John 10-12 The Good Shepherd

John 10-12 The Good Shepherd

Psalm 119:169-176  Rescuing A Faithful Sheep
Ps 119:169 TAU “Let my cry come before you, Yahweh. Give me understanding according to your word. 170 Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word.
171 Let my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes. 172 Let my tongue respond to your word, for all your commandments are righteousness.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174 I have longed for your salvation, Yahweh. Your law is my delight. 175 Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me. 176 I wander about like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don’t forget your commandments."

Observations: 119:169-170 In the final section of this magnificent psalm the author calls out to God for deliverance. The previous sections have increasingly mentioned the opposition he faces because of his commitment to God's word. Here he asks for understanding, grounds his cry for help/deliverance upon God's word.
119:171-172 Two verses of praise, first for the fact that God reveals and teaches him His statutes (so he can do them), and then a song in response to the righteous commandments of God (worship = response to revelation).
119:173-176 In the closing verses of the psalm which opened with declaring the blessedness of the one who walks in God's ways, and seek Him wholeheartedly, he declares his heart and soul are set on God's word: he's chosen/decided for God's precepts, delighted in them, and has not forgotten them. Thus he looks forward to God's help, salvation, and rescue from the effects of his oppressors, for he wanders about like a lost sheep, and asks God to seek and save him. Some commentators see this as a confession of sin, but that view is so alien to the context. We've just had 175 verses of the psalmist wholeheartedly seeking God, and then we end on “save me I've gone astray?????” No way! There are a number of possible translations for wander/stray, and although stray/err is the most common, the reason there are other meanings is because the word has different meaning. The way one determines the correct meaning is to understand the context, not interpret it out of one's experience (as most defeated sinners, who don't obey God's word, do). The very last phrase affirms that even in the midst of oppression for his commitment to God's word, he hasn't forgotten it. Go back and look at just this section and ask yourself are these the words of a sinning sheep who has gone astray, or of a struggling sheep who has been harassed and persecuted by sinners, and is asking God to seek and rescue him from them?
Application: Those who wholeheartedly seek God as revealed in His word, will experience opposition from sinners and rescue/deliverance from God.
Prayer: My Good Shepherd, I praise You for revealing Yourself in Your word in such a way that I can respond to it, and experience the delights of knowing You and Your goodness; thanks for rescuing me from the difficulties I encounter in following You. Amen.

Proverbs 29:15-21 Wise Kids Are A Delight
Pr 29:15 “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother. 16 When the wicked increase, sin increases: but the righteous shall see their fall. 17 Correct your son, and he shall give you peace; yes, he will bring delight to your soul. 18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint/perish: but one who keeps the law, is blessed. 19 A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understands he will not respond. 20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 21 A servant pampered from youth will have him turn out to be insolent-arrogant-thankless-son.“ (NIV)

Observations: 29:15-21 Disciplining your children result in delight. Wisdom is a function of both the rod (punishment/negative reinforcement) and reproof (instruction, bring error to light). An inconsistent, lazy parent will be shamed by their foolish child. The wise parent will raise wise children who are a delight. This is also the secret to raising kids with great self-esteem (see The Magic Lamp of Self-esteem on Truthbase.net). When both kids and people do not have Revelation to guide them, they cast off all restraints, and revert to barbaric behavior. (Have you been on a college campus on the weekend recently?) Correction must be accompanied by consequences, both for kids and employees. Mere words tend to be ignored. Speaking of mere words, not thinking through what one says and the potential impact on others is not wise, but beyond foolish. In verse 21 “pampered” and “insolent” only occur once in the OT, so the translation is difficult. Based upon similar words in other languages, the pampered servant will seek to assume the inheritance rights of a son.
Application: Wise children are the product of wise parenting who mirror God's parenting of His children, using both truth and consequences.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for the timeless truths of Your word, and the delight I've found in following them; You truly are the all-wise God. Amen.


John 10-12 Jesus reveals Himself to be the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep, so they can believe and receive eternal life. He claims to be God, the resurrection and the life, raising the dead to validate His claims. He is confessed as the Messiah, and sought by the Gentiles. Yet some believe and some don't. Those who believe His light become children of light; those who don't, remain in darkness.


John 10 The Good Shepherd is One with the Father
10:1 "Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.
4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers." 6 Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them. 7 Jesus therefore said to them again, "Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture.
10a The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
10b I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. 13 The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15 even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father."
19 Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane! Why do you listen to him?" 21 Others said, "These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?"

22 It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem. 23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, "How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me. 26 But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one." 31 Therefore Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?" 33 The Jews answered him, "We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods?’ 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken), 36 do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’ 37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38 But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
39 They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand. 40 He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and there he stayed. 41 Many came to him. They said, "John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true." 42 Many believed in him there.

