Copyright (C) 2002 by Lightheart.
The Gospel of John for Readers
Editor's Preface
"We must know before we can love. In order to know God, we must often
think of Him. And when we come to love Him, we shall then also think
of Him often, for our heart will be with our treasure " ... Brother
Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God.
The way to know God is by reading the gospels. Gospel is interpreted
Good News - God's good news to His world. It is the new testament and
perspective we must have in order to know and love Him as He means us
to know and love Him.
The gospel of John is called the gospel of love. And, indeed, it
is a love story, written by that disciple whose heart was totally
surrendered. Brother Lawrence, whose heart was also totally surrendered,
was a great believer in doing what was most practical, simple, and direct.
The Gospel of John for Readers is the KJV lovingly and faithfully adapted
to a flowing narrative style to allow for easy reading enjoyment. May it
help us all to see the exquisite beauty and simple yet practical message
of God's good news through eyes of love.
in His gentle service, Lightheart PracticeGodsPresence.com August 2002
The Gospel of John
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were
made by Him. Without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was
life; and the life was the light of men. The light shineth in darkness;
and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came to bear
witness of the Light that all men through Him might believe. John was
not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was
the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He
was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him
not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as
received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to
them that believe on His name: those who were born not of blood, nor of
the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word
was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory
as of the only begotten son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John bore witness of Him and cried, saying, This was He of whom I
spoke. He that cometh after me is preferred before me because He was
before me. We have all received of His fullness, grace for grace. For
the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No
man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, which is in the
bosom of the Father, hath declared Him.
And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites
from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed and did
not deny. He confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What
then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And
he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou that we may give
an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said,
I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way
of the Lord, as was said by the prophet Esaias. And they who were sent
by the Pharisees asked him, Why baptizest thou then if thou be not that
Christ nor Elias nor that prophet?
John answered them, saying, I baptize with water but there standeth One
among you, whom ye know not. He it is, who, coming after me, is preferred
before me and whose foot straps I am not worthy to unloose. These things
were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan where John was baptizing. When
John saw Jesus coming toward him, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God who
taketh away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said, After me
cometh a man which is preferred before me because He was before me. I
knew Him not except that He should be made manifest to Israel. Therefore
I come baptizing with water. John bore record saying, I saw the Spirit
descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. I knew Him
not except that He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, Upon
whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, this is
He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. I saw Him, and bare record that
this is the Son of God.
The next day John and two of his disciples saw Jesus as He walked. John
said, Behold the Lamb of God! The two disciples heard John speak and
followed Jesus. Jesus turned, saw them following, and saith unto them,
What seek ye? They said to Him, Rabbi, (which is interpreted, Master)
where dwellest Thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw
where He dwelt and abode with Him that day. It was about the tenth hour.
One of the two which heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother. First he findeth his own brother, Simon, and saith
to him, We have found the messias, (which is interpreted, the Christ) and
he brought him to Jesus. When Jesus beheld him He said, Thou art Simon the
son of Jona. Thou shalt be called Cephas (which is interpreted, a stone).
A day later, Jesus went forth into Galilee and findeth Philip and saith
unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and
Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael and saith unto him, We have found Him
of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth,
the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can any good thing come
out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him and saith of him, Behold an Israelite in
whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto Him, Whence knowest Thou me? Jesus
answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast
under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto Him,
Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee I saw thee
under the fig tree believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than
these. And He saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter
ye shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending
upon the Son of man.
2. Three days later there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. The
mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus and His disciples were called
to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith
unto Him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, But what am I to
do? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants,
Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of
the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus
saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. They filled them up to
the brim. Then He saith unto them, Draw out now, and carry them unto
the governor of the feast.
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and
knew not whence it was, (but the servants which drew the water knew)
the governor of the feast called the bridegroom. He saith unto him,
Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine, and, when men have
well drunk, then that which is worse, but thou hast kept the good wine
until now! This beginning of miracles Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. He
showed forth His glory and His disciples believed on Him.
