Presented to:

By:

On this day of:

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www.thomasnelson.com

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ii

Copyright © 2010 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

The Holy Bible, New Century Version®

Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

The Publisher is pleased hereby to grant permission for the New Century Version to be quoted or reprinted with-out prior written permission with the following qualifi cations: (1) up to and including one thousand (1,000) verses may be quoted, except: (a) the verses being quoted may not comprise as much as 50 percent of the work in which they are quoted, and/or (b) the verses quoted may not comprise an entire book of the Bible when quoted; (2) all NCV quotations must conform accurately to the NCV text.

Quotations from this Bible may be identifi ed in written form with the abbreviation (NCV) in less formal docu-ments, such as bulletins, newsletters, curriculum, media pieces, posters, transparencies, and where space is limited.

A proper credit line must appear on the title or copyright page of any work quoting from the New Century Ver-sion, as follows:

“Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, New Century Version®, copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.”

Quotations of more than 1,000 verses, or other permission requests, must be approved by Thomas Nelson, Inc., in writing in advance of use.

All excerpts used by permission.

The preliminary research and development on the New Century Version was done by the World Bible Translation Center, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas 76182.

Contributors: Carolyn Christina Brown, Valerie Gibbs, Lisa Harper, Jenn Hesse, Margaret Feinberg, Janella Griggs, Julie Ferwerda, Carrie Marrs, Dan Marrs, Erin Marshall, Liz McClintic, Teri Modis-ette, Mandy Rutherford, Donna VanLiere, Betsy Zenz.

Cover Design: Emily Keafer Interior Design: Emily Keafer, Anderson Thomas Design

Printed in the United States of America. All Rights Reserved.7 8 9—10

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Matthew . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1149Mark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1197Luke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1229John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1279Acts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1316Romans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13611 Corinthians . . . . . . . . 13822 Corinthians . . . . . . . . 1401Galatians. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1414Ephesians . . . . . . . . . . . . 1423Philippians . . . . . . . . . . 1431Colossians . . . . . . . . . . . 14371 Thessalonians . . . . . . 14432 Thessalonians . . . . . . 1449

1 Timothy. . . . . . . . . . . . 14542 Timothy. . . . . . . . . . . . 1461Titus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1467Philemon . . . . . . . . . . . . 1472Hebrews . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1475James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14911 Peter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14982 Peter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15061 John. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15112 John. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15183 John. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1522Jude. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1525Revelation . . . . . . . . . . . 1529

Genesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Exodus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Leviticus . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153Deuteronomy . . . . . . . . 199Joshua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241Judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270Ruth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3021 Samuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3092 Samuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3481 Kings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3842 Kings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4221 Chronicles. . . . . . . . . . 4602 Chronicles. . . . . . . . . . 498Ezra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 539Nehemiah. . . . . . . . . . . . 553Esther. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 572Job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 583Psalms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 627Proverbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 729

Ecclesiastes . . . . . . . . . . 769Song of Songs . . . . . . . . 783Isaiah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 793Jeremiah. . . . . . . . . . . . . 879Lamentations . . . . . . . . 960Ezekiel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 971Daniel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1031Hosea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1052Joel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1068Amos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1076Obadiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1088Jonah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1092Micah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1098Nahum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1108Habakkuk . . . . . . . . . . . 1114Zephaniah . . . . . . . . . . . 1120Haggai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1126Zechariah . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130Malachi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1142

The Old Testament

Introduction . . . . . . . . . v–viiTopical Index. . . . . . . . . viii–xiiPreface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii–xv

The New Testament

Table of Contents

Dictionary with Topical Concordance . . . . 1551

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v

What kind of girl are you? Outgoing and fun? Shy or sad? Uncertain? Angry? Alone? Searching for answers? Happy to be alive? Wondering if your life mat-ters? Maybe you’re all of those things at different times.

Regardless of what you’re thinking or feeling today, you probably want what most of us want: peace in your heart, a meaningful life, and someone who loves you. It’s easy to look for that stuff in all the wrong places, but the only answer––the one true source of satisfaction––is God.

You were made to have a relationship with a God who loves you and has a plan for your life. And the best way to start learning about him is reading his Book.

Maybe you’re a new Christian, or maybe you’ve known Jesus for years. Maybe following God has never been your thing...but you’re interested. Regardless of where you are, one thing is for sure: you need God’s Word in your life.

This Bible is perfect for any girl who wants straightforward answers about God and clear explanations of what life is supposed to look like. The New Century Version is an accurate, reliable, and readable translation. You won’t get bogged down with confusing sentences and diffi cult words...this translation fl ows naturally and clearly.

Introduction

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Introduction vi

And not only is this Bible ultrareadable—it’s packed with awesome features to help you along the way:

Intros—Lay the groundwork for your reading by learning info about a book’s author, the date it was written, and important historical and cul-tural background—in a fun way. Zero in on an interesting character in the book, and pick up a cool idea to chat about with a friend.