Observations: 1:1-9 Ezekiel 34 is probably the background to this chapter, although it isn't quoted. There God lambasts the false shepherds leading Israel for their own benefit, and promises a good shepherd (a Davidic descendant).  John the Baptist is a likely candidate for the gatekeeper, but that is neither specified nor emphasized. The sheep don't follow the voice/teaching of anyone except their shepherd, who protects them with his life. Listening to His voice/teaching is crucial, and is emphasized throughout the book. Jesus presents Himself as the door to salvation and good pasture to those who listen and follow. Note that forgiveness and justification aren't mentioned, nor righteousness by faith in His atoning work. Remember there are different meanings to the word “salvation” (See introduction to Matthew) and this is more about the glorification blessings of the Millennial Age, than anything else.
Ezek 34:12 “As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered... 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord Yahweh. 16 "I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment." 23 “I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them - My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.”
10:10 Jesus states that His purpose in coming was so that the sheep might not only have life, but have it abundantly. This is John's purpose in writing the gospel. Jn 20:31 “but these are written, that you may believe (aorist tense) that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing (present tense) you may have life in his name.” The first section of the book (up to chapter 13) provide the signs to help people believe. The latter section (esp. Upper Room Discourse) provides teaching to believers about how to have the abundant life. Not everyone who believes experiences the abundant life, that will be dependent upon abiding in His word (Jn 8:31-32; 15:1-10).
10:11-21 Jesus is the not only the door (verses 7,9) but also the good shepherd, who deliberately lays down His life for the sheep. Jesus doesn't explicitly state that His death is a vicarious sacrifice for the sins, but does emphasize His choice and power in laying it down and taking it up. He says this is why the Father loves Him (you need to figure this one out on your own). Jesus owns the sheep (by virtue of creating them and being given them by the Father). He has other sheep (Gentiles) which will be combined with the Jews (like the blind beggar was ejected from the synagogue) to form one flock (the church?) comprised of those who listen to His voice and follow Him. As we've seen throughout the book, some accept, and others reject, just like today. Those who don't believe attribute His miracles to the devil (see “the unpardonable sin” comments -Mk 3:29; Lk 12:15) which will happen again below.
10:22-29 A new feast is mentioned, instituted by Judas Maccabaeus in 164 BC to commemorate the purification of the temple after its defilement by Antiochus Epiphanes in 167 BC. Two months had past since the Feast of Booths mentioned in chapter 8. But the subject matter of the first half of chapter 10 is similar. This is Jesus' final confrontation with the Establishment, and presents His clearest claims to Deity. They demand to know if He is the Christ/Messiah. He says He told them (through His works) but they wouldn't accept it and believe. The reason Jesus gives for their rejection is that they are not of (ek) His sheep, as He said He told them. In John 8:44-45 Jesus told them that the reason the Establishment could not understand and hear His voice was because they were of (ek) their father the devil, the father of lies. Since Jesus was speaking truth, they couldn't believe it, since their paradigm was falsehood. “Ek” is a preposition that frequently indicates source or origin. Jesus was their Creator, not the devil; they had gone over to the dark side, exchanging their heritage as descendants of Abraham for the present possession Satan offered them in the temporal realm. Only a few, like Joseph of Arimathea (Mk 15:43) and Nicodemus (Jn 7:50) were seeking the fulfillment of God's promises. The Pharisees were not of (ek) the group that acknowledged God as their Father, while those who believed Him were. Jesus says in verse 27 that His sheep hear, have a relationship with (know), and follow Him. He gives them eternal life (dominion of the Age), and they will never (literally=”not to/eis the age”) perish/killed/destroyed (same verb in 3:16-17 and 10:10a), nor will anyone take them away (like the wolf does in 10:12). That's because the Father, is greater than all and protects them.
10:30-39 In verse 30 Jesus makes the equation that He and the Father are one. He is not saying they are the same person (“one” is neuter, not masculine). He does not say I am the Father, but maintains their distinctive characters. Steam plus ice equal water (Trinity anyone?). The same essence expressed in different forms/functions. The Father is God in heaven; Jesus is God in the outward form of man on earth (Phil 2). When the Jews go for the stones again, Jesus asks for which good work do they want to stone Him. He is “forcing” them to confess His point, that He is claiming to be God. He did the same thing at His trials in the synoptics. Notice, He doesn't say, “Oh, wait, you've got it all wrong, I didn't meant that; either you misheard or I misspoke.” Instead, He quotes Psalm 82:6 where the judges who are not carrying out their task (just like evil shepherds) are called “gods” ('elohiym = mighty ones) by God ('elohiym), who will judge them (Ps 86:1). His point has an application and an implication. If God calls judges gods, than someone claiming to be God isn't saying anything other than what God said, and can't be called blasphemy (literally “to injure the fame” of someone {by speaking against them}). The implication is that they will be judged for failing to judge righteously and care for God's sheep. The comment that Scripture cannot be broken is not some random teaching about inerrancy, but a veiled reference to the judgment they will receive (read all eight verses of Psalm 82 to see how applicable it is to the situation). Jesus was set apart (sanctified -Phil 2) and sent by God to do His will, hence He is appropriately the Son of God, as His works testify. Note that He is still trying to get them to believe in verse 38, He is not rejecting them because they are not of (ek) His sheep, but trying to move them back into the flock; but they refuse to know and believe.
10:39-42 Again they try to seize Him, but He slips away and goes to where John was announcing the Kingdom promised in the OT and baptizing those who repented and started living in light of the coming Messianic Kingdom. Even though John didn't do any signs, the people believed. Jesus did signs, and those living for this world rejected Him, yet many believed Him there, outside Jerusalem.
Application: Jesus offers life and abundant life to those who believe and follow Him. Those who are living for this world will reject Him and His truth. They will be judged (in a not good way).
Prayer: Lord, You are my Shepherd; I will listen for Your voice and follow whatever You say, for You are the One who cares for me, and will lead me to green pastures and still waters. You restore my soul. Praise You! Amen.