After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brethren,
and His disciples. They continued there for a few days. The passover was
at hand. Jesus went up to Jerusalem and found in the temple those that
sold oxen and sheep and doves and changers of money sitting. And when He
had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple
and overthrew the tables. He said unto them that sold doves, Take these
things hence. Make not my Father's house a house of merchandise. Here
His disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house
hath eaten me up.
Then answered the Jews and said unto Him, What sign showest Thou unto us,
seeing that Thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them,
Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the
Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt Thou raise
it up again in three days? But He spoke of the temple of His body. When,
therefore, He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that
He had said this to them and they believed the scripture and the word
which Jesus had said.
When He was in Jerusalem at the passover feast day, many believed in
His name when they saw the miracles which He did. But Jesus did not
commit Himself.
3. There was a man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the
Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that
Thou art a teacher come from God because no man can do these miracles
that Thou doest unless God be with Him. Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again he cannot
see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born
when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and
be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That
which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit
is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The
wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound but cannot
tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth. The same is as I have said
of the Spirit.
Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be? Jesus
answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel and knowest not
these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak what we know,
testify that we have seen, and ye receive not our witness. If I have
told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I
tell you of heavenly things?
No man hath ascended up to heaven except He that came down from heaven,
the Son of man. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even
so must the Son of man be lifted up so that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son
into the world to condemn the world but that the world, through Him,
might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned. But he that
believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God.
This is the condemnation: light is come into the world and men loved
darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Every one that
doeth evil hateth the light and cometh not to the light lest his deeds
should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light that
his deeds may be shown that they are wrought in God.
After these things Jesus and His disciples went into the land of
Judaea. There He tarried with them and baptized. And John also was
baptizing in Aenon near to Salim because there was much water there, so
many people came and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison.
A question arose between some of John's disciples and the Jews about
purifying. They went to John and said, Rabbi, He that was with thee
beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, He baptizeth and
all men come to Him.
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it be given
him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said I am not
the Christ but that I am sent before Him. He that hath the bride is the
bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth
Him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy
therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.
He that cometh from above is above all. He that is of the earth is
earthly and speaketh of the earth. He that cometh from heaven is above
all. All that He hath seen and heard He testifieth and no one receiveth
His testimony. He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal
that God is true. For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God
because God giveth unto Him the Spirit without limit. The Father loveth
the Son and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on
the Son hath everlasting life. He that believeth not on the Son shall
not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him.
4. When the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made
and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus Himself baptized not,
but His disciples) He left Judaea and departed again into Galilee. He
needed to go through Samaria. There He came to a city of Samaria called
Sychar, which is near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son
Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus, therefore, being wearied with
His journey, sat down on the well. It was about the sixth hour. There
cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus saith unto her, Give me
to drink. (For His disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
She said unto Him, How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me,
a woman of Samaria? The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans? Jesus
answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it
is that saith to thee Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of Him
and He would have given thee living water.
The woman saith unto Him, Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with and the
well is deep. From whence hast Thou that living water? Art Thou greater
than our father Jacob who gave us the well and drank thereof himself,
and his children, and his cattle?
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall
thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give
him shall never thirst. The water that I give him shall be a well of
water springing up in him into everlasting life. The woman saith unto
Him, Sir, give me this water that I thirst not and never have to come
hither to draw it. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband and come
hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband.
Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband for thou
hast had five husbands. He whom thou now hast is not thy husband. In
that saidst thou truly. The woman saith unto Him, Sir, I perceive that
Thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain and ye say
that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh when ye shall,
neither worship the Father in this mountain nor at Jerusalem. Ye worship
ye know not what. We know what we worship because salvation is of the
Jews. But the hour cometh, and is now, when the true worshippers shall
worship the Father in spirit and in truth because the Father seeketh
such to worship Him. God is a Spirit. They that worship Him must worship
Him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto Him, I know that a
messias cometh which is called Christ. When He is come He will tell
us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He. At
this time His disciples came and they marvelled that He talked with the
woman. Yet no man said, What seekest Thou? or, Why talkest Thou with her?
