, lifting up his eyes and seeing the large crowd coming to him, said to Philip, "From where shall we buy loaves of bread, so that all these shall eat?" (6) He said this to test Phillip, for he already knew what he was about to do. (7) Philip answered, "Two hundred denarii [i.e., 200 days' wages] worth of loaves of bread are not sufficient for them that each shall receive some little piece." (8) One of His disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, spoke up and said, (9) "There is a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but these-what are they among so many?" (10) But Jesus said, "Have everyone sit down." Now it was a grassy place. So they reclined (the men numbered about five thousand). (11) Then Jesus took the loaves of bread, and having thanked God, he distributed to his disciples, and the disciples to the ones reclining, likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted! (12) And when all were satisfied, he said to his disciples, "Gather together the broken pieces of bread which are leftover, so that nothing will be lost." (13) The disciples gathered them and filled twelve large baskets with broken pieces of bread, from the five barley loaves which were left over by the ones having been fed. (14) Therefore, the people having seen the miracle Jesus performed, said, "This is truly the prophet, the one coming into the world!" (15) Then Jesus, knowing they were about to come and try to force him to be their king, withdrew into the mountain where he could be alone. (16) But when evening came, his disciples went down to the sea. (17) And having stepped into the boat, they started across the sea to Capernaum. Now it was already dark, and Jesus had not joined them. (18) And the sea waves were being stirred up by a strong wind. (19) When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat. And they were afraid. (20) But He said to them, "I am Jesus! Stop being afraid!" (21) So they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to be on the land to which they were going. (22) The people who had stayed on the east side of the sea knew that only one boat had been there. They also knew that Jesus had not left in it with his disciples. But the next day (23) some other small boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. (24) So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves stepped into the boats and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus. (25) And finding him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" (26) Jesus answered them and said, "I tell you for certain, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were satisfied. (27) "Stop working for food that perishes, but work for the food that gives eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for God the Father has set his seal on His son's right to grant life." [John 17:3; John 12:50; John 6:40; John 18:37] (28) Therefore, they asked him, "What exactly does God want us to do?" (29) Jesus answered and said to them, "God wants you to have faith in the one he sent." (30) So they said to him, "What miracle will you work so that we can see and know we can believe you? What will you do? (31) For example, when our fathers were in the wilderness, He gave them manna to eat. It happened just as it has been written, 'He gave to them bread out of heaven to eat.'" [Exod16:4; Neh 9:15; Ps 78:24] (32) So Jesus said to them, "Most positively, I say to you, Moses did not give you bread out of heaven, but my Father gives to you the true bread out of heaven. (33) For the bread of God is the one coming down out of heaven and giving life to the world." (34) Then they said to him, "Lord, always give to us this bread." (35) But Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life! The one coming to me shall by no means hunger, and the one having faith in me will by no means get thirsty at any time! (36) But it is just as I said to you: you have seen me and still you have no faith. (37) All those whom the Father gives me will come to me, [2 Chron 16:9; John 6:44] and I will not send away anyone coming to me. (38) Because I have come down from heaven, not to be doing my will, but to be doing the will of the One who sent me. (39) And this is the will of the Father who sent me, that out of all He has given me I will not lose any, but I will raise them up in the last day. (40) And this is the will of the One who sent me, that everyone seeing the Son and having faith in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (41) Therefore, the Jews were grumbling about him, because Jesus said, "I am the bread coming down out of heaven." (42) And they said, "Is this not Jesus, the Son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it he says, "I have come down out of heaven?" (43) So Jesus answered and said to them, "Stop grumbling about me with one to another. (44) No one is able to come to me unless the Father who sent me draws [or, drags] him, and I will raise him up in the last day. (45) It is written in the prophets, 'And they will all be taught by   יהוה  .' [Isaiah 54:13] Therefore, every [one] hearing from the Father [through the prophets], and having learned, comes to me. (46) Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the one coming down from God, he has seen the Father. (47) Most positively, I say to you, the one who puts faith in me has eternal life. (48) I am the bread that gives life! (49) Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and yet died. (50) This is the bread which has come down out of heaven, so that anyone who eats from it shall not die. (51) I am the living bread, the one coming down out of heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live into the age [fig., forever], and indeed the bread which I will give is my flesh, which I will give on behalf of the life of the world." (52) Therefore, the Jews began disputing with one another, saying, "How is this man able to give to us his flesh to eat?" (53) So Jesus said to them, "Most surely I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Humanity and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. (54) The one eating my flesh and drinking my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up in the last day. (55) For my flesh truly is food, and my blood truly is drink. (56) The one eating my flesh and drinking my blood remains in union with me, and I in union with him. (57) Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, also the one feeding on me, that one will live because of me. (58) This is the bread having come down out of heaven, not as your fathers ate the manna and died. The one eating this bread will live into the age [fig., forever]!" (59) These things Jesus said in a Jewish place of worship [a synagogue] while teaching in Capernaum. (60) Therefore, many of Jesus' disciples having heard, said, "This word is shocking. Who is able to accept it?" (61) But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble [fig, offend you]? (62) What if you should see the Son of Man go up to heaven where he came from? (63) The Spirit is the One giving life; the flesh [or, human strength] does not accomplish [or, benefit] anything. The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life! (64) But there are some of you who refuse to have faith in me." For Jesus knew from the beginning of his teaching the ones choosing not to believe, and who was the one who would betray Him. (65) And he said, "For this reason I have said to you, 'No one is able to come to me unless he has been drawn by my Father.'" (66) Because of what Jesus said, about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, many of his disciples went away to the things behind and were no more walking about with him. They didn't have a desire to understand. (67) So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not also want to go away, do you?" (68) Then Simon Peter answered and said, "Lord, to whom will we go away to? You have the words granting eternal life. (69) And we have come to believe and have come to know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" (70) Jesus answered them, "I chose you twelve, did I not? And one of you is a son of the evil one!" (71) Now He spoke of Judas Iscariot, son of Simon Iscariot, for this one was about to betray Him, being one of the twelve.

John Chapter 7 MWT

(Jesus's own brothers yet lacking faith.
Jesus continues telling the people he came from the Father to teach them.
Again he says we need to come to him and drink waters of life;
equating that with having faith in his words so as to have rivers of water of life within.)