John 11 Resurrection and the Life

11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha. 2 It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, "Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection/love is sick." 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that God’s Son may be glorified by it." 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When therefore he heard that he was sick, he stayed two days in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let’s go into Judea again." 8 The disciples told him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and are you going there again?" 9 Jesus answered, "Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn’t in him." 11 He said these things, and after that, he said to them, "Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep." 12 The disciples therefore said, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep. 14 So Jesus said to them plainly then, "Lazarus is dead. 15 I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let’s go to him." 16 Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let’s go also, that we may die with him."
17 So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away. 19 Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 20 Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house. 21 Therefore Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Even now I know that, whatever you ask of God, God will give you." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world." 28 When she had said this, she went away, and called Mary, her sister, secretly, saying, "The Teacher is here, and is calling you." 29 When she heard this, she arose quickly, and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there." 32 Therefore when Mary came to where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died."
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 and said, "Where have you laid him?" They told him, "Lord, come and see." 35 Jesus wept. 36 The Jews therefore said, "See how much affection he had for him!" 37 Some of them said, "Couldn’t this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?" 38 Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." 40 Jesus said to her, "Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?" 41 So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, "Father, I thank you that you listened to me. 42 I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me." 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Free him, and let him go."
45 Therefore many of the Jews, who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done. 47 The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What are we doing? For this man does many signs. 48 If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." 49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." 51 Now he didn’t say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day forward they took counsel that they might put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. He stayed there with his disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand. Many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought for Jesus and spoke one with another, as they stood in the temple, "What do you think—that he isn’t coming to the feast at all?" 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had commanded that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, that they might seize him.

Observations: 11:1-16 The account of Lazarus echos that of the man born blind. An undesirable situation is allowed for God to be able to display His glory in rectifying it. Here Jesus purposefully delays healing His dear friend so He can resurrect him after he dies. God allows pain in our lives, even though He loves us, so He can achieve a greater good than our temporary comfort. Not only is God glorified by allowing Lazarus to die, but the basis of the disciples' belief is strengthened. Jesus refers to death as sleep (cf Daniel 12:2) since our first death is a temporary condition before resurrection to life or more permanent death (Rev 20:14). Lazarus was not only born again, he died again.
11:17-44 Martha had faith to know that Jesus could have healed her brother; in light of her comments in verses 24 and 39 she wasn't expecting a resurrection. It looks like she is affirming her confidence in Jesus' relationship with God, in spite of the death of her brother. Jesus promises Martha that Lazarus will rise again. Since she knows Daniel 12:2 she knows that will happen at the last day. But Jesus gives a preview of what He promised in 5:25 (cf 1Thess 4:16) and reveals the impact of “I am the resurrection and the life.” Because He is the source of resurrection, those who believe in Him will live (again), even if they die. Because He is the source of (spiritual) life, those who believe in Him will never die (spiritually), they have as their present possession, life on the spiritual plane (3:16; 5:24; 10:28). Martha confesses her belief in Him as the Messiah, who comes into the world (1:9). Jesus next ministers to Mary, who takes up her usual place at His feet, and has a similar comment as Martha (cf v 21 and 32). His response is very different, weeping with her in her grief. This is particularly noteworthy, because He knew He would resurrect Lazarus, and there would be tears of joy. His tears were born partly out of empathy, but also to elicit the response from the crowd. Jesus fulfills His promise and calls Lazarus out of the tomb, displaying God's power/glory. Like the resurrection of Jarius' daughter, there is still work to do after the resurrection.
11:45-57 Many believed as a result of this seventh and final sign (before His own resurrection). But some didn't and went and told the Pharisees, who betray their purpose for living. Their concern isn't the eternal welfare of God's nation and the blessings of the Messianic Kingdom, but their temporal position in the secular kingdom under Rome (so much for never being in bondage -8:33). So they plot to kill Jesus for the good of the nation as they see it. Here God is using the evil passions of evil men to bring about His glorious purposes to bless His people as promised.
Application: God allows evil and suffering in the temporal time frame to bring about a greater good in the eternal realm. The degree to which we suffer is determined by our focus and perspective.
Prayer: God, I trust that all you allow into my life is for my good, for You are infinitely good; may I confidently trust You to work it together for the greater good, and Your glory. Amen.