Devos—Each of the 365 Devos unpacks a passage from Scripture and provides you with challenging lessons, serious life applications, and practical tips on living for God. Along with each Devo is a Scripture read-ing assignment that helps take you through the entire Bible, plus a quick context summary.

Big Pictures—The Bible’s meant to be one solid message from God. Avoid tunnel vision—see the big picture of each book, and fi nd out how it fi ts into the bigger picture of God’s overall message to us. Get real about your faith through thought-provoking questions and really get to know your Bible—tear into Scripture references showing how ideas in the Bible connect.

Bios—Learn from people who lived thousands of years ago! The Bios read like short stories and draw applications from fi fty fascinating Bible characters.

Worldviews—In a time when Christianity is under attack on all fronts, it’s crucial to remember that Christianity is more than just a religion...it’s a way of life. Learn how the Bible should be our foundation for how we view the world and how we live.

Relationships—Whether it’s a family issue or a cute guy you’re crazy about, there’s a godly way to handle any relationship question. Find lots of practical, Scripture-based advice here!

Quizzes—Test your knowledge and fi gure out what kind of person you are! These questions will get you thinking and motivate you to be honest with yourself about how it really is with you and God.

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introductionvii

Put It in Your Heart—Having God’s Word in a book is way cool, but why not take it to the next level? Memorize it and get it written on your heart!

Promises—Organized by topic, this is a very cool resource for fi nding out some of God’s unchanging truths.

Scavenger Hunt—Search out the answers for yourself! Discover vital scriptures about God and your relationship with him.

Talk to God—Learn the basics of prayer from examples of people in Scrip-ture who were truly close to God.

Virtue Building—Grow through studies about character qualities that all Christians should build into their lives.

This may look like just another book, but God’s Word is eternally true and powerfully alive—it reveals who we are, who God is, and how we should live.

Become a seeker of truth, and you’ll become a worshiper of God. Read through this Book at your own pace, taking time to soak in the life-giving message of God’s power and love. Fall more deeply in love with the God who reveals him-self to you in these pages. Make this the Book you live by, and grow into a real relationship with your Creator through Jesus, his Son. The more you know him, the more you’ll love him. Loving him will lead you to obey him. And as you obey him, you will become more like him.

Only a personal relationship with God will bring you the peace, meaning, and love that you’ve always needed. No matter what kind of girl you are, this Book will help you know the One who can answer your biggest questions, calm your deepest fears, and satisfy your longing soul.

