The Work in Judaea, Galilee and Samaria

2 Two days after this there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and Jesus’ mother was there. 2 Jesus himself, too, with his disciples, was invited to the wedding. 3 And, when the wine ran short, his mother said to him, ‘They have no wine left.’

4 ‘What do you want with me?’ answered Jesus. ‘My time has not come yet.’ 5 His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ 6 There were standing there six stone water-jars, in accordance with the Jewish rule of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the water-jars with water.’ 8 And, when they had filled them to the brim, he added, ‘Now take some out, and carry it to the Master of the feast.’ The servants did so. 9 And, when the Master of the feast had tasted the water which had now become wine, not knowing where it had come from – although the servants who had taken out the water knew – 10 He called the groom and said to him, ‘Everyone puts good wine on the table first, and inferior wine afterwards, when his guests have drunk freely; but you have kept back the good wine till now!’ 11 This, the first sign of his mission, Jesus gave at Cana in Galilee, and by it revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.Titleless Section Break

12 After this, Jesus went down to Capernaum – he, his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; but they stayed there only a few days.Titleless Section Break

13 Then, as the Jewish Passover was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple Courts he found people who were selling bullocks, sheep, and pigeons, and the money changers at their counters. 15 So he made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the Temple Courts, and the sheep and bullocks as well; he scattered the money of the money changers, and overturned their tables, 16 and said to the pigeon-dealers, ‘Take these things away. Do not turn my Father’s house into a market house.’ 17 His disciples remembered that scripture said – “Passion for your house will consume me.”

18 Then some of the religious authorities asked Jesus, ‘What sign are you going to show us, since you act in this way?’

19 ‘Destroy this temple,’ was his answer, ‘and I will raise it in three days.’

20 ‘This Temple,’ the authorities replied, ‘has been forty-six years in building, and are you going to “raise it in three days”?’ 21 But Jesus was speaking of his body as a temple. 22 Afterwards, when he had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the passage of scripture, and the words which Jesus had spoken.Titleless Section Break

23 While Jesus was in Jerusalem, during the Passover Festival, many came to trust in him, when they saw the signs of his mission that he was giving. 24 But Jesus did not put himself in their power because he knew what was in their hearts. 25 He did not need anyone to tell him about people because he could read what was in them.

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3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a leading man among his people. 2 This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one could give such signs as you are giving, unless God were with him.’

3 ‘In truth I tell you,’ exclaimed Jesus, ‘unless a person is reborn, they cannot see the kingdom of God.’

4 ‘How can a person,’ asked Nicodemus, ‘be born when they are old? Can they be born a second time?’

5 ‘In truth I tell you,’ answered Jesus, ‘unless a person owes their birth to water and Spirit, they cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual. 7 Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn. 8 The wind blows wherever it wants, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from, or where it goes; it is the same with everyone who owes his birth to the Spirit.’

9 ‘How can that be?’ asked Nicodemus. 10 ‘What! You a teacher of Israel,’ exclaimed Jesus, ‘and yet do not understand this! 11 In truth I tell you that we speak of what we know, and state what we have seen; and yet you do not accept our statements. 12 If, when I tell you earthly things, you do not believe me, how will you believe me when I tell you of heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven, except him who descended from heaven – the Son of Man himself. 14 And, as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.’

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him. 18 The person who believes in him escapes condemnation, while the person who does not believe in him is already condemned, because they have not believed in the only Son of God. 19 The ground of their condemnation is this, that though the light has come into the world, people preferred the darkness to the light, because their actions were wicked. 20 For the person who lives an evil life hates the light, and will not come to it, fearing that their actions will be exposed; 21 but the person who lives by the truth comes into the light, so it can be clearly seen that God is in all they do.Titleless Section Break

22 After this, Jesus went with his disciples into the country parts of Judea; and there he stayed with them, and baptized. 23 John, also, was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there were many streams there; and people were constantly coming and being baptized. 24 (For John had not yet been imprisoned). 25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a fellow Jew on the subject of purification; 26 and the disciples came to John and said, ‘Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, and to whom you have yourself borne testimony – he, also, is baptizing, and everybody is going to him.’ 27 John’s answer was – ‘A person can gain nothing but what is given them from heaven. 28 You are yourselves witnesses that I said “I am not the Christ,” but “I have been sent before him as a messenger.” 29 It is the groom who has the bride; but the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens to him, is filled with joy when he hears the groom’s voice. This joy I have felt to the full. 30 He must become greater, and I less.’

31 He who comes from above is above all others; but a child of earth is earthly, and his teaching is earthly, too. He who comes from heaven is above all others. 32 He states what he has seen and what he heard, and yet no one accepts his statement. 33 They who did accept his statement confirm the fact that God is true. 34 For he whom God sent as his messenger gives us God’s own teaching, for God does not limit the gift of the Spirit. 35 The Father loves his Son, and has put everything in his hands. 36 The person who believes in the Son has eternal life, while a person who rejects the Son will not even see that life, but remains under God’s displeasure.