The woman then left her waterpot and went her way. In the city she saith
to the men, Come, see a man which told me all the things that I ever
did. Is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city and came
unto Him.
In the meanwhile His disciples prayed Him, saying, Master, eat. But
He said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore
said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought Him ought to
eat? Jesus saith unto them, my meat is to do the will of Him that sent me
and to complete His work. Say not ye, There are yet four months and then
cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes and look on
the fields. They are all ready to harvest. He that reapeth now receiveth
wages and gathereth fruit unto life eternal so that both he that soweth
and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true,
One soweth and another reapeth. I sent you to reap where ye bestowed no
labour. Other men laboured and ye are entered into their labours.
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying
of the woman who testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when
the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him to tarry with
them. And He abode there two days. Many more believed because of His
own word. They said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy
saying but because we have heard Him ourselves and know that this is
indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
Now after two days He departed from there and went into Galilee. Jesus
Himself testified that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. When
He come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received Him after having seen all
the things that He did at Jerusalem at the feast because they also were
at the feast. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee where He turned
the water into wine.
Now there was a certain nobleman at Capernaum, whose son was sick. When
he heard that Jesus left Judea and was in Galilee, he went to Him and
besought Him to come down and heal his son who was near death. Then said
Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe. The
nobleman saith unto Him, Sir, come before my child dies.
Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way. Thy son liveth. The man believed the
word that Jesus had spoken unto him and he went his way. As he was going
along his servants met him saying, Thy son liveth. Then inquired he of
them the hour when the son began to mend. They said, Yesterday at the
seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the
same hour in which Jesus said to him, Thy son liveth. And he believed,
and his whole house believed. This is the second miracle that Jesus did
when He was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
5. After this there was a feast of the Jews. Jesus went up to
Jerusalem. At Jerusalem, by the sheep market, there is a pool with five
porches and, in Hebrew, is called Bethesda. On these porches lay a great
multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, who wait for the
moving of the water. For, at a certain season, an angel went down into
the pool and stirred the water. Whoever first stepped in was made whole
of whatsoever disease he had.
A certain man was there which had an infirmity thirty and eight
years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been such a long time in
that condition, He saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent
man answered, Sir, I have no man, when the water is stirred, to put
me into the pool. Before I come another steppeth down before me. Jesus
saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed and walk. Immediately the man was
made whole, took up his bed, and walked. This was on the sabbath day.
The Jews therefore said to him that was cured, It is the sabbath day. It
is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made
me whole said unto me, Take up thy bed and walk. Then asked they him,
What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed and walk? And he
that was healed knew not who it was because Jesus had conveyed Himself
away from the multitude gathered in that place.
Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple and said unto him, Behold,
thou art made whole. Sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee. The
man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him
whole. Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus. They sought to slay Him
because He had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered
them, my Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him because He not only had
broken the sabbath but He said also that God was His Father, making
Himself equal with God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself except what He
seeth the Father do, for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth
the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son and showeth Him all things
that He Himself doeth. And He will show Him greater works than these that
ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them,
even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. For the Father judgeth no man,
but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. This is so all men should
honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not
the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word and believeth
on Him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into
condemnation but pass from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto
you, The hour is coming, and is now, when the dead shall hear the voice of
the Son of God. They that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in
Himself so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself. And He hath
given Him authority to execute judgment also because He is the Son of man.
Marvel not at this because the hour is coming in which all that are in
graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth. They that have done
good go unto the resurrection of life. They that have done evil go unto
the resurrection of damnation. I can of myself do nothing. As I hear,
I judge. And my judgment is just because I seek not my own will but the
will of the Father who hath sent me.
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that
beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of
me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But
I receive not testimony from man. I say these things that ye might be
saved. He was a burning and a shining light and ye were willing, for a
season, to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of
John, for the works which the Father hath given me to complete are the
same works that I do. Witness that the Father hath sent me. The Father
Himself which hath sent me hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither
heard His voice at any time nor seen His shape. Ye have not His word
abiding in you because whom He hath sent ye believe not.