(1) Jesus left Judea and started going through Galilee, because the Jewish religious leaders wanted to kill him. (2) But the festival of the Jews was near, the Feast of Tabernacles [or Booths]. (3) So Jesus' brothers said to him, "Why don't you go into Judea, so that your disciples can see the miracles you are doing. (4) For no one does anything in secret if they want the world to know what they are doing. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." (5) For even Jesus' own brothers were not putting faith in Him. (6) So Jesus said to them, "My time hasn't yet come; but your time is always here [their time to be exercising faith in Jesus as the Christ]. (7) It is not possible for you to be hated by the world; but I am hated by it, because I them what they do is evil. (8) You go on up to this festival; I am not yet going up to this feast because my time has not yet been fulfilled." (9) And after saying these things to them, Jesus remained in Galilee. (10) But after his brothers had gone up, then he also himself went up, not openly, but in secret. (11) So the Jewish religious leaders were seeking him at the festival and said, "Where is that one?" (12) And there was much subdued excitement about him among the crowds. Some indeed said, "He is a good man." Others said, "No, but he is misleading the crowd [deceiving the crowd]." (13) No one, though, was speaking freely about him on account of the fear of the Jewish religious leaders. (14) In the middle of the feast, Jesus went into the temple and began teaching. (15) And the Jews were amazed, saying, "How does this one know so much, not having been educated in our religious schools?" (16) Therefore, Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not mine, but comes from the One having sent me. (17) If anyone really wants to obey God and do his will, they will know concerning my teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from my own originality. (18) The man who speaks from within himself is seeking glory for himself, but he who is looking for the glory of the One who sent him--that man is true and there is no evil in him... (19) Did not Moses give you the Law? And not one of you keeps the Law. Why are you seeking to kill me?" (20) The crowd answered and said, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?" (21) Jesus answered and said to them, "One work I did, and you all marveled and were amazed! (22) Moses commanded you to circumcise your sons-not that it is from Moses, but from your forefathers-and even on a Sabbath Day you circumcise your sons. (23) If a man receives circumcision on a Sabbath so that the Law of Moses is not broken, why are you bitterly angry with me because I made a man entirely well on a Sabbath? (24) Stop judging according to appearance, judge what is right." (25) So some among the people of Jerusalem said, "This is the one whom they are seeking to kill, is it not? (26) And look! He speaks freely, and they say nothing to Him. Perhaps the rulers have come to know that this one is truly the Christ? (27) But how could that be? No one knows where the Messiah will come from but we know where this man comes from." (28) Then, as Jesus was teaching in the temple he cried out saying, "Do you think you both know me and know where I am from? I have not come on my own, but the One who sent me is true, whom you do not know. (29) But I know the One who sent me, because I came from Him" (30) So the religious leaders were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come. (31) But many out of the crowd put faith in him and said, "When the Christ comes, he will not do more signs than this one did, will he?" (32) When the Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things concerning Jesus, then the Pharisees and the chief priests sent attendants so that they should seize him. (33) Therefore Jesus said, "Yet a little while I remain with you, and then I am going away to the One who sent me. (34) You will look for me and will not find me. You are not able to go where I am going." (35) Then the Jewish leaders said among themselves, "Where is this one about to go that we will not find him? He is not about to go to the dispersed ones [i.e. the Jews scattered among the Greeks] and to be teaching the Greeks, is he? (36) What is this word which he said, 'You will seek me and will not find me, and where I am, you are not able to come?'" (37) On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsting, let him come to me and drink. (38) The one putting faith in me, just as the Scripture said, 'Out of his belly [or, innermost being] will flow rivers of water of life." [No direct OT reference. See Isaiah 55:1; 58:11] (39) But this he said in reference to the Spirit, which the ones believing in him were about to receive, for the Holy Spirit had not yet been given because the glory of Jesus was yet to come. (40) Therefore, having heard what Jesus was saying, many among the crowd said "This one is truly the prophet." (41) Others were saying, "This is the Christ." Others were saying, "But the Christ is not coming out of Galilee, is he? (42) The Scripture said the Christ is coming from the seed of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David was, did it not?" [Ps 132:11; Jer 23:5; 1 Sam 16:1,13; Micah 5:2] (43) So there arose a division among the crowd because of him. (44) And some of them were wanting to seize him, but no one laid his hands on him. (45) Then the attendants came back to the chief priests and Pharisees. And those religious rulers said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" (46) The attendants answered, "Never has anyone spoken like this man!" (47) Therefore, the Pharisees answered to them, "You have not also been deceived, have you? (48) No one from the rulers or from the Pharisees have believed in him, have they? [John 12:42; Acts 6:7] (49) But this crowd who has no knowledge of the Law, is accursed." (50) Nicodemus, the one who had come to Jesus previously by night, said to them, he being one of them, (51) "Our Law does not judge any person unless it hears from him first and knows what he does, does it?" (52) They answered and said to him, "You are not also out of Galilee, are you? Search and see that no prophet has been raised out of Galilee." (53) And each one went to his house.

John Chapter 8 MWT

(Woman caught in adultery. Jesus is the Light of life.
He stresses the great importance of truth and integrity! Jesus explains how to be set free of the lies of false prophets.) [Titus 1:2; John 8:44-45]

(1) But Jesus departed to the Mount of Olives. (2) Then at dawn he returned to the temple, and all the people were coming to him. And sitting down, he began teaching them. (3) But the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman to him who had been caught in adultery. And sitting her in the middle of them, (4) they said to him, testing him, "Teacher, we found this woman in the very act of committing adultery! (5) Now in our Law, Moses commanded those guilty of adultery are to be stoned to death. Therefore, you, what do you say?" (6) But this they said, testing him, trying to find something to accuse him of. But Jesus, having stooped down, began writing on the ground with his finger, not acknowledging them. (7) But when they continued asking him, he straightened back up, and said to them, "The one among you who is without sin, let him cast the first stone at her." (8) And again having stooped down, He was writing on the ground. (9) But having been convicted in their conscience by what he said, they began going out one by one, starting from the older to the last ones. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman still standing in what had been their midst. (10) Now Jesus having straightened himself back up and having seen no one but the woman, said to her, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?" (11) And she said, "No one, Lord." So Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you. Be going your way, and stop sinning." (12) Then again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world! The one following me shall by no means walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life!" (13) So the Pharisees said to Him, "You are testifying concerning yourself! Your testimony is not true!" [John 7:17-18] (14) Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I am testifying concerning myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I am from and where I am going. (15) You judge in a human way; I am not judging anyone. [John 12:47-50] (16) But even if I do judge, my judgment is fair, because I am not alone, but my Father who sent me is with me. (17) Even so in your Law it has been written, that the testimony of two persons is true. [Deut 19:15] (18) I am one testifying concerning myself, and the Father who sent me is testifying about me." [John 1:32-34] (19) Therefore, they were saying to him, "Where is your father?" Jesus answered, "You neither know me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father." (20) These sayings Jesus spoke in the treasury, teaching in the temple, and no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come. (21) Then Jesus said again to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin; where I am going, you are not able to come." (22) So the Jews were saying, "Surely he will not kill himself, will he?-because he says, 'Where I am going, you are not able to come?'" (23) And Jesus said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are from this world; I am not from this world. (24) Therefore, I said to you, 'you will die in your sins,' for unless you believe that I am who I say I am, you will die in your sins." [John 4:25-26; Mat 16:15-17] (25) So they were saying to him, "You then, who are you?" And Jesus said to them, "Just who I have been telling you even from the beginning: [Mat 16:13-17] (26) Many things I have to tell you and to be judging; but the One having sent me is true, and what I heard from Him, these things I say to the world." (27) They did not understand that he was speaking to them about his Father. (28) Then Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that from my own self I do nothing, but just as my Father taught me, these things I speak. (29) And the One having sent me is with me; the Father did not leave me alone, because I always do the things pleasing to Him." (30) While speaking these things, many put their faith in him. (31) So Jesus said to the Jews having believed in him, "If you remain in my word [in my teachings], you are truly my disciples. (32) And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!" (33) They answered him, "We are the seed [fig., descendents] of Abraham, and to no one have we at any time been slaves. How can you say, 'You will become free?'" (34) Jesus answered them, "Most positively, I say to you, every one committing [or, practicing] sin is a slave of sin. (35) But the slave does not remain in the house forever: the son remains forever. (36) Therefore, if the son makes you free, you will actually be free! [John 8:31-32] (37) I know that you are the seed of Abraham, but you seek to kill me, because my word does not find a place in you. (38) I am speaking what I have learned from my Father, and you are doing what you have seen from your father." (39) They answered and said to him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were children of Abraham, you would be doing the works of Abraham. (40) But now, you seek to kill me-a man who has spoken to you the truth which I heard from God-this Abraham did not do. (41) You do the works of your father." Then they said, "We have not been born out of fornication; we have one Father-God!" (42) So Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, because I have come from God. For I have not come from myself, but that One sent me. (43) Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to be hearing my word. (44) You are from your father the Devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. That one was a murderer from the beginning, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he is speaking a lie, out of his own inner being he speaks, [or it is a natural thing for him] because he is a liar, and the father of the lie. (45) But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me. (46) Who among you convicts me concerning sin? But if I am speaking truth, why are you not believing me? (47) The one coming from God, the words of God he hears and pays attention to, for this reason you do not hear, because you are not from God." (48) Then the Jews answered and said to him, "Do we not rightly say you are a Samaritan a have a demon?" (49) Jesus answered, "I have no demon, but I am honoring my Father, and you are dishonoring me. (50) But I do not seek my own glory; there is One seeking and judging. (51) Most positively, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he shall by no means see death forever!" (52) Then the Jews said to him, "Now we do know you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets, and you say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he shall by no means taste of death forever!' (53) You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died, are you? And the prophets died. Whom are you making yourself out to be?" (54) Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; My Father is the One glorifying me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.' (55) And you have not known Him, but I do know Him; and if I should say that I do not know Him, I would be like you-a liar. But I do know Him, and I am keeping His word. (56) Abraham, your father was very glad that he should see my day, and he saw and rejoiced." (57) So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years, and yet you say you have seen Abraham?" (58) Jesus said to them, "Most positively, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I have been!" [Pro 8:22-31] (59) Therefore, they took up stones that they should kill him. But Jesus hid from them. And he went out of the temple, passing through the midst of them, and so he passed by. [cp. Luke 24:16; Joh 12:36]

John Chapter 9 MWT

(Jesus illustrates the spiritual blindness of this religious world by the healing of a blind man;
who then taught the religious leaders. They, however,  refused  refuse to accept the truth.
Religionists have not changed since they murdered the Son of God 2000 years ago...)