John 12 Believe the Light; Become a Child of Light
12:1 Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. 3 Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. 4 Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said, 5 "Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?" 6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it. 7 But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. 8 For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me." 9 A large crowd therefore of the Jews learned that he was there, and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
12 On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet him, and cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!" 14 Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written, 15 "Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt." 16 His disciples didn’t understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him. 17 The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it. 18 For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him."
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast. 21 These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we want to see Jesus." 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life/soul will lose it. He who hates his life/soul in this world will keep it to eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
27 "Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this time?’ But for this cause I came to this time. 28 Father, glorify your name!" Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29 The multitude therefore, who stood by and heard it, said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." 30 Jesus answered, "This voice hasn’t come for my sake, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." 33 But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die. 34 The multitude answered him, "We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever. How do you say, ’The Son of Man must be lifted up?’ Who is this Son of Man?" 35 Jesus therefore said to them, "Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light." Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.
37 But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39 For this cause they couldn’t believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 "He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them." 41 Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.
42 Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue, 43 for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.
44 Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me. 45 He who sees me sees him who sent me 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness. 47 If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day. 49 For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak."

Observations: 12:1-11 Jesus returns to Bethany before His final Passover, and Mary anoints Him (see comments on Mt 26 and Mk 14). Judas objects because of His worldly values cloaked in religiosity. In contrast to Mary's love of Jesus, he loved money. Because of the influence of Lazarus, the Pharisees plotted his death.
12:12-19 For comments on the triumphal entry (Palm Sunday) see Matthew 21.
12:20-26 John alone mentions the Greeks who want to see Jesus, and then doesn't tell us any more about them. But notice the role the disciples play in relaying the request to Jesus. It is through the Jews that the Gentiles get blessed. Jesus then reiterates the message given in the synoptics when He first called the disciples, with a particular application to Himself. The word for lose/destroy is the same as that in 10:28. For losing and gaining see comments on Matthew 10:39; Mark 8:36; Luke 14:26. Dying to this world is necessary to bear fruit, which is necessary for eternal reward and honor/glory from God. The promise of God honoring those who serve Him is as certain as any of God's promises. Do you believe and value this?
12:27-36 This is the closest John gets to recording Jesus in prayer (before the high priestly prayer in chapter 17), and it's more like a conversation (fitting with John's purpose to show Jesus is God). The Father responds for the benefit of the disciples. God had been glorified through the Incarnation and miracles, and would be glorified through the resurrection and Pentecost. The world would be judged by the death of Jesus, and what looked like a victory for the prince of this world (Satan) would actually be his dethronement. When Jesus was lifted up (crucifixion) He would draw all men to Himself. The preaching of the cross has done that through the ages, as people have escaped the dominion of darkness to live in the light. Those who believed the light would become children of light (central point of the prologue -Jn 1:11-12). The Christ does remain forever, and His kingdom would not be destroyed (Dan 7:14). His death would just be a final step on His journey back to heaven.
12:37-43 Although many believed, some didn't despite the signs. Isa 53 and 6:10 are quoted to explain why Israel as a nation didn't believe. They were unable to believe because they had rejected God's revelation, the content of which they needed to believe. God hardened them in their decision (as He did Pharaoh) to accomplish His purposes. In the case of Egypt, it was the physical deliverance of His people, through the plagues and the Red Sea; in the case of the nation and their leadership, it was the spiritual deliverance of His people, through the death and resurrection of Christ. Verse 42 emphasizes that some of the rulers did believe.
12:44-50 Belief in Jesus was belief in God, who sent him. Jesus came as a light, so that people who believe in Him would move out of darkness. If people didn't believe what Jesus said, He wouldn't judge/condemn them, but the words they rejected would judge them on the last day. Jesus spoke the commands of God, which led to eternal life. Those who reject His words, reject God's commands, and reject eternal life (dominion of the Age). Therefore, they themselves would be rejected from that life.
Application: Do you believe Jesus' words: 12:24 “Most truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life/soul will lose it. He who hates his life/soul in this world will keep it to eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”?
If you do, how have you died? How are you bearing fruit? If you don't believe them, what makes you think they won't judge you on the last day?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I follow my Lord's example and die to things of this world, so I may follow Him and serve You, knowing You will honor me. Thanks for Your unfailing promises. Amen.


Digging Deeper


God in a nutshell: God uses personal tragedy and the evil schemes of wicked people to bring about a greater good for us, the world, and Himself (glory).

Build-a-Jesus: Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep, but also the Light of the World, the Resurrection and the Life, who gives light and life to all who believe and follow Him.

Us in a nutshell: We need to die to this world and live for the next. Some believe that truth; some don't. Those who do believe, will enjoy honor and blessings in the future. Those who don't believe, and live for the blessings of this life won't be blessed in the future.

Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net

John complete text

John 10
10:1 "Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4 Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers." 6 Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them. 7 Jesus therefore said to them again, "Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. 10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. 13 The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15 even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father."
19 Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane! Why do you listen to him?" 21 Others said, "These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?"
22 It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem. 23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, "How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me. 26 But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one." 31 Therefore Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?" 33 The Jews answered him, "We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods?’ 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken), 36 do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’ 37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38 But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
39 They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand. 40 He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and there he stayed. 41 Many came to him. They said, "John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true." 42 Many believed in him there.