Search the scriptures. In them ye think ye have eternal life. They are
that which testify of me. Yet ye will not come to me that ye might have
life. I receive not honour from men but I know you that have not the love
of God in you. I am come in my Father's name and ye receive me not. If
another shall come in his own name him ye will receive. How can ye believe
when ye receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that cometh
only from God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There
is already one that accuseth you: Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye
believed Moses ye would have believed me because he wrote of me. But if
ye believe not his writings how shall ye believe my words?
6. After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which
is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed Him because they
saw the miracles which He did on those who were diseased. Jesus went
up into a mountain and there He sat with His disciples. The passover,
a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus saw a great company come unto
Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may
eat? This He said to test Philip because Jesus Himself knew what He
would do. Philip answered Him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not
sufficient for every one to take a little. One of His disciples, Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother, saith unto Him, There is a lad here, who has five
barley loaves and two small fishes. But what are they among so many?
And Jesus said, Have the men sit down on the grass. So the men, about
five thousand, sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves. When He had given
thanks, He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to them
that were seated. Then the same with the fishes. When all were filled,
He said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain so that
nothing be wasted. Therefore they gathered them together and filled twelve
baskets with the leftover fragments of the five barley loaves. Those who,
when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is truly that
prophet that should come into the world. When Jesus perceived that they
would come and take Him by force to make Him a king, He departed alone
into a mountain.
It was now evening. His disciples went down to the sea and entered into
a boat and went toward Capernaum. It grew dark and Jesus had not come to
them. Then the sea arose by the force of a great wind. When they had rowed
about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they saw Jesus walking on the
sea and drawing near the boat. They were afraid. But He saith unto them,
It is I. Be not afraid. Then they willingly received Him into the boat
and immediately were at the land whither they went.
The day following, the people who stood on the other side of the sea
saw that there was no other boat there, except the one His disciples
entered. And they saw that Jesus went not with His disciples but that His
disciples left alone. (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh
unto the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks.) When
the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they took
boats to Capernaum to look for Him.
Now when they found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they said unto
Him, Rabbi, when camest Thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles, but
because ye ate of the loaves and were filled. Labour not for the meat
which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. It
is what the Son of man shall give you for God the Father hath sealed Him.
Then said they unto Him, What shall we do that we might work the works
of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that
ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. And they said, What sign showest
Thou, then, that we may see and believe Thee? What dost Thou work? Our
fathers ate manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread
from heaven to eat.
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave
you not that bread from heaven. My Father giveth you the true bread from
heaven. For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven and
giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give
us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life. He that
cometh to me shall never hunger. And he that believeth on me shall never
thirst. But I also said to you that ye have seen me and believe not. All
that the Father giveth me shall come to me. And him that cometh to me I
will not cast out because I came down from heaven not to do my own will,
but the will of Him that sent me.
This is the Father's will that hath sent me, that of all which He hath
given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last
day. And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which
seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life. And I
will raise him up at the last day.
The Jews then murmured at Him because He said, I am the bread which came
down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph,
whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He saith, I came
down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur
not among yourselves. No man can come to me except that the Father which
hath sent me draw him to me. And I will raise him up at the last day. It
is written in the prophets that they shall be all taught of God. Every
man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh
unto me. No man hath seen the Father except He which is of God.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting
life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness
and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man
may eat, thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from
heaven. If any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever. And the bread
that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world.
The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give
us His flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood,
ye have no life in you. Whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood
hath eternal life. I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is
meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and
drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. The living Father hath
sent me and I live by the Father. Therefore, he that eateth me shall
also live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven. Not
the manna your fathers ate. He that eateth of this bread shall live for
ever. These things said He in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
When they heard this, many of His disciples said, This is a hard
saying. Who can hear it? Jesus knew that His disciples murmured at it
and said, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man
ascend up where He was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth. The flesh
profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and
they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus
knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who would
betray Him. And He said, Therefore I said unto you that no man can come
unto me except it were given of my Father. From that time many of His
followers went back and walked with Him no more.