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4 Now, when the Master heard that the Pharisees had been told that he was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (Though it was not Jesus himself, but his disciples, who baptized), 3 he left Judea, and set out again for Galilee. 4 He had to pass through Samaria, 5 and, on his way, he came to a Samaritan town called Shechem, near the plot of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s Spring was there, and Jesus, being tired after his journey, sat down beside the spring, just as he was. It was then about midday. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water; and Jesus said to her – ‘Give me some to drink,’ 8 For his disciples had gone into the town to buy food. 9 ‘How is it,’ replied the Samaritan woman, ‘that you who are a Jew ask for water from a Samaritan woman like me?’ (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans). 10 ‘If you knew of the gift of God,’ replied Jesus, ‘and who it is that is saying to you “Give me some water,” you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’

11 ‘You have no bucket, Sir, and the well is deep,’ she said. ‘Where did you get that “living water?” 12 Surely you are not greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us the well, and used to drink from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle!’

13 ‘All who drink of this water,’ replied Jesus, ‘will be thirsty again; 14 but whoever once drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst any more; but the water that I will give him will become a spring welling up within him – a source of eternal life.’

15 ‘Give me this water, Sir,’ said the woman, ‘so that I may not be thirsty, nor have to come all the way here to draw water.’

16 ‘Go and call your husband,’ said Jesus, ‘and then come back.’

17 ‘I have no husband,’ answered the woman. ‘You are right in saying “I have no husband,” ’ replied Jesus, 18 ‘For you have had five husbands, and the man with whom you are now living is not your husband; in saying that, you have spoken the truth.’

19 ‘I see, Sir, that you are a prophet!’ exclaimed the woman. 20 ‘It was on this mountain that our ancestors worshiped; and yet you Jews say that the proper place for worship is in Jerusalem.’

21 ‘Believe me,’ replied Jesus, ‘a time is coming when it will be neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem that you will worship the Father. 22 You Samaritans do not know what you worship; we know what we worship, for salvation comes from the Jews. 23 But a time is coming, indeed it is already here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father spiritually and truly; for such are the worshipers that the Father desires. 24 God is Spirit; and those who worship him must worship spiritually and truly.’

25 ‘I know,’ answered the woman, ‘that the Messiah, who is called the Christ, is coming; when once he has come, he will tell us everything.’

26 ‘I am he,’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who am speaking to you.’ 27 At this moment his disciples came up, and were surprised to find him talking with a woman; but none of them asked “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman, leaving her pitcher, went back to the town, and said to the people, 29 ‘Come and see someone who has told me everything that I have done. Can he be the Christ?’ 30 And the people left the town and went to see Jesus.

31 Meanwhile the disciples kept saying to him, ‘Take something to eat, Rabbi.’

32 ‘I have food to eat,’ he answered, ‘of which you know nothing.’

33 ‘Can anyone have brought him anything to eat?’ the disciples said to one another. 34 ‘My food,’ replied Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me, and to complete his work. 35 Don’t you say that it still wants four months to harvest? Why, look up, and see how white the fields are for harvest! 36 Already the reaper is receiving wages and gathering in sheaves for eternal life, so that sower and reaper rejoice together. 37 For here the proverb holds good – “One sows, another reaps.” 38 I have sent you to reap that on which you have spent no labour; others have laboured, and you have reaped the results of their labour.’

39 Many from that town came to believe in Jesus – Samaritans though they were – because the woman had said, “He has told me everything that I have done.” 40 And, when these Samaritans had come to Jesus, they begged him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 But far more came to believe in him because of what he said himself, 42 and they said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you say that we believe in him, for we have heard him ourselves and know that he really is the Saviour of the world.’Titleless Section Break

43 After these two days Jesus went on to Galilee; 44 for he himself declared that “a prophet is not honoured in his own country.” 45 When he entered Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, for they had seen all that he did at Jerusalem during the Festival, at which they also had been present. 46 So Jesus came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. Now there was one of the king’s officers whose son was lying ill at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had returned from Judea to Galilee, he went to him, and begged him to come down and cure his son; for he was at the point of death. 48 Jesus answered, ‘Unless you all see signs and wonders, you will not believe.’

49 ‘Sir,’ said the officer, ‘come down before my child dies.’ And Jesus answered, ‘Go, your son is living.’ 50 The man believed what Jesus said to him, and went; 51 and, while he was on his way down, his servants met him, and told him that his child was living. 52 So he asked them at what time the boy began to get better. ‘It was yesterday, about one o’clock,’ they said, ‘that the fever left him.’ 53 By this the father knew that it was at the very time when Jesus had said to him “Your son is living”; and he himself, with all his household, believed in Jesus. 54 This was the second occasion on which Jesus gave a sign of his mission on coming from Judea to Galilee.

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5 Sometime after this there was a Jewish Festival; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 There is in Jerusalem, near the sheep-gate, a bath with five colonnades round it. It is called in Hebrew “Bethesda.” 3 In these colonnades a large number of sick people were lying – blind, lame, and crippled. 4 [fn] 5 One man who was there had been crippled for thirty-eight years. 6 Jesus saw the man lying there, and, finding that he had been in this state a long time, said to him, ‘Do you wish to be cured?’

7 ‘I have no one, Sir,’ the sick man answered, ‘to put me into the bath when there is a troubling of the water, and, while I am getting to it, someone else steps down before me.’