(1) As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. (2) And his disciples asked him, saying, "Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Was it his sin or that of his parents?" (3) Jesus answered, "Neither this man sinned nor his parents, but this happened so that the works of God should be revealed in him. (4) "It is necessary for me to be doing the works of the One who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one will be able to work. [2 Thes 2:3-12] (5) "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (6) Having said these things, Jesus spit on the ground and made mud from the saliva and rubbed the mud on the eyes of the blind man. (7) And he said to him, "Go and wash in the pool of Siloam." So he went away and washed, and he came back seeing! (8) Therefore, the neighbors and those seeing previously that he was blind, were saying, "This is the one sitting and begging, is it not?" (9) Others were saying, "This is he." But others, "He just looks like him." That one kept saying, "I am he." (10) So they were asking him, "How were your eyes opened?" (11) That one answered and said, "A man called Jesus made mud and rubbed my eyes and said to me, 'Go and wash in the pool of Siloam.' And having gone away and washed, I received sight!" (12) So they said to him, "Where is that one?" He said, "I don't know." (13) Next, they brought the one who was formerly blind to the Pharisees. (14) Now it was on a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. (15) So again the Pharisees were also asking him how he received sight. And the once blind man said to them, "He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see!" (16) Then some of the Pharisees were saying, "This is not a man from God because he does not keep the Sabbath." Others were saying, "How is a sinful man able to be doing such miracles?" And a division arose among them. (17) They said to the blind man once again, "You, what do you say concerning him, because he opened your eyes?" So he said, "He is a prophet." (18) Then the Jews were unwilling to believe concerning him that he was blind and received sight, so they called the parents of the one having received sight. (19) And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" (20) So his parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. (21) "But how he now sees, we do not know, or who opened his eyes, we do not know. He is of age, ask him. He will speak concerning himself." (22) These things his parents said because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed together that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ should be expelled from the synagogue. (23) It was for this reason his parents said, "He is of age, ask him." (24) So a second time they called the man who was blind. And they said to him, "Be giving glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner!" (25) That one then answered and said, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, I was born blind and now I see!" (26) But they said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" (27) He answered them, "I told you already and you did not believe; why do you want to hear again? You do not want to become his disciples also, do you?" (28) They reviled him and said, "You are that man's disciple, but we are Moses' disciples! (29) "We know that God gave his word to Moses, but this one-we do not know where he is from." (30) The man answered and said to them, "Why, this certainly is a marvel, that you do not know from where he is from-and yet he opened my eyes! (31) "We know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and is doing God's will, this one God hears. (32) "Since the beginning it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of one having been born blind. (33) "If this one were not from God, he would not be able to be doing such miracles." (34) They answered and said to him, "You were totally born in sins, and are you now teaching us!" And they cast him outside. (35) Jesus heard they cast him out of the Synagogue. And having found him, he said to him, "Do you have faith in the Son of God?" (36) That one answered and said, "And who is he, Lord, so that I should believe in him?" (37) And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him and the one speaking with you-that one is he." (38) And he said, "I believe, Lord!" And he prostrated himself in worship before him. (39) And Jesus said, "For this judgment I came into the world, so that the ones not seeing shall see, and the ones seeing shall become blind." (40) And those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and they said to him, "We are not also blind, are we?" (41) Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin, but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore, your sin remains [or is exposed]." [John 15:22-25]

John Chapter 10 MWT

(Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He willingly lays down his life for his Father's sheep.
The religious leaders try to kill Jesus for telling the truth, which also exposes them.
The hypocritical false religious leaders continue their attach against truth,
just as they do in our day. - Mat 7:15-16)

(1) Truly, truly, I say to you, the one not entering through the gate into the sheepfold, but climbing in some other way, that one is a thief and a plunderer. (2) But the one entering through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. (3) To this one the gatekeeper opens. And the sheep hear his voice, and his own sheep he calls by name, and he leads them out. (4) And whenever he brings his own sheep out, he goes before them, and his sheep follow him, because they know his voice. (5) But a stranger they will by no means follow, but they will flee from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." (6) This illustration Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what he meant. (7) Therefore, Jesus further explained, "Most truly I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep! (8) All who came before as the messiah [as The Anointed One] are thieves and hurtful ones, but the sheep did not respond to them. (9) I am the gate. All who come to God through me will be saved, and they will come in and go out and will find pasture. (10) The thief does not come into the fold except to steal and kill and destroy. I came so that they can have life, [John 6:44; John 6:37-39] and they will have it in abundance! (11) I am the good shepherd! The good shepherd lays down his life in behalf of the sheep. (12) But the hired worker does not care for the sheep. He is not the owner of the sheep and when he watches the wolf coming, he flees and leaves the sheep, and the wolf seizes the sheep and scatters them [by using false religious teachings - Mat 12:30; Mat 7:15-16]. (13) Now the hired worker flees because he is only a hired worker and does not love the sheep. (14) I am the good shepherd, and I know my own sheep, and my own sheep know me. (15) Just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father, and I lay down my life in behalf of the sheep. (16) And other sheep I have [non Jewish Gentiles] which are not from this fold. These also it is necessary for me to bring, and my voice they will hear. And they will become one flock, one shepherd. [Gal 3:26-29] (17) For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in behalf of the sheep, so that I may receive it back again. (18) No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself; I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to receive it back again. These orders I have received from my Father. (19) So again, there came to be a division among the Jews because of these words. (20) But many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is raving mad; why do you pay attention to him?" (21) Others were saying, "These are not the sayings of one being demon-possessed. A demon is not able to open the eyes of blind people, is it?" (22) Now the Feast of Dedication [i.e. Hanukkah] took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. (23) And Jesus was walking about in the temple, in the Porch of Solomon. (24) Then the Jews surrounded him and said to Him, "How long do you hold our soul in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." (25) Jesus answered them, "I told you already and yet you do not believe; the works which I do in the Name of my Father, these prove who I am. (26) But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep, just as I have said to you. (27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (28) And I give them eternal life, and they shall by no means perish forever! And no one can pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to be plucking them out of the hand of My Father. [John 6:44] (30) I and the Father are one!" [John 17:20-22] (31) Therefore, the Jews again took up stones so that they could kill him. (32) Jesus answered them, "Many fine works I showed you from my Father. On account of which good work do you stone me?" (33) The Jews answered him, saying, "Concerning a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy, and because you, being a human, are trying to make yourself God." (34) Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods?' [Ps 82:6] (35) If He called "gods," the ones to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture is not able to be nullified), (36) Why do you say of me; the one whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You blaspheme,' because I said, 'I am God's Son?' (37) If I am not doing the works of my Father, do not believe me. (38) But if I am doing His works, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you shall know and believe that the Father is with me, and I am with the Father." (39) Therefore, they were seeking again to seize him, but he slipped out from their hand. (40) And he went again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and he remained there. (41) And many came to him and were saying, "John indeed did no sign. But all the things, as many as John said concerning this one were true." (42) And many in that place put their faith in him.

John Chapter 11 MWT

(Lazarus is sick. Jesus says the sickness is not to death but to bring glory to God and to himself. Yet Lazarus does die. Jesus resurrects Lazarus and many put faith in God's Son. The religious leaders then seek to kill Lazarus, as well as Jesus, [John 12:9-11] because they love their titles and position over the people more than God. The High Priest prophecies [no doubt unknowingly] Jesus is about to die for the world.)