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Simon Peter
answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal
life. We believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of
the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve and
one of you is a devil? He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon,
for he it was, of that twelve, that should betray Him.
7. After these things Jesus walked in Galilee. He would not
walk in Jewry because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews' feast
of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren, therefore, said unto Him,
Depart hence. Go into Judaea that Thy disciples also may see the works
that Thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret,
and He Himself seeketh to be known openly. If Thou do these things show
Thyself to the world. For neither did His own brethren believe in Him.
Then Jesus said unto them, my time is not yet come but your time is always
ready. The world cannot hate you but me it hateth because I testify that
the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this feast. I go not up yet
for my time is not yet fully come.
When He had said these words unto them He remained in Galilee. But when
His brethren were gone up, then went He also to the feast, not openly,
but in secret. The Jews sought Him at the feast and said, Where is
He? There was much murmuring among the people concerning Him. Some said,
He is a good man. Others said, Nay; He deceiveth the people. However,
no man spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and
taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters
having never learned? Jesus answered them and said, My doctrine is not
mine but His that sent me. If any man will do His will he shall know
whether the doctrine be of God or whether I speak of myself. He that
speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory. He that seeketh His glory
that sent Him, no unrighteousness is in Him.
Did not Moses give you the law and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why
go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil
who goeth about to kill Thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, I have
done one work and ye all marvel. Moses gave unto you circumcision (not
because it is of Moses, but of the fathers) and ye circumcise a man on
the sabbath day. If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath day that
the law of Moses should not be broken, are ye angry at me because I have
made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according to
the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Some of them said, Is not this He whom they seek to kill? But, lo, He
speaketh boldly and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed
that this is the very Christ? Howbeit we know this man whence He is but
when Christ cometh no man knoweth whence He is. Then cried Jesus in the
temple as He taught saying, Ye both know me and know whence I am. I am
not come of myself but He that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But
I know Him for I am from Him and He hath sent me.
Then they sought to take Him but no man laid hands on Him because His
hour was not yet come. Many of the people believed on Him and said, When
Christ cometh will He do more miracles than these which this man hath
done? The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning
Him. And the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.
Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while am I with you and then I go unto
Him that sent me. Ye shall seek me and shall not find me. And where I
go ye cannot come. Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will He
go that we shall not find Him? Will He go unto the dispersed among the
Gentiles and teach the Gentiles? What manner of saying is this that He
said, Ye shall seek me and shall not find me? And, where I am, thither
ye cannot come?
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried,
saying, If any man thirst, let Him come unto me and drink. He that
believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow
rivers of living water. (But this spoke He of the Spirit which they that
believe on Him would receive. The Holy Ghost was not yet given because
Jesus was not yet glorified.) Many of the people therefore, when they
heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said,
This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath
not the scripture said that Christ cometh of the seed of David and out
of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division
among the people because of Him. Some of them would have taken Him,
but no man laid hands on Him.
Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees. They said unto
them, Why have ye not brought Him? The officers answered, Never man spoke
like this man. Then answered the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? Have
any of the rulers or any of the Pharisees believed on Him? These people
who knoweth not the law are cursed. Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that
came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man
before it hear him and know what he doeth? They answered and said to
him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search and look, for, out of Galilee,
ariseth no prophet. And every man went unto his own house.
8. Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He
came again into the temple and all the people came unto Him. He sat down
and taught them. Now the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman
taken in adultery. When they sat her in the midst, they say unto Him,
Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Moses, in
the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. What sayest Thou? This
they said, tempting Him, that they might have reason to accuse Him. But
Jesus stooped down and, with His finger, wrote on the ground as if He
heard them not. So when they continued asking Him, He lifted Himself up
and said to them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast
a stone at her. Then He stooped down again and wrote on the ground.