8 ‘Stand up,’ said Jesus, ‘take up your mat, and walk.’ 9 The man was cured immediately, and took up his mat and began walking. 10 Now it was the Sabbath. So the religious authorities said to the man who had been cured, ‘This is the Sabbath; you must not carry your mat.’

11 ‘The man who cured me,’ he answered, ‘said to me “Take up your mat and walk.” ’

12 ‘Who was it,’ they asked, ‘that said to you “Take up your mat and walk”?’ 13 But the man who had been restored did not know who it was; for Jesus had moved away, because there was a crowd there. 14 Afterwards Jesus found the man in the Temple Courts, and said to him, ‘You are cured now; do not sin again, or something worse may happen to you.’

15 The man went away, and told the authorities that it was Jesus who had cured him. 16 And that was why they began to persecute Jesus – because he did things of this kind on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus replied, ‘My Father works to this very hour, and I work also.’ 18 This made the authorities all the more eager to kill him, because not only was he doing away with the Sabbath, but he actually called God his own Father – putting himself on an equality with God.

19 So Jesus made this further reply, ‘In truth I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself; he does only what he sees the Father doing; whatever the Father does, the Son does also. 20 For the Father loves his Son, and shows him everything that he is doing; and he will show him still greater things – so that you will be filled with wonder. 21 For, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he pleases. 22 The Father himself does not judge any one, but has entrusted the work of judging entirely to his Son, 23 so that everyone may honour the Son, just as they honour the Father. The person who does not honour the Son fails to honour the Father who sent him. 24 In truth I tell you that the person who listens to my message and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and does not come under condemnation, but has already passed out of death into life. 25 In truth I tell you that a time is coming, indeed it is already here, when the dead will listen to the voice of the Son of God, and when those who listen will live. 26 For, just as the Father has inherent life within him, so also he has granted to the Son to have inherent life within him; 27 and, because he is Son of Man, he has also given him authority to act as judge. 28 Do not wonder at this; for the time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice, 29 and will come out – those who have done good rising to life, and those who have lived evil lives rising for condemnation. 30 I can do nothing of myself; I judge as I am taught; and the judgment that I give is just, because my aim is not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

31 ‘If I bear testimony to myself, my testimony is not trustworthy; 32 it is another who bears testimony to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears to me is trustworthy. 33 You have yourselves sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34 But the testimony which I receive is not from people; I am saying this for your salvation. 35 He was the Lamp that was burning and shining, and you were ready to rejoice, for a time, in his light. 36 But the testimony which I have is of greater weight than John’s; for the work that the Father has given me to carry out – the work that I am doing – is in itself proof that the Father has sent me as his messenger. 37 The Father who has sent me has himself borne testimony to me. You have neither listened to his voice, not seen his form; 38 and you have not taken his message home to your hearts, because you do not believe him whom he sent as his messenger. 39 You search the scriptures, because you think that you find in them immortal life; and, though it is those scriptures that bear testimony to me, 40 you refuse to come to me to have life.

41 ‘I do not receive honour from people, 42 but I know this of you, that you have not the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe in me, when you receive honour from one another and do not desire the honour which comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have been resting your hopes. 46 For, had you believed Moses, you would have believed me, for it was of me that Moses wrote; 47 but, if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my teaching?’

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6 After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee – otherwise called the Lake of Tiberias. 2 A great crowd of people, however, followed him, because they saw the signs of his mission in his work among those who were sick. 3 Jesus went up the hill, and sat down there with his disciples. 4 It was near the time of the Jewish Festival of the Passover. 5 Looking up, and noticing that a great crowd was coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he meant to do. 7 ‘Even if we spent a years’ wages on bread,’ answered Philip, ‘it would not be enough for each of them to have a little.’

8 ‘There is a boy here,’ said Andrew, another of his disciples, Simon Peter’s brother, 9 ‘Who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that for so many?’

10 ‘Make the people sit down,’ said Jesus. It was a grassy spot; so the people, who numbered about five thousand, sat down, 11 and then Jesus took the loaves, and, after saying the thanksgiving, distributed them to those who were sitting down; and the same with the fish, giving the people as much as they wanted. 12 When they were satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Collect the broken pieces that are left, so that nothing may be wasted.’ 13 The disciples did so, and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves, which were left after all had eaten.

14 When the people saw the signs which Jesus gave, they said, ‘This is certainly the prophet who was to come into the world.’ 15 But Jesus, having discovered that they were intending to come and carry him off to make him king, went again up the hill, quite alone.

16 When evening fell, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 and, getting into a boat, began to cross to Capernaum. By this time darkness had set in, and Jesus had not yet come back to them; 18 the sea, too, was getting rough, for a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed three or four miles, they caught sight of him walking on the water and approaching the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But Jesus said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid!’ 21 And after this they were glad to take him into the boat; and the boat at once arrived off the shore, for which they had been making.Titleless Section Break

22 The people who remained on the other side of the sea had seen that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not gone into it with his disciples, but that they had left without him. 23 Some boats, however, had come from Tiberias, from near the spot where they had eaten the bread after the Master had said the thanksgiving. 24 So, on the next day, when the people saw that Jesus was not there, or his disciples either, they themselves got into the boats, and went to Capernaum to look for him. 25 And, when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said, ‘When did you get here, Rabbi?’