(1) Now there was a certain man who was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, from the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (2) This was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, [John 12:3-8] whose brother Lazarus was sick. (3) So the sisters sent to Jesus, saying, "Lord, please hear! The one whom you affectionately love is sick." (4) But Jesus, after hearing said, "This sickness is not to death, but is to bring glory to God, and also the Son of God will be glorified through it!" (5) Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. (6) But after hearing Lazarus was sick, he remained in the place in which he was for two more days. (7) Then after this, Jesus said to the disciples, "We are going again to Judea." (8) The disciples say to Him, "Rabbi, the Jews in Judea were seeking to stone you, and you are going there again?" (9) Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks about in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of the sun. (10) "But if anyone walks about in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." [2 Thes 2:3-12] (11) These things he said, and after he said to them, "Lazarus our friend has fallen asleep, but I am going so as to wake him up." (12) Then his disciples said, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will get well." (13) But Jesus had spoken concerning his death, while his disciples believed he was speaking about Lazarus resting in sleep. (14) So Jesus then said to them plainly, "Lazarus has died." (15) "And I rejoice for your sake that I was not there, so that you shall believe, but let us be going to him." (16) Therefore, Thomas, the one being called Twin, said to his fellow-disciples, "Let us also go so that we shall die with him." (17) So Jesus having come, found he had already been four days in the memorial tomb. (18) Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about 2 1/2 kilometers away. (19) And many of the Jews had come for the sake of Martha and Mary, so as to comfort them concerning their brother. (20) Then Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, met him. But Mary was sitting in the house. (21) So Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died. (22) "But even now I know that whatever you ask God for, God will give you." (23) Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." (24) Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again, in the resurrection in the last day." (25) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life! The one who puts faith in me, even if he dies, he will come to life! (26) "And every one who is living and putting faith in me will never die! Do you believe what I say?" (27) She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I am convinced that you are the Christ, the son of God, the one coming into the world." (28) And after saying these things, she went away and called Mary her sister privately, saying, "The teacher is present and is calling you." (29) Then that one, when she heard, rose up quickly and came to him. (30) Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but he was in the place where Martha met him. (31) Therefore, the Jews, the ones being with her in the house and comforting her, seeing that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, "She is going off to the tomb so she can weep there." (32) So Mary, when she came to where Jesus was, seeing him, fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died." (33) Then Jesus, when he saw her weeping, and the Jews having come with her weeping, was deeply moved in his spirit and he groaned within himself. (34) And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." (35) Jesus wept! (36) So the Jews said, "Look, how much affection he had for him!" (37) But some of them said, "This one, the one having opened the eyes of the blind man, was he not able to do something so that also this one should not have died?" (38) So Jesus, again being deeply moved in his spirit, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying on its entrance. (39) Jesus said, "Take the stone away." Martha, the sister of Lazarus, said to him, "Lord, already he stinks, for it is the fourth day since he died." (40) Jesus said to her, "I told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God, did I not?" (41) Then they took away the stone from where the one having died was lying. And Jesus lifted his eyes upward and said, "Father, I give thanks to You because You hear me. (42) "True, I know that You always hear me, but because of the crowd standing around I said it, so they will be convinced that You sent me." (43) And having said these things, with a loud voice he cried out, "Lazarus, come on out!" (44) And the one having died came out, his feet and hands having been bound with grave-clothes, and his face had been wrapped with a facecloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." (45) Therefore, many of the Jews, the ones having come to Mary and having seen what Jesus did, put faith in him. (46) But some of them went away to the Pharisees and reported to them what Jesus had done. (47) Therefore, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together a High Council [or, Sanhedrin] and said, "What are we going to do? For this person is performing many miracles! (48) "If we leave him alone this way, all will put faith in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." (49) But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You do not know anything, (50) neither do you take into account that it is advantageous for us that one person should die in behalf of the people, and the whole nation should not perish." (51) But this he said not from himself, but because he was high priest that year, he was used by God to prophesy that Jesus was about to die in behalf of their nation. (52) And not on behalf of their nation only, but so he could also gather together into one all the children of God, the ones scattered through the earth. [John 10:16] (53) So from that day they plotted among themselves how they could kill Jesus. (54) Therefore, Jesus could no longer walk about freely among the Jews, but he went away from there to the countryside near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. And there he stayed with his disciples. (55) But the Passover of the Jews was near. And many went up to Jerusalem from out of the countryside, before the Passover, so that they could purify themselves. (56) So they were seeking Jesus and were speaking one with another, standing in the temple and saying, "What do you think, will he at all come up to the festival?" (57) Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, so they could seize him.

John Chapter 12 MWT

(Jews plot to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus.
Our response to the words of God's son is the basis of our judgment of our-own-selves.)

(1) So six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was. Lazarus was the one who had died, but whom Jesus raised from the dead. (2) So they made him dinner there, and Martha was serving. But Lazarus was one of those reclining to eat with Jesus. (3) Then Mary, having taken a [12 oz.] bottle of very valuable perfumed oil, pure nard ointment, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. (4) Therefore one of his disciples (Judas Iscariot, son of Simon Iscariot, the one who was about to betray him) said (5) "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii [i.e., about 300 days' wages] and given to poor?" (6) Now he said this, not because he was concerned for the poor, but because he was a thief and was holding the money-bag and was stealing from the things being put in. (7) Then Jesus said, "Leave her alone, she has kept this perfume for the day of my burial preparation. (8) "For the poor you always have with you, but me you do not always have." (9) So a large crowd of the Jews knew that he was there. And they came, not because of Jesus only, but so they could also see Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. (10) Now the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus also, (11) because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were putting faith in Jesus. (12) The next day a large crowd, having come to the festival and having heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, (13) took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him and began crying out, "We praise you! 'Blessed is the one coming in the name of the The Name  of '-the King of Israel!" [Psalm 118:26] (14) Now Jesus having found a young donkey, sat on it, just as it has been written, (15) "Stop being afraid, daughter of Zion. Look! Your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt." [Zech 9:9] (16) But these things his disciples did not understand at first, but when Jesus had been given his glory, [Php 2:9-11] then they remembered that these things had been written about him, and these things they did to him. (17) Then the crowd, the ones having been with him, were giving witness that he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead. (18) For this reason also the crowd met him, because they heard he had performed this miracle. (19) Therefore, the Pharisees said among themselves, "You see that we are getting nowhere. Look! The whole world is following him!" (20) Now there were some Greeks among the ones going up to prostrate themselves in worship at the feast. (21) Then these Greeks came to Philip, the one from Bethsaida of Galilee, and were asking him, saying, "Sir, we desire to see Jesus." (22) Philip came and told Andrew, and then Andrew and Philip told Jesus. (23) But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the son of man to be glorified. (24) "Most positively, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat, having fallen to the earth, dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. (25) "The one whose great love is for his own life will lose it, but the one hating his life in this world will keep it in eternal life. (26) "If anyone wants to serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, my servant will be. And if anyone will be my follower, the Father will honor him. (27) "Now my soul has been very much disturbed, and what shall I say-Father, save me from this hour? But for this very purpose I came to this hour. (28) "Father, glorify your name." Then came a voice out of heaven, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again!" (29) Then the crowd, having been there and heard, were saying it had thundered. Others were saying, "An angel has spoken to him." (30) Jesus answered and said, "Not for my sake has this voice come, but for your sakes. (31) Now is the judgment of this world; [Joh 12:48-50] now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (32) And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself." (33) But he was saying this to explain what sort of death he was about to die. (34) The crowd answered him, "We heard out of the Law that the Christ remains forever, so how do you say, 'It is necessary for the son of man to be lifted up?' Who is this-the son of man?" (35) So Jesus said to them, "For yet a little time the light is with you. Be walking about as long as you have the light, so that darkness does not overpower you. [2 Thes 2:3-12; John 11:9-10] And the one walking about in the darkness does not know where he is going. (36) As long as you have the light, be believing and trusting in the light, so that you shall become children of light." [Joh 8:12] These things Jesus spoke, and having gone away, he hid from them. (37) But even though he had done so many signs for them to see, they were still not believing in him, (38) so that the words of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, when he said, "Lord, who believed our report? And to whom is the arm of  Almighty God  revealed?" [Isaiah 53:1] (39) On account of this they were not able to be convinced because Isaiah again said, (40) "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart [fig., made them stubborn in their inner self] so that they should not see with their eyes and understand with the heart and be changed, and I should heal them." [Isaiah 6:10] (41) These things Isaiah said when he saw 's glory and spoke about him. [Isaiah 6:1-9; see also Pro 30:4] (42) Nevertheless, even many among the rulers believed [or, trusted] in him, but because of the Pharisees [religious leaders] they would not confess him publicly, for fear of being expelled from the synagogue. (43) For they loved the glory of men more than even the glory of God. (44) But Jesus cried out and said, "The one putting faith in me does not believe in me alone, but also in the One having sent me! (45) "And the one who beholds me beholds also the One who sent me. (46) "I have come as a light to the world, so that everyone who puts faith in me will not remain in the darkness. (47) "And if anyone hears my sayings and does not accept them as truth, I do not judge him, for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. (48) "The one rejecting me and not putting faith in my teachings has one to judge him-the word which I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (49) "Because I have not spoken from myself, but the Father who sent me, He gave me a command what I should say and what I should speak. (50) "And I know that His word is eternal life. Therefore, what I speak, just as the Father has said to me, so I speak it."