John 11
11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha. 2 It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, "Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick." 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that God’s Son may be glorified by it." 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When therefore he heard that he was sick, he stayed two days in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let’s go into Judea again." 8 The disciples told him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and are you going there again?" 9 Jesus answered, "Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn’t in him." 11 He said these things, and after that, he said to them, "Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep." 12 The disciples therefore said, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep. 14 So Jesus said to them plainly then, "Lazarus is dead. 15 I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let’s go to him." 16 Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let’s go also, that we may die with him."
17 So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away. 19 Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 20 Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house. 21 Therefore Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Even now I know that, whatever you ask of God, God will give you." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world." 28 When she had said this, she went away, and called Mary, her sister, secretly, saying, "The Teacher is here, and is calling you." 29 When she heard this, she arose quickly, and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there." 32 Therefore when Mary came to where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died."
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 and said, "Where have you laid him?" They told him, "Lord, come and see." 35 Jesus wept. 36 The Jews therefore said, "See how much affection he had for him!" 37 Some of them said, "Couldn’t this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?" 38 Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." 40 Jesus said to her, "Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?" 41 So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, "Father, I thank you that you listened to me. 42 I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me." 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Free him, and let him go."
45 Therefore many of the Jews, who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done. 47 The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What are we doing? For this man does many signs. 48 If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." 49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." 51 Now he didn’t say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day forward they took counsel that they might put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. He stayed there with his disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand. Many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought for Jesus and spoke one with another, as they stood in the temple, "What do you think—that he isn’t coming to the feast at all?" 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had commanded that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, that they might seize him.

John 12
12:1 Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. 3 Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. 4 Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said, 5 "Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?" 6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it. 7 But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. 8 For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me." 9 A large crowd therefore of the Jews learned that he was there, and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
12 On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet him, and cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!" 14 Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written, 15 "Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt." 16 His disciples didn’t understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him. 17 The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it. 18 For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him."
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast. 21 These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we want to see Jesus." 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him.
27 "Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this time?’ But for this cause I came to this time. 28 Father, glorify your name!" Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29 The multitude therefore, who stood by and heard it, said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." 30 Jesus answered, "This voice hasn’t come for my sake, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." 33 But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die. 34 The multitude answered him, "We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever. How do you say, ’The Son of Man must be lifted up?’ Who is this Son of Man?" 35 Jesus therefore said to them, "Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light." Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.
37 But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39 For this cause they couldn’t believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 "He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them." 41 Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.
42 Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue, 43 for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.
44 Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me. 45 He who sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness. 47 If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day. 49 For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak."

John 7-9 Grace and Truth Come Through Christ

Psalm 119:161-168 Peace When Persecuted
Ps 119:161 SCHIN “Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart fears Your words. 162 I rejoice at Your word, as one who finds great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor falsehood. I love Your law. 164 Seven times a day, I praise You, because of Your righteous ordinances.
165 Those who love Your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble. 166 I have hoped for Your salvation, Yahweh. I have done Your commandments. 167 My soul has observed Your testimonies. I love them exceedingly. 168 I have obeyed Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You."

Observations: 119:161-168 When princes persecute unjustly, the psalmist doesn't panic, but has great peace, because he knows God saves the righteous. He doesn't fear men, because he fears God (and His word). Proof of his perspective of God's word is his rejoicing in it, his love of it (and hatred of falsehood), and praising God for it throughout the day (which means he's looking at it; probably had a post-it with a verse he was memorizing or meditating on attached to his tablet). His immersion in God's word made him immune to intimidation by enemies. Because he knew all his ways were before God, he had fully obeyed, and therefore had confident hope in God's salvation/deliverance, regardless of how powerful his enemies were.

Application: If we fear God, we don't need to fear people, and can have great peace in peril.

Prayer: My Good Shepherd, I thank You for Your word and the promises it contains that give me peace and hope; I will fear only displeasing You. Amen.

Proverbs 29:12-14 Lessons for Rulers
Pr 29:12 “If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials become wicked. 13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both. 14 The king who fairly judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever.

Observations: 29:12-14 By listening to and accepting lies, in effect rewarding them, a ruler encourages all his officials to tell him what he wants to hear, making them hypocrites. Instead he should value those who speak the truth, as unpopular as it might be sometimes. The Lord gives life and light to all, establishing a basis for equity. The king has the responsibility to secure the rights of the poor and protect them from unjust oppressors. If he does that, God will establish his throne.

Application: Leaders must seek the truth and act in accord with it for peace and prosperity.

Prayer: Lord may I be a truth seeker all my days, and seek to bring justice to those around me. Amen.


John 7-9 In this section, Jesus proclaims Himself to be the Light of the world, and opens the eyes of a man born blind. One of the ways John arranges his material is around Jesus' participation of the Jewish feasts. This section covers the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:42), when the Jews would live in booths/tents to commemorate God's care of them in the wilderness after the Exodus. It coincided with the harvest. Each day of the feast water was drawn from a well and poured by the altar out while Isaiah 12:3 “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” was sung. It not only recalled God's provision, but also looked forward to the day when water would flow from under the altar in the Millennial kingdom (Ezekiel 47:1). Huge vats of oil were lit at night, lighting up the city. During this festival Jesus declares Himself to be the light of the world, and source of water whose recipients would never thirst. Some believed and some rejected. John chapters 7 and 8 form a chiastic structure emphasizing that Jesus is the one from the Father, bringing grace and truth. The Jews use the Law of Moses to condemn and seek to kill Him. Jesus uses the law to extend grace to the woman taken in adultery in chapter 8.
The following structure needs work to more accurately reflect John's arguments, but might be useful for guiding you through the observations.