26 ‘In truth I tell you,’ answered Jesus, ‘it is not because of the signs which you saw that you are looking for me, but because you had the bread to eat and were satisfied. 27 Work, not for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for on him the Father – God himself – has set the seal of his approval.’

28 ‘How,’ they asked, ‘are we to do the work that God wants us to do?’

29 ‘The work that God wants you to do,’ answered Jesus, ‘is to believe in him whom God sent as his messenger.’

30 ‘What sign, then,’ they asked, ‘are you giving, which we may see, and so believe you? What is the work that you are doing? 31 Our ancestors had the manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says – “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’

32 ‘In truth I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but my Father does give you the true bread from heaven; 33 for the bread that God gives is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.’

34 ‘Master,’ they exclaimed, ‘give us that bread always!’

35 ‘I am the life-giving bread,’ Jesus said to them, ‘whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never thirst again. 36 But, as I have said already, you have seen me, and yet you do not believe in me. 37 All those whom the Father gives me will come to me; and no one who comes to me will I ever turn away. 38 For I have come down from heaven, to do, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me; 39 and his will is this – that I should not lose one of all those whom he has given me, but should raise them up at the Last day. 40 For it is the will of my Father that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have immortal life; and I myself will raise him up at the Last day.’

41 The people began murmuring against Jesus for saying – “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 ‘Is not this Jesus, Joseph’s son,’ they asked, ‘whose father and mother we know? How is it that he now says that he has come down from heaven?’

43 ‘Do not murmur among yourselves,’ said Jesus in reply. 44 ‘No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me draws him to me; and I will raise him up at the Last day. 45 It is said in the prophets – “And they will all be taught by God.” Everyone who is taught by the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except him who is from God – he has seen the Father. 47 In truth I tell you, the person who believes in me has eternal life. 48 I am the life-giving bread. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, and yet died. 50 The bread that comes down from heaven is such that whoever eats of it will never die. 51 I am the living bread that has come down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, they will live for ever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.’

52 They began disputing with one another, ‘How is it possible for this man to give us his flesh to eat?’

53 ‘In truth I tell you,’ answered Jesus, ‘unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, you have not life within you. 54 Everyone who takes my flesh for their food, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise them up at the Last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood true drink. 56 Everyone who takes my flesh for their food, and drinks my blood, remains united to me, and I to them. 57 As the living Father sent me as his messenger, and as I live because the Father lives, so the person who takes me for their food will live because I live. 58 That is the bread which has come down from heaven – not such as your ancestors ate, and yet died; the person who takes this bread for their food will live for ever.’

59 All this Jesus said in a synagogue, when he was teaching in Capernaum. 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is harsh doctrine! Who can bear to listen to it?’ 61 But Jesus, aware that his disciples were murmuring about it, said to them, 62 ‘Is this a hindrance to you? What, then, if you should see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit that gives life; human strength achieves nothing. In the teaching that I have been giving you there is Spirit and there is life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe in me.’ For Jesus knew from the first who they were that did not believe in him, and who it was that would betray him; 65 and he added, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me, unless enabled by the Father.’ 66 After this many of his disciples drew back, and did not go about with him any longer. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘Do you also wish to leave me?’ 68 But Simon Peter answered, ‘Master, to whom would we go? Eternal life is in your teaching; 69 and we have learned to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.’

70 ‘Didn’t I myself choose you to be the Twelve?’ replied Jesus, ‘and yet, even of you, one is playing the devil’s part.’ 71 He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who was about to betray him, though he was one of the Twelve.

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7 After this, Jesus went about in Galilee, for he would not do so in Judea, because the religious authorities (in Jerusalem) were eager to put him to death. 2 When the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 his brothers said to him, ‘Leave this part of the country, and go into Judea, so that your disciples, as well as we, may see the work that you are doing. 4 For no one does a thing privately, if they are seeking to be widely known. Since you do these things, you should show yourself publicly to the world.’ 5 For even his brothers did not believe in him.

6 ‘My time,’ answered Jesus, ‘is not come yet, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it does hate me, because I testify that its ways are evil. 8 Go yourselves up to the Festival; I am not going to this Festival yet, because my time has not yet come.’ 9 After telling them this, he stayed on in Galilee.

10 But, when his brothers had gone up to the Festival, Jesus also went up – not publicly, but privately. 11 The authorities were looking for him at the Festival and asking “Where is he?”; 12 and there were many whispers about him among the people, some saying “He is a good man;” others, “No! He is leading the people astray.” 13 No one, however, spoke freely about him, because they were afraid of the authorities.Titleless Section Break

14 About the middle of the Festival week, Jesus went up into the Temple Courts, and began teaching. 15 The authorities were astonished. ‘How has this man got his learning,’ they asked, ‘when he has never studied?’ 16 So, in reply, Jesus said, ‘My teaching is not my own; it is his who sent me. 17 If anyone has the will to do God’s will, they will find out whether my teaching is from God, or whether I speak on my own authority. 18 The person who speaks on their own authority seeks honour for themselves; but the one who seeks the honour of him who sent him is sincere, and there is nothing false in him. 19 Was not it Moses who gave you the Law? Yet not one of you obeys it! Why are you seeking to put me to death?’