John Chapter 13 MWT

(Jesus teaches his followers to love each other as he loves them. We must look to Jesus as our example in all things. He prepares his disciples for his going away to the Father. New commandment!)

(1) Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing the time had come for him to depart this world and go to the Father, having had love for his own who were in the world, continued to love them to the very end. (2) And while dinner was taking place, the Devil already having put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, that he should betray Him. (3) Jesus, being conscious that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and he was going to God, (4) got up from the meal and laid down his garments, and having taken a towel, he tied it around himself. (5) Then he put water into a basin and began to wash the feet of his disciples and to dry them with the towel which he had tied around himself. (6) Then he came to Simon Peter. And that one said to him, "Lord, are you washing my feet?" (7) Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not know now, but you will understand after these things." (8) Peter said to him, "By no means will you ever wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." (9) Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also the hands and my head!" (10) Jesus said to him, "The one having been bathed does not have need except to have his feet washed, but he is altogether clean. And you men are clean, but not all." (11) For he knew the one about to betray him; on account of this he said, "You are not all clean." (12) So when he washed their feet and put on his garments, and had reclined with them again, he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? (13) "You call me, 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for I am such. (14) "If then I washed your feet-as your Lord and Teacher-you also ought to be washing one another's feet. (15) "For an example I did this to you, so that just as I have done to you, you also should be doing to each other. (16) "Most surely I say to you, a slave is not greater than his lord, nor an apostle [or, a messenger] greater than the one who sent him. (17) "If you know these things, happy [or, blessed] are you if you will do them. (18) "I do not speak concerning all of you. I know who I chose for myself, but so the Scripture might be fulfilled, 'The one eating bread with me lifted up his heel against me.' [Psalm 41:9] (19) "I am telling you before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe [or, will be convinced] who I am. (20) "Most truly I say to you, the one receiving whomever I send, receives me also, and whoever receives me, receives also the One who sent me." (21) After saying these things, Jesus became troubled in his spirit and said, "Most surely I say to you that one of you will betray me." (22) Therefore, the disciples began looking one at another, being perplexed about who he was speaking. (23) Now there was reclining at the meal, against his chest, one of his disciples, the one Jesus loved. (24) So Simon Peter motioned to this one to inquire who Jesus was talking about. (25) Then that one, having leaned back, said to Jesus, "Lord, who is it?" (26) Jesus answered, "That one to whom I, having dipped a piece of bread, will give it." And having dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. (27) And after the piece of bread, then Satan entered into that one. Then Jesus said to him, "What you are doing-do it quickly!" (28) But none of those reclining at the table knew for what reason he said this to him. (29) For some were thinking, since Judas was holding the money-bag, that Jesus said to him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. (30) Then having received the piece of bread, that one immediately went out. And it was night. (31) When he went out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man will be given glory, and he will bring glory to God! (32) "Then, after God receives glory because of him, God will also bring glory to him, and He will do it very soon. (33) "My dear little children, for yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you are not able to come.' To you also I now say it. (34) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I loved you, so now you also, be loving one another. (35) By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (36) Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going away to?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going, you are not able now to follow, but later you will follow me." (37) Peter said to him, "Lord, why am I not able to follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!" (38) Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for me? Most positively, I say to you, by no means will a rooster crow until you have three times denied knowing me."

John Chapter 14 MWT

(If we love Christ we will obey his teachings. That does require we first listen to Jesus, to learn what he taught. We can still today listen to Jesus by reading the Gospels. That's how we go our way to the Father... Even though Jesus departed as to his physical presence, those who love him know he is alive and well both in heaven, and in the God inspired Bible books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We still have him with us in his teachings, just as if he were still present in the flesh. [Mat 24:28; Mark 3:31-35])

(1) "Stop letting your hearts be troubled! You believe and trust in God, trust also in me. (2) In the house of my Father are rooms enough, if were not so, I would have told you, because I am going to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will receive you to be with me, so that where I am, you also shall be. (4) And you know the way to where I am going." (5) Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. And how are we able to know the way?" (6) Jesus explained, "I am the way and the truth and the life! No one comes to the Father except through [or, by means of] me! (7) If you had known me, you also would have known my Father, and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." (8) Philip says to him, "Lord, show to us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." (9) Jesus said to him, "For so long a time have I been with you, and you have not known me, Philip? The one having seen me has seen my Father also, so how do you say, 'Show to us the Father?' (10) Do you not believe [or, Are you not convinced] that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The sayings which I speak to you, I do not speak from myself, but the Father who remains in me, does his own works. (11) Have faith in me when I say the Father is one with me and I am one with the Father [I am in union with the Father]. Even if you have problems believing in my words, believe in me because of the works I do. (12) I tell you for certain, the one trusting in me, will also do the works I do, and greater works than these he will do, because I am going to my Father." [Jesus was leaving the expanding preaching work in the hands of his followers.] (13) "And whatever you ask in my name, this I will do. In this way the son brings honor and glory to the Father. (14) I will do whatever you ask in my name. (15) If you love me, keep my commandments. (16) And I will ask the Father, and another Counselor [or, Helper] will be sent to you, and he will be with you forever. (17) The Spirit of the truth [or an understanding of the words of Christ] will help you know what is real. The people of this world cannot receive the spirit of truth, because they don't seek it or have any interest in it. But you do know that spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you. (18) I will not leave you like orphans; I will come back to you. (19) In a little while the world will no longer be able to see me, but you will see me. And because I live, you will live! (20) In that day you will know that I am one with my Father, and you are one with me and I am one with you. (21) If you love me, you will do what I have said, and you will be loved by my Father. I will also love you and will show you what I am like." (22) Judas said to him (not Iscariot), "Lord, what has changed that you are about to be seen by us and not by the world?" (23) Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my word. And my Father will love him, and We will come to him and will dwell with him." [If we obey Jesus, it is proof we still see him, while much of the world does not.] (24) "The one who fails to keep my words does not love me. What they have heard me say doesn't really come from me, but from my Father who sent me. (25) These things I have spoken to you while I was dwelling with you. (26) But the Counselor [or, Helper], the Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that One will teach you all things, and will cause you to remember all the things I said to you. (27) I leave to you peace. My peace I give to you. I give you peace the world does not know and cannot give. Stop letting your heart be troubled, and stop being afraid. (28) You remember that I said to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming back to you.' If you truly love me, you would rejoice because I said 'I am going to the Father,' because my Father is greater than I am. (29) And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you can believe and have confidence in me." [Jesus was explaining he was about to die.] (30) "I will no longer talk much with you, because the ruler of the world is coming, but he has no power over me. (31) Because it is my Father that I obey, so the world will know that I love the Father, and just as the Father commanded me, so I am doing. Get up now, it is time for us to be going from here."

John Chapter 15 MWT

(This chapter helps you see what faith can do for you. Jesus explains he is the grapevine we must remain attached to as branches. He promises if we remain in his love, by following his teachings, our faith will grant us what ever we ask from his Father. Being familiar with what Jesus taught lets us know what we can ask God for.)