A Jesus goes to temple 7:1-10 14
B Jesus seeks the glory of God 7:11-24 .
 C Not know where Christ is from 7:25-31
  D Seek Jesus and not find Him 7:32-36 .
    E1 In Him was Life (light of men 1:4) 7:37-39
    E2 Who is this 7:40-44
      F Law of Moses misapplied; no Grace 7:45-52
       G Go to their homes 7:53
       g' Mt of Olives is Jesus' door 8:1
      f' Law applied; with Grace 8:2-11
    e1' Light of the world 8:12
    e2' Who this is 8:13-20
  d' Seek Jesus; or die in sin 8:21-36
 c' Not know where Christ goes 8:37-47
b' God seeks the glory of Jesus 8:48-58 .
a' Jesus goes from temple 8:59 .

John 7 The Law of Moses
7:1 After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to him, "Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do. 4 For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world." 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. 6 Jesus therefore said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled." 9 Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee. 10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret. 11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, "Where is he?" 12 There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others said, "Not so, but he leads the multitude astray." 13 Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14 But when it was now the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How does this man know letters, having never been educated?" 16 Jesus therefore answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?" 20 The multitude answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?" 21 Jesus answered them, "I did one work, and you all marvel because of it. 22 Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy. 23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? 24 Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."
25 Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, "Isn’t this he whom they seek to kill? 26 Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ? 27 However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from." 28 Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t know. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me." 30 They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?"
32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 33 Then Jesus said, "I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come." 35 The Jews therefore said among themselves, "Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this word that he said, ’You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come’?"
37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." 39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.
40 Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, "This is truly the prophet." 41 Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "What, does the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" 43 So there arose a division in the multitude because of him. 44 Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him.
45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why didn’t you bring him?" 46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" 47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, "You aren’t also led astray, are you? 48 Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees? 49 But this multitude that doesn’t know the law is accursed." 50 Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 "Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?" 52 They answered him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee." 53 Everyone went to his own house.

Observations: 7:1-13 To Temple - Jesus' brothers did not believe in Him (note these are Mary's and Joseph's sons, since His disciples did believe Him). Jesus previews the coming attractions by indicating that His time is not yet come, and the establishment hates and wants to kill Him because he shines light on their evil.
7:14-24 Glory - Jesus' teaching astounds, because it comes from the Father and is truth. Verse 17 is key to knowing God's will. If you are committed to doing God's will, He will make it clear to you. If you want to pick and choose what part of God's will you will do, you will remain in the dark. The person who has themselves as their authority, seeks their own glory, and winds up being unrighteous. The one who seeks the glory of God, having Him as their authority, winds up being true and righteous. The Jews ignore the law and seek to kill Jesus because He healed on the Sabbath, yet they perform circumcision on the Sabbath which is work, for a lesser goal.
7:25-31 Don't Know; Kill – The people have questions and misconceptions about Jesus and the Messiah; some try to kill him, some believe, but His time had not yet come.
7:32-36 Seek – The Pharisees seek to arrest Jesus, who says He will go to Him who sent Him, and they won't be able to find Him. He meant it on the spiritual plane, they misunderstand it on the physical level.
7:37-39 Water/Life – In the last day of the feast Jesus offers Himself as the source of living water to those who believe in Him. The reference is to the Holy Spirit whom Jesus would send after He was glorified (given all power to distribute).
7:40-44 Who – the questions and misunderstanding of the people continue, corresponding to the identity questions above. Some confess Him as the Messiah, and some don't. Again the establishment tries to arrest Him.
7:45-51 Law misapplied – The Pharisees upbraid the officers who failed to arrest Him, accusing them of believing His teaching. They wrongly affirm that no expert in the law believes in Him. Nicodemus, the secret disciple, tries to use the law to protect Jesus.
7:52 Home base – This last verse is insignificant at first glance, and a number of manuscripts drop it out. However, contrasted with the first verse of the next chapter, it serves as the chiastic center of the section.

Application: If you want to know what God wants you to do, be committed to doing whatever He reveals and has revealed. If He gives no new guidance, then focus on the revelation you are sure of.

Prayer: God, Your will is good, acceptable and perfect; help me know and do it every day. Amen.

John 8 Grace and Truth
8:1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst, 4 they told him, "Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What then do you say about her?" 6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her." 8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. 9 They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more."
12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."
13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, "You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid." 14 Jesus answered them, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one. 16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me. 17 It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid. 18 I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me." 19 They said therefore to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
21 Jesus said therefore again to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come." 22 The Jews therefore said, "Will he kill himself, that he says, ’Where I am going, you can’t come?’" 23 He said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins." 25 They said therefore to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world." 27 They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father. 28 Jesus therefore said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things. 29 He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him." 30 As he spoke these things, many believed in him.
31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain/continue/abide in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham’s seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ’You will be made free?’" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. 35 A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.
38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father." 39 They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. 41 You do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God." 42 Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. 44 You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father. 45 But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.
46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God." 48 Then the Jews answered him, "Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?" 49 Jesus answered, "I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.
51 Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death." 52 Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, ’If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. 55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad." 57 The Jews therefore said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM." 59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through their midst, and so passed by.