20 ‘You must be possessed by a demon!’ the people exclaimed. ‘Who is seeking to put you to death?’

21 ‘There was one thing I did,’ replied Jesus, ‘at which you are all still wondering. 22 But that is why Moses has instituted circumcision among you – not, indeed, that it began with him, but with our ancestors – and that is why you circumcise even on a Sabbath. 23 When a man receives circumcision on a Sabbath to prevent the Law of Moses from being broken, how can you be angry with me for making a man sound and well on a Sabbath? 24 Do not judge by appearances; judge justly.’ 25 At this some of the people of Jerusalem exclaimed, ‘Is not this the man who they are seeking to put to death? 26 Yet here he is, speaking out boldly, and they say nothing to him! Is it possible that our leading men have really discovered that he is the Christ? 27 Yet we know where this man is from; but, when the Christ comes, no one will be able to tell where he is from.’ 28 Therefore, Jesus, as he was teaching in the Temple Courts, raised his voice and said, ‘Yes; you know me and you know where I am from. Yet I have not come on my own authority, but he who sent me may be trusted; and him you do not know. 29 I do know him, for it is from him that I have come, and he sent me as his messenger.’ 30 So they sought to arrest him; but no one touched him, for his time was not come yet. 31 Many of the people, however, believed in him. ‘When the Christ comes,’ they said, ‘will he give more signs of his mission than this man has given?’ 32 The Pharisees heard the people whispering about him in this way, and so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him; 33 at which Jesus said, ‘I will be with you but a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 34 You will look for me, and you will not find me; and you will not be able to come where I will be.’

35 ‘Where is this man going,’ the people asked one another, ‘that we would not find him? Will he go to our countrymen abroad, and teach foreigners? 36 What does he mean by saying “You will look for me, and you will not find me; and you will not be able to come where I will be”?’Titleless Section Break

37 On the last and greatest day of the Festival, Jesus, who was standing by, exclaimed, ‘If anyone is thirsty, they should come to me and drink. 38 From the heart of those who believe in me will flow, as is said in scripture, rivers of living water.’ 39 (By this he meant the Spirit, which those who had believed in him were to receive; for the Spirit had not yet come, because Jesus had not yet been exalted.) 40 Some of the people, when they heard these words, said, ‘This is certainly the Prophet!’; 41 others said, ‘the Christ!’; but some asked, ‘What! Does the Christ come from Galilee? 42 Is not it said in scripture that it is of the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village to which David belonged, that the Christ is to come?’ 43 So there was a sharp division among the people because of Jesus. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, and yet no one touched him. 45 When the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, they were asked, ‘Why have you not brought him?’

46 ‘No one ever spoke as he speaks!’ they answered. 47 ‘What! Have you been led astray too?’ the Pharisees replied. 48 ‘Have any of our leading men believed in him, or any of the Pharisees? 49 As for these people who do not know the Law – they are cursed!’ 50 But one of their number, Nicodemus, who before this had been to see Jesus, said to them, 51 ‘Does our Law pass judgment on a person without first giving them a hearing, and finding out what they have been doing?’

52 ‘Are you also from Galilee?’ they retorted. ‘Search, and you will find that no prophet is to arise in Galilee!’Titleless Section Break

53 And everyone went home 8 except Jesus, who went to the Mount of Olives[fn]. 2 But he went again into the Temple Courts early in the morning, and all the people came to him; and he sat down and taught them. 3 Presently, however, the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placed her in the middle of the Court, 4 and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was found in the act of adultery. 5 Now Moses, in the Law, commanded us to stone such women to death; what do you say?’

6 They said this to test him, in order to have a charge to bring against him. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 However, as they continued asking him, he raised himself, and said, ‘Let the person among you who has never done wrong throw the first stone at her.’

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard that, they went out one by one, beginning with the eldest; and Jesus was left alone with the woman in the middle of the Court. 10 Raising himself, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’

11 ‘No one, Sir,’ she answered.

‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go, and do not sin again.’Titleless Section Break

12 Jesus again addressed the people. ‘I am the light of the world,’ he said. ‘The person who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’

13 ‘You are bearing testimony to yourself!’ exclaimed the Pharisees, ‘your testimony is not trustworthy.’

14 ‘Even if I bear testimony to myself,’ answered Jesus, ‘my testimony is trustworthy; for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from, nor where I am going. 15 You judge by appearances; I judge no one. 16 Yet, even if I were to judge, my judgment would be trustworthy; because I am not alone, but the Father who sent me is with me. 17 Why, in your own Law it is said that the testimony of two persons is trustworthy. 18 I, who bear testimony to myself, am one, and the Father who sent me also bears testimony to me.’ 19 ‘Where is your father, then?’ they asked. ‘You know neither me nor my Father,’ replied Jesus. ‘If you had known me, you would have also known my Father.’ 20 These statements Jesus made in the Treasury, while teaching in the Temple Courts. Yet no one arrested him, for his time had not then come.Titleless Section Break

21 Jesus again spoke to the people. ‘I am going away,’ he said, ‘and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin; you cannot come where I am going.’