(1) " I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the keeper of the vineyard. (2) Every branch in me which does not bear fruit, He takes it away; and every branch bearing fruit, He prunes clean, so that it will bear more fruit. (3) Already you have been pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you [the teaching I have given you]. (4) Abide in [or remain united to] me, and I in you. Just as the branch is not able bear fruit by itself unless it stays attached to the vine, so neither can you, unless you stay attached to me [by faith in my words]. (5) I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who abides in me and me in him, this one bears much fruit, because apart from me you are not able to do anything. (6) If anyone does not stay joined to me, he will be thrown away. [Acts 20:29-30; Mat 7:15] Such ones are like dry branches that are gathered up and thrown in a fire. (7) Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want and it will happen to you. (8) When you become fruitful disciples of mine, my Father will be honored. (9) Just as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you; remain in my love. [John 8:31-32] (10) If you obey my teachings, you will remain in my love; just as I have obeyed my Father, and thus remain in His love. (11) I have told you these things so my joy in you may continue, and so your joy may be made full. (12) This, then, is my new commandment: That you love one another, just as I loved you. (13) Greater love has no man than this; that he should lay down his life on behalf of his friends. (14) You are my friends, if you are doing what I command you. (15) No longer do I call you slaves, because the slave does not know what his lord does. But I have called you friends because all I have heard from my Father, I made known to you. (16) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, so that you will go away and bear fruit, the kind of fruit that will remain if you follow the teachings of my Father. Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, He will give you. (17) So this is my command for you, that you will be loving one another. (18) If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before you. (19) If you were from [or part of] the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. But because you are not part of the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you. (20) Remember what I have told you, 'A slave is not greater than his lord.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours as well. (21) But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, and it is because they do not know the One who sent me. (22) If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. (23) The one who hates me, also hates my Father. (24) If I had not done among them works which no other man has done, they would not have sin, but now they have seen me and have hated both me and my Father. (25) But this has happened so the word would be fulfilled, the word written in their own Law, 'They hated me without a cause.' [Psalm 69:4] (26) I will send you the spirit which comes from the Father and shows what is true. The spirit will help you and teach you about me. (27) And you, in addition, will tell about me, because you have been with me from the beginning.

John Chapter 16 MWT

(If you love Christ, it will make you unpopular with some people; especially religious leaders. Jesus gives the spirit of truth through his words, to all those who seek and then listen. Remember the 4 points to keep in mind: The "Bible leads to Christ" as "God's spokesman" and we are commanded by God to "listen to his son."
"The words of Christ contain God's spirit" and are life.)

(1) "These things I have told you, so that you will not be offended or caused to stumble. (2) You will be expelled from their religious meeting places, and an hour is coming when everyone who harms or kills you will imagine he is offering a sacred service to God. (3) People will do these things because they do not know the Father nor me. (4) But these things I have told you so that when the hour comes, you will remember them, and that I told them to you. But I didn't say these things to you from the beginning because I was with you. (5) But now I am going away to the One who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' (6) But because of the things I have said, sorrow has filled your heart. (7) But it is the truth which I speak to you. It is advantageous for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Counselor [or, Helper or Holy Spirit] will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (8) And having come, that one will convict the world concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment: (9) Concerning sin, because they do not believe [or, trust] in me, (10) and concerning righteousness because I am going away to my Father, and you can no longer see me" [righteousness is manifest by faith in Christ], (11) "and concerning judgment because the ruler of this world has been judged" [the judgment of Satan is the wicked society his influence has produced]. (12) "I still have many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them now. (13) But when that one comes-the spirit of the truth-that one will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak from himself, but as many things as he hears he will speak, and he will announce to you the things coming. (14) That one will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and will make it clear to you. (15) All things, as many as the Father has, are mine. For this reason I said, 'He takes from what is mine' [as we read (or by our reading) Christ's words] 'and will announce [or explain] it to you.' (16) A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me," [with the help of the spirit] "because I am going away to the Father." (17) Therefore, some of his disciples said to one another, "What does this mean when he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again, a little while and you will see me,' and 'Because I am going away to the Father?'" (18) Then they said, "What does he mean by saying, 'A little while?' We do not know what he is talking about." (19) So Jesus knew that they were desiring to ask him. And he said to them, "Concerning this you inquire one with the other, because I said, 'A little while, and you are not seeing me, and again, a little while and you will see me?' (20) Most surely I say to you, that you will weep and you will lament, but the world will rejoice. You will have sorrow, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. (21) A woman, whenever she is about to give birth, has sorrow, because her hour has come. But when she gives birth to the young child, she no longer remembers the anguish, because of the joy that a person was born into the world. (22) So also you now indeed have sorrow. But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one takes from you. (23) And in that day you will not ask me anything. Most surely I say to you, that as many things as you ask the Father for in my name, He will give them to you. (24) Until this present time you asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. (25) These things I have spoken to you in veiled speech; but an hour is coming when I will not speak to you any longer in illustrations, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. (26) In that day, you will make request for yourselves in my name. And I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on behalf of you. (27) For the Father Himself affectionately loves you, because you have affectionately loved me, and you have accepted as true that I came forth from God. (28) I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again I am leaving the world and am going to the Father." (29) His disciples said to Him, "Listen! Now you are speaking plainly, and you are not talking to us in figures of speech. (30) At last we know that you understand everything, and we don't have any more questions. By this we believe [or, have become convinced] that you came forth from God." (31) Jesus answered them, "And so now are you really believing? (32) Listen! An hour is coming, and now has come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. (33) These things I have spoken to you, so that in me you can have peace [or, freedom from anxiety]. In the world you are having tribulation, but take courage, I have conquered the world!"

John Chapter 17 MWT

(Jesus's prayer as he comes to his glory, and gives life to those given him by his Father. He again highlights the value of integrity and truth. People of this world will know God sent Christ!)

(1) After Jesus had finished speaking to his disciples, he looked up toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the hour has come for you to bring glory to your son, so that your son may also bring glory to you. (2) You have given him authority over all people, so he can give eternal life to everyone you have given to him. [Joh 6:44 & 6:37-38] (3) And this means everlasting life, for them to take in knowledge of you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent forth. (4) I have brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you gave me to do. (5) Now, Father, let me have back the glory that I had with you before the world was created. [Pro 8:22-31] (6) You have given me some followers from this world, [John 6:44] and I have given them your name and showed them what you are like. [Mat 11:27] They were yours, but you gave them to me, and they have joined me in obeying you. [2 Chron 16:9; Joh 6:44] (7) It is clear to them that you gave me everything I have. (8) I told my followers what you told me, and they have taken it to heart. They know that I came from you, and they believe that you are the one who sent me. (9) My prayer is for them, but not for those who belong to this world. My followers belong to you, and I am praying for them. (10) All that I have is yours, and all that you have is mine, and my followers will bring glory to me. (11) Holy Father, I am no longer in the world. I am coming to you, but my followers are still in the world. So keep them safe by the power of your great name. Then they will be one with each other, just as you and I are one. (12) While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost, except the one who had to be lost. [Joh 6:64-71] This happened so that what the Scriptures say would come true. (13) I am coming to you. But I say these things while I am still in the world, so that my followers will have the same joy that I do. (14) I have told them your message. But the people of this world hate them, because they don't belong to this world, just as I don't. (15) Father, I don't ask you to take my followers out of the world, but to protect them from the evil one. (16) They don't belong to this world any more than I do. (17) Your word is the truth. So let this truth I give them make them completely yours. (18) I am sending them into the world, just as you sent me. (19) I have given myself completely for their sake, so they can belong completely to [or build their lives around] the truth. (20) I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will teach them about me. (21) I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe and know that you sent me. (22) I have given honor to my followers in the same way that you honored me, in order that they may be one with each other, just as we are one. (23) I am magnified in them, and you are magnified in me, so that they may become completely one. Then this world's people will know that you sent me. They will also know that you love my followers as much as you love me. (24) Father, I want everyone you have given me to be with me, wherever I am. Then they will see the glory that you have given me, because you loved me before the world was created. [Pro 8:22-31] (25) Good Father, the people of this world don't know you. But I know you, and my followers know that you sent me. (26) I told them what you are like, and I will tell them even more. Then the love that you have for me will become part of them, and I will be one with them."

John Chapter 18 MWT

(Jesus betrayed. Peter's attack with his sword emboldened the soldiers. Jesus makes clear his purpose! States his followers are truth seekers.)