Observations: 8:1 Jesus left the temple to go to the Mount of Olives, a location rich in prophecy, where He also gave the Olivet Discourse, about His return. This is the place to which the glory departed in Ezekiel 11:23. It is the place from which the Lord Jesus would ascend to heaven after His resurrection (Lk 24:50 Bethany was on its south-eastern slope), and the place to which He will return in glory to set up His Millennial Kingdom (Zech 14:4). In the interaction with the Establishment, Jesus keeps saying that God is His Father, and thus heaven is His home. After the Feast of Booths, the people left the city to go to their homes. Here Jesus was leaving to go to the door (Mount of Olives) to His home, heaven. This links the two chapters which devote a number of verses to His identity and location.
8:2-11 Law graciously applied – The account of the woman taken in adultery is considered by many to not be supported by the oldest manuscripts (but the best school of textual criticism Byz-MT priority, includes it). It's easy to see why some would eliminate it because it could appear to condone adultery. However, the chiastic structure argues strongly for its inclusion, corresponding to the last section in chapter 7. Although Nicodemus tried to get the Establishment to use the law correctly, they twisted it to their own purposes. Here, Jesus is seen bringing grace into the equation. The law called for the death of adulterers (Lev 20:10 - the guy too) and they want to stone her. Jesus starts writing on the ground with his finger. The last time the finger of God wrote was the law, on stone tablets (Ex 31:18). The Spirit will write the law on people's hearts (New Covenant - Jer 31:31), but here, it looks like Jesus is scratching the law in the ground, because people are getting convicted and leaving as their sins are pointed out. There was no one without sin left to cast the first stone, all the accusers/witnesses had left. He tells her to go and sin no more, just like He told the paralytic in 5:14. Jesus didn't come to condemn folks, but to have them live the abundant, sin-free life (see 8:32).
8:12 Light – Jesus follows up His instruction of the woman to sin no more, with a pronouncement of Himself as the light of the world. In the Feast of Tabernacles, the night sky was lit with giant vats of oil, and people danced in the night by the light. Here Jesus states that those who follow Him will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (equating light with life, or indicating that the light comes from life, as in glory).
8:13-20 Who – Jesus rebuts the Pharisees' challenge His self-testimony, by citing the double witness of Himself and the Father, via the miracles. He also reiterates they don't know where He is from, nor where He is going, meaning they don't know heaven. In typical response, they try to arrest Him. Silly Pharisees; haven't they learned anything? His time had not yet come.
8:21-37 Die - Jesus repeats the fact that they will seek and not find Him and adds that they will die in their sins unless they “believe that I am he.” He predicts that when He is lifted up (crucified) they will know that He is the Son of Man (of Daniel 7:14). Jesus told those who did believe in Him, that if they continued in His word (the Bread of chapter 6), they would truly be His disciples, and as such would know the truth (it is knowable), and it would set them free (from sin). This is one of the key verses for the victorious Christian life. Memorize and apply it, or stay in bondage to sin. The Jews, who are living under Roman rule and had been living under Babylonian rule, insisted they were never under anyone's bondage (like most self-deceived sinners). Jesus insisted that whoever commits sin is a slave to sin, and doesn't get rulership/dominion in the house as a son does (enduring rule/glory in the Kingdom).
8:38-47 Not know where - Jesus says they are not children of Abraham but of the devil since they lie and want to commit murder.
8:48-58 Glory of Jesus – Jesus promises that those who keep His word will never die (loss of dominion). Jesus will be glorified by the Father, whom they don't know, because He keeps His word.
8:59 Light goes from Temple

Application: You know who Jesus is, therefore you must know His word is truth; if you abide in it, you will know the truth and be set free from sin. If anyone is in bondage to sin, they don't know the truth. See Romans 6 and 12:1-2 and Sanctification: It Ain't Gonna Reign No More on Truthbase.net.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thanks that Your truth is knowable, and sets me free from sin; may I live every day in the freedom You offer me. Amen.

John 9 Responding to the Light
9:1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud, 7 and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means "Sent"). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing.
8 The neighbors therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, "Isn’t this he who sat and begged?" 9 Others were saying, "It is he." Still others were saying, "He looks like him." He said, "I am he." 10 They therefore were asking him, "How were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered, "A man called Jesus made mud, anointed my eyes, and said to me, ’Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.’ So I went away and washed, and I received sight." 12 Then they asked him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don’t know."
13 They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees. 14 It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see." 16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was division among them. 17 Therefore they asked the blind man again, "What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." 18 The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight, 19 and asked them, "Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered them, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age. Ask him." 24 So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner." 25 He therefore answered, "I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see." 26 They said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t also want to become his disciples, do you?" 28 They insulted him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from." 30 The man answered them, "How amazing! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God, and does his will, he listens to him. 32 Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." 34 They answered him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" They threw him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36 He answered, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" 37 Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you." 38 He said, "Lord, I believe!" and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind." 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