22 ‘Is he going to kill himself,’ the people exclaimed, ‘that he says – “You cannot go where I am going”?’ 23 ‘You,’ added Jesus, ‘are from below, I am from above; you are of this present world, I am not; 24 and so I told you that you would die in your sins, for, unless you believe that I am what I am, you will die in your sins.’

25 ‘Who are you?’ they asked. ‘Why ask exactly what I have been telling you?’ said Jesus. 26 ‘I have still much that concerns you to speak of and to pass judgment on; yet he who sent me may be trusted, and I speak to the world only of the things which I have heard from him.’ 27 They did not understand that he meant the Father. 28 So Jesus added, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will understand that I am what I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but that I say just what the Father has taught me. 29 Moreover, he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone; for I always do what pleases him.’ 30 While he was speaking in this way, many came to believe in him. 31 So Jesus went on to say to those who had believed him, ‘If you remain constant to my message, you are truly my disciples; 32 and you will find out the truth, and the truth will set you free.’

33 ‘We are descendants of Abraham,’ was their answer, ‘and have never yet been in slavery to anyone. What do you mean by saying “you will be set free”?’ 34 ‘In truth I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 And a slave does not remain in the home always; but a son remains always. 36 If, then, the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed! 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you are seeking to put me to death, because my message finds no place in your hearts. 38 I tell you what I have myself seen in the presence of my Father; and you, in the same way, do what you have learned from your father.’

39 ‘Our father is Abraham,’ was their answer. ‘If you are Abraham’s children,’ replied Jesus, ‘do what Abraham did. 40 But, as it is, you are seeking to put me to death – a man who has told you the truth as he heard it from God. Abraham did not act in that way. 41 You are doing what your own father does.’

‘We are not bastards,’ they said, ‘we have one Father – God himself.’

42 ‘If God were your Father,’ Jesus replied, ‘you would have loved me, for I came out from God, and now am here; and I have not come of myself, but he sent me as his messenger. 43 How is it that you do not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message. 44 As for you, you are children of your father the devil, and you are determined to do what your father loves to do. He was a murderer from the first, and did not stand by the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he does what is natural to him; because he is a liar, and the father of lying. 45 But, as for me, it is because I speak the truth to you that you do not believe me. 46 Which of you can convict me of sin? Why then don’t you believe me, if I am speaking truth? 47 The person who comes from God listens to God’s teaching; the reason why you do not listen is because you do not come from God.’

48 ‘Aren’t we right, after all,’ replied the people, ‘in saying that you are a Samaritan, and are possessed by a demon?’

49 ‘I am not possessed by a demon,’ Jesus answered, ‘but I am honouring my Father; and yet you dishonour me. 50 Not that I am seeking honour for myself; there is one who is seeking my honour, and he decides. 51 In truth I tell you, if anyone lays my message to heart, he will never really die.’

52 ‘Now we are sure that you are possessed by a demon,’ the people replied. ‘Abraham died, and so did the prophets; and yet you say “If anyone lays my message to heart, they will never know death.” 53 Are you greater than our ancestor Abraham, who died? And the prophets died too. Whom do you make yourself out to be?’

54 ‘If I do honour to myself,’ answered Jesus, ‘such honour counts for nothing. It is my Father who does me honour – and you say that he is your God; 55 and yet you have not learned to know him; but I know him; and, if I were to say that I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him, and I lay his message to heart. 56 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; and he did see it, and was glad.’

57 ‘You are not fifty years old yet,’ the people exclaimed, ‘and have you seen Abraham?’

58 ‘In truth I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘before Abraham existed I was.’ 59 At this they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and left the Temple Courts.

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9 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man who had been blind from his birth. 2 ‘Rabbi,’ asked his disciples, ‘who was it that sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’

3 ‘Neither the man nor the parents,’ replied Jesus, ‘but he was born blind so that the work of God should be made plain in him. 4 We must do the work of him who sent me, while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ 6 Saying this, Jesus spat on the ground, made some paste with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 ‘Go,’ he said, ‘and wash your eyes in the Bath of Siloam’ (a word which means “messenger”). So the man went and washed his eyes, and returned able to see. 8 His neighbours, and those who had formerly known him by sight as a beggar, exclaimed, ‘Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?’

9 ‘Yes,’ some said, ‘it is’; while others said, ‘No, but he is like him.’ The man himself said, ‘I am he.’

10 ‘How did you get your sight, then?’ they asked. 11 ‘The man whom they call Jesus,’ he answered, ‘made a paste, and anointed my eyes, and said to me “Go to Siloam and wash your eyes.” So I went and washed my eyes, and gained my sight.’

12 ‘Where is he?’ they asked. ‘I do not know,’ he answered. 13 They took the man, who had been blind, to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the paste and gave him his sight. 15 So the Pharisees also questioned the man as to how he had gained his sight. ‘He put a paste on my eyes,’ he answered, ‘and I washed them, and I can see.’