(1) When Jesus finished praying, he went out with his disciples and crossed the valley of Kidron, where he entered into a garden. (2) Jesus frequently gathered there with his disciples, so Judas knew where the place was. (3) Judas had promised the Jewish leaders he would betray Jesus, so he went there and took some Roman soldiers and attendants from the chief priests and Pharisees. They came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. (4) So Jesus, knowing the things that were going to happen, went out and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" (5) They answered him, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus said to them, "I am he!" Now also Judas, the one having betrayed him, was standing there with them. (6) So when Jesus said to them, "I am he," they stepped backward and fell to the ground. (7) Therefore, he again questioned them, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus the Nazarene." (8) Jesus answered, "I said to you, 'I am he.' If then you are seeking me, allow these men to be going their way," (9) so that the word should be fulfilled which he had spoken, "Those you have given to me, I did not lose even one of them." [John 17:12] (10) Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. Now the name of the slave was Malchus. (11) So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword away! I must drink from the cup which the Father has given me." (12) Then the detachment of soldiers with their commanding officer, and the attendants of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him. (13) And they led him away first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. (14) Now Caiaphas was the one who advised the Jews that it was advantageous for one person to perish on behalf of the people. [John 11:49-50] (15) And Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now that disciple was known to the high priest and he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. (16) But Peter had stayed at the gate outside. Therefore, the other disciple who was known to the high priest came back and spoke to the female doorkeeper, and he brought Peter in. (17) Then the slave-girl, the doorkeeper, said to Peter, "You are not also one of the disciples of this man, are you?" He said, "I am not." (18) Now the slaves and the courtyard attendants who were standing there, made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were warming themselves. Now Peter was standing there with them, also warming himself. (19) Then the priest questioned Jesus concerning his disciples and concerning his teaching or doctrine. (20) Jesus answered him, "I have spoken in public and in front of the whole world; I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews always gather, and I spoke nothing in secret. (21) Why are you questioning me? Why aren't you asking the ones who heard me? Listen! They know what I said." (22) So when Jesus had said these things, one of the attendants standing by gave him a blow, saying, "That's no way to answer the priest." (23) Jesus answered him, "If I spoke so as to do something wrong, say what wrong I did, but if not, why do you strike me?" (24) Annas then sent him, still being bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. (25) Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" Then Peter denied it and said, "I am not." (26) One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative the man whose ear Peter cut off, said, "I saw you in the garden with him, did I not?" (27) Once more Peter denied him. And immediately a rooster crowed. [cp. John 13:38] (28) Then they lead Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium [Fortified Palace] where the Roman Governor stayed. By now it was early morning. The crowd waited outside, because any Jew who entered would become defiled, and so would not be able to eat the Passover. (29) Therefore, Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation are you bringing against this man?" (30) They answered and said to him, "If this man were not an evil doer, we would not have handed him over to you." (31) So Pilate said to them, "You take him yourselves and judge him according to your own law." Then the Jews said to him, "We are not allowed" [by Roman law] "to put anyone to death." (32) (This happened so what Jesus had said about his death would soon come true - that he would be "lifted up" according to Roman crucifixion practice). [John 12:32,33] (33) Therefore, Pilate entered into the Palace again and called Jesus and said to Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" (34) Jesus answered him, "Do you say this from yourself, or did others tell you about me?" (35) Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What did you do?" (36) Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my attendants would fight, so I would not be handed over to the Jews, but now my kingdom is not from this world." (37) Then Pilate said to him, "So then, are you a king?" Jesus answered, "You yourself say that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this purpose I have come into the world, so that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." (38) Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And having said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, "I find no grounds for accusation or any fault in this man. [John 19:6] (39) "But there is a custom that I release to you one person at the Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" (40) Therefore, they all cried out again, and said, "Not this one, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a terrorist.

John Chapter 19 MWT

(Pilate wants to free Jesus, but Jesus's own people, his own religious leaders, force Pilate to kill their Christ.)

(1) So Pilate then gave orders for Jesus to be beaten with a whip. (2) The soldiers made a crown out of thorn branches and put it on Jesus. And they put a purple robe on him. (3) They kept saying to him, "Hail, the king of the Jews!" They also hit him with their fists. (4) Once again Pilate went out to the Jews. This time he said, "I bring Jesus out to you again, so you can see and know for yourselves that I have not found him guilty of anything." (5) Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said, "Behold! The man!" (6) When the chief priests and their attendants saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "You take him and crucify him! I don't find him guilty of anything." (7) The Jews replied, "He claimed to be the Son of God! Our Jewish Law says he must be put to death." (8) When Pilate heard this, he was terrified. (9) He went back inside and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer. (10) "Why don't you answer my question?" Pilate asked. "Don't you know that I have the power to let you go free or to crucify you?" (11) Jesus replied, "If God did not allow you the power, you couldn't do anything at all to me. But the one who handed me over to you did the worse thing." (12) Then Pilate even more so wanted to set Jesus free. But the crowd again cried out, "If you set this man free, you are no friend of Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king makes himself an enemy of the Emperor." (13) When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out. Then he sat down on the judge's bench at the place known as "The Stone Pavement." In Hebrew this pavement is called "Gabbatha." (14) It was about noon on the day before Passover (Friday), and Pilate said to the crowd, "Look, your king!" (15) "Kill him! Kill him!" they yelled. "Crucify him!" "So you want me to crucify your king?" Pilate asked. The chief priests replied, "We have no king but Caesar!" (16) Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. Jesus was taken away, (17) and he carried his torture stake (stauros) to a place known as "The Skull." In Hebrew this place is called "Golgotha." (18) There Jesus was crucified, and on each side of him a man was also crucified. (19) Pilate ordered the charge brought against Jesus by the Jews be written on a board and put on the torture stake. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." (20) The words were written in Hebrew, and Latin, and Greek. Now the place where Jesus was taken wasn't far from the city, and many of the Jewish people read the charge against him. (21) So the chief priests went to Pilate and said, "Why did you write that he is King of the Jews? You should have written that, 'He claimed to be King of the Jews.' " (22) But Pilate told them, "What I have written, I have written!" (23) After the soldiers had nailed Jesus to the torture stake, they divided his clothes into four parts, one for each of them. But his outer garment was made from a single piece of cloth, and it was seamless. (24) The soldiers said to each other, "Let's not rip it apart. Let us cast lots to see who gets it." This happened so that the Scriptures would come true, which say, "They divided up my clothes and gambled for my garments." The soldiers really did this. [Ps 22:18] (25) Jesus' mother stood beside his torture stake, with her sister and Mary the wife of Clopas. Mary Magdalene was standing there also. (26) When Jesus saw his mother and his favorite disciple with her, he said to his mother, "This man is now your son." (27) Then he said to the disciple, "She is now your mother." From that day, the disciple took her into his own home. (28) Jesus knew that he had now finished all the work his Father had given him. And in order to fulfill the Scriptures, he said, "I am thirsty!" (29) A jar of wine vinegar was there. Someone then soaked a sponge with the vinegar and held it up to Jesus' mouth on the stem of a hyssop plant. [Psalm 69:21] (30) After Jesus drank the vinegar, he said, "Everything is done!" He bowed his head and died. (31) The next day would be a great Sabbath, meaning both the Sabbath (weekly rest day of Saturday) and the Passover (yearly rest day of Nisan 15) fell on the same day. The Jewish people did not want the bodies to stay on the torture stake during the Sabbath. So they asked Pilate to break the men's legs (which would speed their death) and take their bodies down. (32) The soldiers first broke the legs of the other two men who were nailed there. (33) When they came to Jesus, however, they saw that he was already dead, and they did not break his legs. (34) One of the soldiers stuck his spear into Jesus' side, and blood and water came out. (35) We know this is true, because it was reported by someone who was an eye witness. He gives witness so you can have faith too. (36) All this happened so that the scriptures would come true, which say, "No bone of his body will be broken" [Ex 12:46; Psa 34:20] (37) and another scripture says, "They will look upon the one whose side they pierced." [Zech 12:10] (38) Joseph of Arimathea was one of Jesus' disciples. He had kept it secret though, because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. He asked Pilate to let him have Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission, and Joseph took it down. (39) Nicodemus also came with about seventy-five pounds of spices of myrrh and aloes. This was the same Nicodemus who had visited Jesus by night. (40) The two men wrapped the body in a linen cloth, together with the spices, which was how the Jews buried their dead. (41) In the place where Jesus had been crucified, there was a garden with a tomb that had never been used. (42) The tomb was nearby, and since it was the time to prepare for the Sabbath, they hurried to put Jesus' body there.

John Chapter 20 MWT

(The resurrection of Christ.)