Observations: 9:1-12 This sixth sign, the account of the man born blind being healed, illustrates Jesus' claim to be the Light of the world in the previous chapter, and sets up eyes being opened to Jesus' claim to be God in the next chapter. It would correspond to the healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda (another pool miracle) where Jesus appeared to be dealing with sin that caused the paralysis. Here the problem was from birth.
Not all infirmity is a result of sin, sometimes bad things happen for the glory of God to be displayed when He fixes the situation with His power. The reason for the mud and saliva being applied to the eyes and the washing in the pool aren't explained. The man was born blind, then perhaps the blindness was compounded by the defilement of dirt. As the man obeyed Jesus' word, his original handicap and additional “dirt/sin” were washed away. It's a nice picture of both original sin and sins of omission/commission being removed by accepting and obeying the word of Jesus, but there is nothing to substantiate such an interpretation in the passage.
9:13-34 The bulk of the chapter, as the two previous ones, revolve around the identity of Jesus. The man serves as an irrefutable foil to the Pharisees' preconceptions. “Don't confuse me with facts or truth, my mind is made up.” Verse 25 is a classic line, to which all believers should be able to testify as a one day old believer. The tragedy is that that such a confession is also the testimony of people who have been “saved” for decades (but are still in bondage to their sins). The Pharisees inadvertently confess the truth that they refuse to see and accept.
9:35-38 Jesus seeks out the man to elicit his confession of faith. Note the receptivity of the man. As he responds to the light, Jesus gives him more light. May his tribe increase. Worship follows belief.
9:39-41 In contrast to the man born blind, the Pharisees, who say they see, but don't respond, are still in sin. Those who don't respond to the light, are still in darkness.

Application: Responding to the light we're given, opens the door to receiving more revelation.

Prayer: God, thanks for opening my eyes to the truth, may I walk in it, and proclaim it. Amen.


Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God sent Jesus and authenticated Him so people could know His will and believe in Him.

Build-a-Jesus: Jesus is the Light of the World, giving light and life. He also gives grace and truth. He came from heaven to do the will of the Father, opening eyes to the truth, which sets them free from sin. He will return home, and send the Holy Spirit.

Us in a nutshell: We can know truth, and be set free from sin by it. Some believe and experience the benefits; others reject the light and walk in the darkness of the devil.

Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net


John 7-9 (complete text)

John 7
7:1 After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to him, "Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do. 4 For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world." 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. 6 Jesus therefore said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled." 9 Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee. 10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret. 11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, "Where is he?" 12 There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others said, "Not so, but he leads the multitude astray." 13 Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14 But when it was now the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, "How does this man know letters, having never been educated?" 16 Jesus therefore answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?" 20 The multitude answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?" 21 Jesus answered them, "I did one work, and you all marvel because of it. 22 Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy. 23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? 24 Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." 25 Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, "Isn’t this he whom they seek to kill? 26 Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ? 27 However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from." 28 Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t know. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me." 30 They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?" 32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 33 Then Jesus said, "I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come." 35 The Jews therefore said among themselves, "Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this word that he said, ’You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come’?"
37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." 39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified. 40 Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, "This is truly the prophet." 41 Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "What, does the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" 43 So there arose a division in the multitude because of him. 44 Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him.
45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why didn’t you bring him?" 46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" 47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, "You aren’t also led astray, are you? 48 Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees? 49 But this multitude that doesn’t know the law is accursed." 50 Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 "Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?" 52 They answered him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee." 53 Everyone went to his own house,

John 8
8:1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst, 4 they told him, "Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What then do you say about her?" 6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her." 8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. 9 They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more."
12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." 13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, "You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid." 14 Jesus answered them, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one. 16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me. 17 It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid. 18 I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me." 19 They said therefore to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
21 Jesus said therefore again to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come." 22 The Jews therefore said, "Will he kill himself, that he says, ’Where I am going, you can’t come?’" 23 He said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins." 25 They said therefore to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world." 27 They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father. 28 Jesus therefore said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things. 29 He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him." 30 As he spoke these things, many believed in him.
31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham’s seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ’You will be made free?’" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. 35 A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.
38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father." 39 They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. 41 You do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God." 42 Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. 44 You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father. 45 But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.
46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God." 48 Then the Jews answered him, "Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?" 49 Jesus answered, "I don’t have a demon, but I honour my Father, and you dishonour me. 50 But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.
51 Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death." 52 Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, ’If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. 55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad." 57 The Jews therefore said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM." 59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through their midst, and so passed by.

John 9
9:1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud, 7 and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means "Sent"). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing.
8 The neighbours therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, "Isn’t this he who sat and begged?" 9 Others were saying, "It is he." Still others were saying, "He looks like him." He said, "I am he." 10 They therefore were asking him, "How were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered, "A man called Jesus made mud, anointed my eyes, and said to me, ’Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.’ So I went away and washed, and I received sight." 12 Then they asked him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don’t know."
13 They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees. 14 It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see." 16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was division among them. 17 Therefore they asked the blind man again, "What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." 18 The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight, 19 and asked them, "Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered them, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age. Ask him." 24 So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner." 25 He therefore answered, "I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see." 26 They said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t also want to become his disciples, do you?" 28 They insulted him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from." 30 The man answered them, "How amazing! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does his will, he listens to him. 32 Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." 34 They answered him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" They threw him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36 He answered, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" 37 Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you." 38 He said, "Lord, I believe!" and he worshipped him.
39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind." 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.