16 ‘The man cannot be from God,’ said some of the Pharisees, ‘for he does not keep the Sabbath.’

‘How is it possible,’ retorted others, ‘for a bad man to give signs like this?’ 17 So there was a difference of opinion among them, and they again questioned the man. ‘What do you yourself say about him, for it is to you that he has given sight?’ 18 The religious authorities, however, refused to believe that he had been blind and had gained his sight, until they had called his parents and questioned them. 19 ‘Is this your son,’ they asked, ‘who you say was born blind? If so, how is it that he can see now?’

20 ‘We know that this is our son,’ answered the parents, ‘and that he was born blind; 21 but how it is that he can see now we do not know; nor do we know who it was that gave him his sight. Ask him – he is old enough – he will tell you about himself.’ 22 His parents spoke in this way because they were afraid of the authorities; for the authorities had already agreed that, if anyone should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, he should be expelled from their synagogues. 23 This was why his parents said “He is old enough; ask him.” 24 So the authorities again called the man who had been blind, and said to him, ‘Give God the praise; we know that this is a bad man.’

25 ‘I know nothing about his being a bad man,’ he replied. ‘One thing I do know, that although I was blind, now I can see.’

26 ‘What did he do to you?’ they asked. ‘How did he give you your sight?’

27 ‘I told you just now,’ he answered, ‘and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Surely you also do not want to become his disciples?’

28 ‘You are his disciple,’ they retorted scornfully. ‘But we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; but, as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’

30 ‘Well,’ the man replied, ‘this is very strange; you do not know where he comes from, and yet he has given me my sight! 31 We know that God never listens to bad people, but, when a person is god-fearing and does God’s will, God listens to them. 32 Since the world began, such a thing was never heard of as anyone’s giving sight to a person born blind. 33 If this man had not been from God, he could not have done anything at all.’

34 ‘You,’ they retorted, ‘were born totally depraved; and are you trying to teach us?’ So they expelled him. 35 Jesus heard of their having put him out; and, when he had found the man, he asked, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’

36 ‘Tell me who he is, Sir,’ he replied, ‘so that I may believe in him.’

37 ‘Not only have you seen him,’ said Jesus, ‘but it is he who is now speaking to you.’

38 ‘Then, Sir, I do believe,’ said the man, bowing to the ground before him; 39 and Jesus added, ‘It was to put people to the test that I came into this world, in order that those that cannot see should see, and that those that can see should become blind.’ 40 Hearing this, some of the Pharisees who were with him said, ‘Then are we blind too?’

41 ‘If you had been blind,’ replied Jesus, ‘you would have had no sin to answer for; but, as it is, you say “We can see,” and so your sin remains. 10 In truth I tell you, whoever does not go into the sheepfold through the door, but climbs up at some other place, that person is a thief and a robber; 2 but the person who goes in through the door is shepherd to the sheep. 3 For him the watchman opens the door; and the sheep listen to his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4 When he has brought them all out, he walks in front of them, and his sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but will run away from him; because they do not know a stranger’s voice.’ 6 This was the allegory that Jesus told them, but they did not understand of what he was speaking. 7 So he continued, ‘In truth I tell you, I am the door for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door; he who goes in through me will be safe, and he will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal, to kill, and to destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it in greater fullness. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. 12 The hired man who is not a shepherd, and who does not own the sheep, when he sees a wolf coming, leaves them and runs away; then the wolf seizes them, and scatters the flock. 13 He does this because he is only a hired man and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and my sheep know me – 15 Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep besides, which do not belong to this fold; I must lead them also, and they will listen to my voice; and they will become one flock under one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life – to receive it again. 18 No one took it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to receive it again. This is the command which I received from my Father.’

19 In consequence of these words a difference of opinion again arose among the people. 20 Many of them said, ‘He is possessed by a demon and is mad; why do you listen to him?’ 21 Others said, ‘This is not the teaching of one who is possessed by a demon. Can a demon give sight to the blind?’Titleless Section Break

22 Soon after this the Festival of the Rededication was held at Jerusalem. 23 It was winter; and Jesus was walking in the Temple Courts, in the Colonnade of Solomon, 24 when the people gathered round him, and said, ‘How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us so frankly.’

25 ‘I have told you so,’ replied Jesus, ‘and you do not believe me. The work that I am doing in my Father’s name bears testimony to me. 26 But you do not believe me, because you are not of my flock. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me; 28 and I give them eternal life, and they will not be lost; nor will anyone snatch them out of my hands. 29 What my Father has entrusted to me is more than all else; and no one can snatch anything out of the Father’s hands. 30 The Father and I are one.’

31 Some of the people again brought stones to throw at him; 32 and seeing this, Jesus said, ‘I have done before your eyes many good actions, inspired by the Father; for which of them would you stone me?’

33 ‘It is not for any good action that we would stone you,’ they answered, ‘but for blasphemy; and because you, who are only a man, make yourself out to be God.’