(1) Three days later, on the first day of the week [Sunday] while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. (2) She ran to Simon Peter and to Jesus' favorite disciple and said, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb! We don't know where they have put him." (3) Peter and the other disciple went out, and started for the tomb. (4) They ran side by side, until the other disciple outran Peter and got there first. (5) He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in. (6) When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth. (7) He also saw the piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus' face. It was rolled up and laid by itself. (8) The disciple who got there first also went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. (9) At that time Peter and the other disciple did not yet understand that the Scriptures said Jesus would have to be raised from the dead. (10) So the two of them went back to the other disciples. (11) Mary Magdalene stood crying outside the tomb. While she was still weeping, she stooped down (12) and saw two angels inside. They were dressed in white and were sitting where Jesus' body had been. One was seated at the head and the other was at the foot. (13) The angels asked Mary, "Why are you crying?" She answered, "They have taken my Lord's body away! I don't know where they have put him." (14) As soon as Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know who he was. (15) Jesus asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" She thought he was the gardener and said, "Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him." (16) Then Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him, "Rabboni." The Hebrew word "Rabboni" means "Teacher." (17) Jesus told her, "Don't be clinging to me! I have not yet gone to my Father. But tell my disciples that I am going to the one who is my Father and my God, as well as your Father and your God." (18) Mary Magdalene then went and told the disciples she had seen the Lord. She also told them what he said to her. (19) The disciples were in fear of the Jewish religious leaders, so they had locked the door to the room. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group saying peace to you (20) and he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they rejoiced. (21) After Jesus had greeted them again, he said, "I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me." (22) Having said this, he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [John 14:15-17] (23) If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don't forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven." [1 Cor 13:8] (24) Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, but he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them. (25) So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said, "First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!" (26) A week later the disciples were together again. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. He greeted his disciples (27) and said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands! Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and have faith!" (28) Thomas replied, "You are my Lord and my God!" (29) Jesus said, "Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? Blessed are those people who have faith in me without seeing me!" (30) Jesus worked many other miracles in the presence of his disciples. Not all of them are written in this book. (31) But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and as the Son of God. If you have faith in him, you will have everlasting life.

John Chapter 21 MWT

(Jesus appears to the disciples while they are fishing. Peter told to feed Christ's sheep.)

(1) Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias. (2) Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John were there, together with two other disciples. (3) Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing!" The others said, "We are going with you." They went out in their boat. But they didn't catch a thing all night. (4) Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize who he was. (5) Jesus called to them, "My dear children, have you caught anything?" "No!" they answered. (6) So he told them, "Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some." They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it into the boat. (7) Jesus' favorite disciple told Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon heard that it was the Lord, he girded his outer garment about himself, for he had taken off his clothes while he was working. Then he jumped into the sea. (8) The boat was only about a hundred yards from shore. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged the net full of fish to shore. (9) When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it. (10) Jesus told his disciples, "Bring some of the fish you just caught." (11) Simon Peter got back into the boat and dragged the net to shore. In it were one hundred fifty-three large fish, but still their net had not ripped. (12) Jesus said to them, "Come and eat!" But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord. (13) Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish. (14) This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from death. (15) When Jesus and his disciples had finished eating, he asked, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?" Simon Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know I do!" "Feed my lambs," Jesus said. (16) Jesus asked a second time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you!" "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus told him. (17) Jesus asked a third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So he told Jesus, "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you." Jesus replied, "Feed my sheep. (18) I tell you for certain that when you were a young man, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will hold out your hands so others will wrap your belt around you and lead you where you don't want to go." (19) Jesus said this to tell how Peter would die in bringing honor to God. Then he said to Peter, "Follow me!" (20) Peter turned and saw Jesus' favorite disciple following them. He was the same one who sat next to Jesus at the meal and had asked, "Lord, who is going to betray you?" (21) When Peter saw that disciple, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" (22) Jesus answered, "What is that to you, if I want him to live until I return? You must follow me." (23) So the rumor spread among the disciples that the disciple whom Jesus most loved would not die. But Jesus did not say he would not die. He simply said, "What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return?" (24) This disciple is the one who told all of this. He wrote it, and we know he is telling the truth. (25) Jesus did many other things, such that if they were all written in books, I don't suppose there would be room enough in the whole world to hold them all.

If you have completed a reading of the Bible book of John, are you enouraged? [John 8:51] Do you believe what you just heard Jesus say? [John 11:26] Do you now comprehend, listening to the words of Christ is taking in God's spirit of truth? [John 14:15-17] And, that by learning from Christ you are being baptized in holy spirit? [John 1:33] If so, how does that knowledge and understanding benefit you? Are you being changed into a new person: Reborn as a child of God by your faith in what Jesus said? [John 1:12-13] Do you believe you are (or can be) born again simply by sitting at Jesus's feet to learn? [John 3:1-10 & 18:37 & 4:25-26 & 8:31] When you watch the news and see cities enveloped in an orange haze from fires which look, as eye-witnesses on the newscasts have described them, "like the fires of hell," or, like Armageddon; do you wonder how similar that must be to what the wife of Lot saw when she gazed back over her shoulder? [Gen 19:15-26] Do you understand how the rapidly escalating tribulation falling on our world, is forcing all people to think about God, and hopefully, to realize what disobedience to him is costing them? [1 Cor 6:9-11; Rom 1:18-32] That is not to say God is killing all the people who are dying (although I do not judge He is not killing some of them). The simple truth is, our disobedience to God has produced a world that is killing us all. In the midst of what we have caused, what God has done is send us a savior. There is no religious club you can join to have some men on earth bless you with God's approval. It is a simple thing God has asked of you! [2 Kings 5:8-14; Mat 17:5] You just need to personally listen to the son He sent to tell you what you need to know to be preserved alive through this tribulation. Every sane person should agree our current world system needs to end! It seems foolish not to realize it is ending... While many of the little children of our world are starving, aren't you dismayed to see grown men paid millions of dollars to play football to empty stadiums, as Satan's world system [1 John 5:19] attempts to keep the money flowing? Are you amazed to see grandiose religious edifices left empty, standing as abandoned tributes to the false gods of greed and commercialism? Do you understand that all makes clear the tribulation of our day is a direct assault on the greedy commercialism and false worship that has been the backbone of our society? Do you realize your personal expression of faith in Christ helps the people of this world, who are being deceived by false religious leaders to reject the truth sent by God in Christ. Help everyone you know, to know or at least to be aware of, and his son? [John 17:3] Please understand, they all have to know! [John 17:20-21; Rom 14:11] If you are trying to gain life by membership or association with some religious sect, you are surely lost. You must learn from Christ personally; and then direct others to him and to him only! [Mat 12:30] Having heard Christ speak from the Book of John, you should understand the process God is using to make children for himself from among those born into membership in Satan's commercial religious world system (that  is  was "all of us"). [1 John 5:18-21; John 1:12-13; John 3:1-8 & 3:16]

If you don't understand these points, which Jesus implied to Nicodemus are simple teachings, [John 3:10] how could you understand the rest of what Jesus taught? How could you, in turn, have real faith in him? [Rom 10:14] You should re-read John (and the other 3 Gospels) enough to become familiar with the teachings of Christ. It means life to do so! [John 3:14-18] In your choice to learn what Jesus came to teach, you are made aware he came to make disciples; disciples who would imitate him in his obedience to his Father. [Joh 14:23-24 & 5:19 & 5:30 & 6:44-47 & 12:49] Jesus came to make disciples who would, in turn, make new disciples - "disciples of Christ," not of themselves or other men. [John 20:21 & 15:1-2; John 5:43-44] This webpage, with scriptural links, is written to help awaken all people to the simple truth in Christ. It is God's time! [Rev 1:1-3] My attempt is to help everyone alive see the Bible as the one and only source of hope and faith. I put before you today, and before all mankind, the opportunity to choose life in learning from Christ. [Deu 30:19-20] Knowing and acting on what Jesus taught means everlasting life! [John 17:3] You take in the spirit of God by reading (and obeying) the words of his son. [John 6:63] This page is part of a free website designed to help you help others understand what is happening to our world, and to help you recognize the words of Christ as your only life preserver. Do you believe Jesus when he said you can ask his Father for anything, and then have it? [Mark 11:24] Do you, really?
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