Those who heard this, being convicted by their own conscience, went out
one by one, beginning with the eldest and down to the last. Now Jesus
was left alone and the woman was standing in the midst. When Jesus lifted
Himself up and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are
thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And
Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more.
Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world. He
that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of
life. The Pharisees said unto Him, Thou bearest record of Thyself. Thy
record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear
record of myself, yet my record is true because I know whence I came,
and whither I go. But ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye
judge after the flesh. I judge no man. And yet, if I judge, my judgment
is true because I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me are one.
It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I
am one that beareth witness of myself. The Father that sent me also
beareth witness of me. Then said they unto Him, Where is Thy Father? Jesus
answered, Ye neither know me nor my Father. If ye had known me ye should
have known my Father also. Jesus spoke these words in the treasury as
He taught in the temple. No man laid hands on Him becuase His hour was
not yet come.
Jesus said unto them, I go my way. Ye shall seek me and shall die in
your sins. Whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will He kill
Himself because He saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come? And He said unto
them, Ye are from beneath. I am from above. Ye are of this world. I am
not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your
sins because if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.
Then said they unto Him, Who art Thou? And Jesus saith. The same that I
said to you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge
of you. But He that sent me is true. I speak to the world those things
which I have heard from Him. They understood not that He spoke to them
of the Father. Then said Jesus, When ye have lifted up the Son of man
then shall ye know that I am He. I do nothing of myself. As my Father
hath taught me I speak these things. He that sent me is with me. The
Father hath not left me alone because I do always those things that
please Him. As He spoke these words many believed Him.
Jesus said to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word,
then are ye my disciples indeed. Ye shall know the truth and the truth
shall make you free. They answered Him, We are Abraham's seed and were
never in bondage to any man. How sayest Thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus
answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin
is the servant of sin. The servant abideth not in the house forever, but
the Son doth abide forever. If the Son, therefore, shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek
to kill me because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I
have seen with my Father; and ye do that which ye have seen with your
father. They answered and said unto Him, Abraham is our father.
Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children ye would do the works
of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth
which I have heard of God. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they
to Him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, God. Jesus
said unto them, If God were your Father ye would love me for I proceeded
forth and came from God. I came not of myself, but of Him who sent me. Why
do ye not understand my speech? Is it because ye cannot hear my word?
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will
do. He was a murderer from the beginning. He dealt not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of
his own because he is a liar, and the father of all lies. Yet, I tell you
the truth and ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And
if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth
God's words. Ye, therefore, hear them not because ye are not of God.
The Jews said, Are we not right that Thou art a Samaritan and hast a
devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil. I honour my Father and ye
dishonour me. I seek not my own glory. There is One that seeketh and
judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying he
shall never see death. Then said the Jews, Now we know that Thou hast a
devil. Abraham is dead, and so are the prophets. Thou sayest, If a man
keep my saying he shall never taste of death. Art Thou greater than our
father Abraham and the prophets who are dead? Who makest Thou Thyself?
Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing. It is my
Father, whom you say is your God, that honoureth me. Yet ye have not
known Him. But I know Him and, if I should say I know Him not, I shall
be a liar like unto you. But I know Him and keep His saying. Your father
Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw and was glad for it. Then said
the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old and hast Thou seen
Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before
Abraham was, I am. Then they took up stones to cast at Him. But Jesus
hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them,
and so passed by.
9. Jesus passed by a man who was blind from birth. His disciples
asked Him, Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born
blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents;
but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work
the works of Him that sent me while it is day. The night cometh when
no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the
world. When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of
the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which means Sent).
He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. The neighbours and
they who before had seen he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and
begged? Some said, This is he. Others said, He is like him. But he said,
I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He
answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed
my eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam and wash. I went
and washed and I received my sight. Then they said to him, Where is
He? And he said, I know not. They brought him to the Pharisees. It was
also the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then,
once again, the Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight. He
said unto them, He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed and do see.
Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God because He
keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner
do such miracles? And there was a division among them. Then they said
to the blind man again, what sayest thou of He that hath opened thine
eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe that he had
been blind and received his sight until they called his parents. And they
asked them, Is this your son who ye say was born blind? How then doth he
see? His parents answered them, We know that this is our son and that
he was born blind, but by what means he now seeth, we know not. Or who
hath opened his eyes, we know not. He is of age. Ask him. He shall speak
for himself. These words spoke his parents because they feared the Jews,
for the Jews had agreed that, if any man said that He was the Christ,
that man should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents,
Our son is of age; ask him.
They called the man that was blind once again, and said unto him, Give
God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said,
Whether He be a sinner I know not. One thing I know, that, whereas I
was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did He do to
thee? How opened He thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already
and ye did not hear. Wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be
His disciples? Then they reviled him and said, Thou art His disciple;
but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses. As for
this one, we know not from whence He comes.
The man answered and said unto them, Why here is a marvellous thing, that
ye know not from whence He is come, and yet He hath opened my eyes. Now we
know that God heareth not sinners. But if any man be a worshipper of God,
and doeth His will, him He heareth. Since the world began was it ever
heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind? If this
man were not of God He could do nothing. They answered and said unto him,
Thou wast born in sin. Dost thou dare teach us? And they cast him out.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out. When He found him He said unto
him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is
He, Lord, that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou
hast both seen Him and it is He that talketh with thee. And he said,
Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him. Then Jesus said, For judgment
I am come into this world that they which see not might see; and they
which see might be made blind. Some of the Pharisees who were with Him
heard these words and said unto Him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto
them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see;
therefore your sin remaineth.
10. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that entereth not by the
door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way is a thief and
a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the
sheep. To him the porter openeth. The sheep hear his voice. He calleth
his own sheep by name and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth
his own sheep, he goeth before them and the sheep follow because they
know his voice. A stranger they will not follow. Instead, they will flee
because they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spoke Jesus unto them. Yet they understood not what things
He spoke about. Then Jesus said again, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and
robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If any man enter
in by me he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The
thief cometh not except to steal and kill and destroy. I am come that
they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.
I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd giveth His life for the
sheep. But he that is a hireling and not the shepherd, whose sheep are
not his own, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. The
wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep. The hireling flees because he
is a hireling and careth not for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd. I
know my sheep and am known by my sheep. The Father knoweth me, even as
I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. Other sheep I have
also who are not of this fold. Them also I must bring and they shall
hear my voice. There shall be One Fold and One Shepherd. Therefore doth
my Father love me because I lay down my life that I might take it up
again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down myself. I have power
to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This commandment
have I received of my Father. There was a division therefore among the
Jews for these sayings. Many of them said, He hath a devil and is mad;
why hear ye Him? Others said, These are not the words of Him that hath
a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
In Jerusalem it was winter and the feast of the dedication. Jesus walked
in the temple upon Solomon's porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and
said, How long dost Thou make us doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us
plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you and ye believed me not. The
works that I do in my Father's name bear witness of me. But ye believe
not because ye are not of my sheep. As I said to you, My sheep hear
my voice and I know them and they follow me. And I give them eternal
life. They shall never perish, nor shall any man pluck them out of my
hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all. No man is able
to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. Then the
Jews took up stones to stone Him. Jesus answered them, Many good works
have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we stone Thee not; but for
blasphemy; and because that Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God. Jesus
answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said Ye are gods? If
He called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture
cannot be broken; Say ye of Him whom the Father hath sanctified and
sent into the world, thou blasphemest because I said I am the Son of
God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do,
though ye believe not me, believe the works that ye may know and believe
that the Father is in me, and I in Him.
Therefore they sought again to take Him but He escaped out of their
hand and went away again beyond Jordan to the place where John at first
baptized. There He abode. And many resorted unto Him, and said, John
did no miracle but all things that John spoke of this man were true. And
many believed on Him there.