34 ‘Are there not,’ replied Jesus, ‘these words in your Law – “I said, You are gods”? 35 If those to whom God’s word were addressed were said to be “gods” – and scripture cannot be set aside – 36 do you say of one whom the Father has consecrated and sent as his messenger to the world “You are blaspheming,” because I said “I am God’s Son”? 37 If I am not doing the work that my Father is doing, do not believe me; 38 if I am doing it, even though you do not believe me, believe what that work shows; so that you may understand, and understand more and more clearly, that the Father is in union with me, and I with the Father.’ 39 The authorities again sought to arrest him; but he escaped their hands.Titleless Section Break

40 Then Jesus again crossed the Jordan to the place where John used to baptize at first, and stayed there some time, during which many people came to see him. 41 ‘John gave no sign of his mission,’ they said. ‘But everything that he said about this man was true.’ 42 And many learned to believe in Jesus there.

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11 Now a man named Lazarus, of Bethany, was lying ill; he belonged to the same village as Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus was ill, was the Mary who anointed the Master with perfume, and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 The sisters, therefore, sent this message to Jesus – “Master, your friend is ill”; 4 and, when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness is not to end in death, but is to redound to the honour of God, in order that the Son of God may be honoured through it.’ 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 Yet, when he heard of the illness of Lazarus, he still stayed two days in the place where he was. 7 Then, after that, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again.’

8 ‘Rabbi,’ they replied, ‘the authorities there were but just now seeking to stone you; and are you going there again?’

9 ‘Are not there twelve hours in the day?’ answered Jesus. ‘If someone walks about in the daytime, they don’t stumble, because they can see the light of the sun; 10 but, if they walk about at night, they stumble, because they have not the light.’ 11 And, when he had said this, he added, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going so that I may wake him.’

12 ‘If he has fallen asleep, Master, he will get well,’ said the disciples. 13 But Jesus meant that he was dead; they, however, supposed that he was speaking of natural sleep. 14 Then he said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead; 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may learn to believe in me. But let us go to him.’ 16 At this, Thomas, who was called “The Twin,” said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us go too, so that we may die with him.’ 17 When Jesus reached the place, he found that Lazarus had been four days in the tomb already. 18 Bethany being only about two miles from Jerusalem, 19 a number of the people had come there to comfort Martha and Mary because of their brother’s death. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat quietly at home. 21 ‘Master,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 Even now, I know that God will grant you whatever you ask him.’

23 ‘Your brother will rise to life,’ said Jesus. 24 ‘I know that he will,’ replied Martha, ‘in the resurrection at the Last day.’

25 ‘I am the resurrection and the life,’ said Jesus. ‘He who believes in me will live, though he die; 26 and he who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’

27 ‘Yes Master,’ she answered. ‘I have learned to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.’ 28 After saying this, Martha went and called her sister Mary, and whispered, ‘The teacher is here, and is asking for you.’ 29 As soon as Mary heard that, she got up quickly, and went to meet him. 30 Jesus had not then come into the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 So the people, who were in the house with Mary, comforting her, when they saw her get up quickly and go out, followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she threw herself at his feet. ‘Master,’ she exclaimed, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died!’ 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the people who had come with her weeping also, he groaned deeply, and was greatly distressed. 34 ‘Where have you buried him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Master,’ they answered. 35 Jesus burst into tears. 36 ‘How he must have loved him!’ the people exclaimed; 37 but some of them said, ‘Could not this man, who gave sight to the blind man, have also prevented Lazarus from dying?’ 38 Again groaning inwardly, Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against the mouth of it. 39 ‘Move the stone away,’ said Jesus. ‘Master,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time the smell must be offensive, for this is the fourth day since his death.’

40 ‘Didn’t I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘that, if you would believe in me, you should see the glory of God?’ 41 So they moved the stone away; and Jesus, with uplifted eyes, said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard my prayer; 42 I know that you always hear me; but I say this for the sake of the people standing near, so that they may believe that you has sent me as your messenger.’

43 Then, after saying this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus! Come out!’ 44 The dead man came out, wrapped hand and foot in a winding-sheet; his face, too, had been wrapped in a cloth. ‘Set him free,’ said Jesus, ‘and let him go.’Titleless Section Break

45 In consequence of this, many of the people, who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 Some of them, however, went to the Pharisees, and told them what he had done. 47 The chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the High Council, and said, ‘What are we to do, now that this man is giving so many signs? 48 If we allow him to continue as we are doing, everyone will believe in him; and the Romans will come and will take from us both our Temple and our nation.’ 49 One of them, however, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, 50 ‘You are utterly mistaken. You do not consider that it is better for you that one person should die for the people, rather than the whole nation should be destroyed.’ 51 Now he did not say this of his own accord; but, as high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was to die for the nation – 52 And not for the nation only, but also that he might unite in one body the children of God now scattered far and wide. 53 So from that day they plotted to put Jesus to death.Titleless Section Break

54 In consequence of this, Jesus did not go about publicly among the people any more, but left and went into the country bordering on the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. 55 But the Jewish Festival of the Passover was near; and many people had gone up from the country to Jerusalem, for their purification, before the Festival began. 56 So they looked for Jesus there, and said to one another, as they stood in the Temple Courts, ‘What do you think? Do you think he will come to the Festival?’ 57 The chief priests and the Pharisees had already issued orders that, if anyone learned where Jesus was, he should give information, so that they might arrest him.