—The Editors of The Revolve Devotional Bible

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acceptance, 34

accident, 160

accomplishments, 741, 1228

adultery, 460

adventure, 308

advice, 404, 515, 589, 729, 905, 1460, 1466

anger, 1156

annoying, 1427

antichrist, 1185

anxiety, 823

apologize, 160, 625

argue, 1467

assumptions, 265

attention, 327

authority, 325

bad day, 860

balance, 759, 771

beauty, 239, 729, 985

betrayal, 294Bible, reading the, 561, 973, 1058, 1471,

1478

Bible, study, 616, 995, 1230, 1549

blessings, 61, 483, 497, 1333

body of Christ, 61, 443, 1394

boyfriend, 1235, 1406

brothers, see siblings

bullies, 341

busy, 251

calling, of God, 69

celebration, 143

celebrity, see fame

character, 59

charity, 1188

Christian life, 1378, 1420

church, 1319, 1471

clique, 373, 1493

coffeehouse, 1437

comfort zone, 843

comfort, 648, 689

commitment, 317

community, 769

compassion, 599, 614

compassion, 945, 1097

complaint, 179

confession, 383

confi dence, 704, 705

confront, sin, 893, 1453

confronting sin, 443, 1363, 1453

contentment, 361, 635, 774, 805, 849

control, 823, 1088, 1097

courage, 85, 242, 413, 572, 574, 629

creation, 1, 380

dad, see parents

decisions, 404, 716

desire, for God, 667, 1234

disappointment, 288, 345, 896

discernment, 339, 1166

discrimination, 1449

disobedience, 270, 347, 497

diversity, 1400

divorce, 905

donate, 774

doubt, 863, 1231, 1244, 1313

dreams, 763

education, 730

ego, 356

Topical Index

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ix

embarrassed, 884encouragement, 242, 322, 1446, 1448,

1524

endurance, 802

envy, 29, 61

eternal life, 596

evangelism, see faith, sharing yours

evil, 418

excuses, 1385

fairness, 48, 196, 845, 898, 1275faith, 17, 31, 67, 243, 246, 260, 413, 437,

449, 523, 574, 843, 938, 1078, 1150, 1203, 1204, 1208, 1313, 1422, 1486,

1497, 1521, 1528

faith, bold, 1189faith, sharing yours, 529, 704, 780, 874,

964, 1502

faithfulness, to God, 301, 376, 538, 681

false gods, see idols

fame, 607, 1050

family, 463, 718, 1153fear, 170, 540, 629, 663, 705, 843, 942,

1101, 1539

feasts, 143

fellowship, 1308

fl irt, 798

focus, 251

foreigners, 147forgiveness, 29, 149, 369, 467, 625, 723,

874, 970, 1067, 1107, 1245, 1275, 1350

fortune-tellers, 139, 474

freedom, 158, 236, 1101, 1294, 1469

friends, 85, 589, 616, 718, 905, 1156

frustration, 179

future, 767

geek, 282

generosity, 411, 1188, 1247

genuine, 754

gifts, 61, 176, 390

glory, 503, 985, 1093, 1129

God, as Creator, 378

God, as Father, 210

God, as guide, 830

God, as Provider, 410

God, depend on, 675, 1312, 1411God, faithfulness of, 64, 198, 199, 228,

270, 451, 572, 953, 1051, 1060, 1067

God, glory, 124

God, hearing his voice, 275

God, image of, 1, 697

God, in control, 540, 620, 1539God, love, 34, 689, 786, 791, 856, 1135,

1199, 1257, 1338, 1517God, nature of, 93, 701, 728, 878, 991,

1011

God, power, 1213, 1536

God, promises, 539, 953

God, questioning him, 5, 593God, relationship with, 104, 152, 552,

571, 583, 981, 1003, 1172, 1194, 1211, 1285, 1289, 1315, 1439, 1463, 1519,

1521

God, revelation of, 845

God, serving him, 268

God, sovereignty of, 384, 583

God’s people, 114God’s plan, 56, 863, 896, 1018, 1093,

1095, 1115

God’s presence, 158, 564God’s will, 65, 170, 253, 653, 716, 811,

831, 1273

gods, see idols

Topical Index

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x

good vs. evil, 1047, 1297

gospel, 909, 1278, 1381, 1414, 1453grace, 42, 149, 152, 222, 433, 483, 486,

549, 645, 721, 793, 1078, 1259, 1363,

1411, 1469, 1490

gratitude, 1034

Great Commission, 1196, 1360

greed, 361, 1004

grief, 349

growing up, 79

guilt, 364, 1405

happiness, 645

hard heart, 434

heartache, 308

heaven, 870, 875, 1395, 1559

holiness, 99, 114, 115, 133, 643, 1430

Holy tent, 99, 115

honesty, 265

honor, 126

hope, 311, 345, 831, 966, 1087, 1243

horoscope, 139humility, 253, 282, 547, 582, 620, 710,

741, 1179

hurt, 56, 349, 364, 1109, 1376

hypocrite, 866

identity, 1153, 1224idols, 184, 273, 413, 438, 443, 849, 879,

881, 927, 950, 1054, 1062

impossible, 1358

infl uence, 293

injustice, 945, 966, 1115, 1142

insecurity, 327

integrity, 48, 294, 734, 866, 1255

jealousy, 331, 373, 681, 745

joy, 645, 1436

judging others, 601, 1363

judgment, 497, 808, 1070, 1125, 1293justice, 196, 225, 276, 604, 898, 1030,

1091

kindness, 341, 388

knowledge, God’s, 401

law, 106, 114, 152, 1490

lazy, 1087, 1092, 1443

leadership, 59, 65, 499, 521

learn, from others, 193

lie, 13, 369

light, 1280

listen, 672, 750, 1220

living water, 667, 794

loss, see hurt

love story, see romance

love, 88, 610, 785, 791, 1153, 1513, 1524

love, for God, 240, 1513

loyalty, 304, 1416

lust, 47, 293, 360, 791, 798

makeover, 1501

manipulation, 284

materialism, 1081

meditate, 622

memories, 246

mercy, 341, 483, 610, 645, 959, 1054

miracle, 246

mission, 1347

missionary, 1451

modesty, 293

mom, see parents

money, 176, 607, 729, 950, 977

motives, 726, 754, 1255

movies, 694

music, 82, 378, 481, 723

music, downloading, 88

nature, 380

Topical Index

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xi

needs, 635obedience, 5, 16, 23, 113, 116, 233, 347,

421, 451, 497, 538, 685, 710, 1328, 1483

old people, 508, 614

pain, see hurt

parents, 1, 207, 856, 931

passion, 1532

past, 1350, 1434

patience, 16, 179, 311, 586, 748, 920, 1509

peace, 745, 823, 854, 942, 1543

peer pressure, 215, 284, 1308

perfection, 814, 1434

perfectionist, 726persecution, 1041, 1163, 1326, 1461,

1505

persistence, 1240

perspective, 632, 659

plagiarizing, 88

pleasing God, 814

poor, 147, 912

popularity, see reputation

possessions, 774

potential, 1003, 1104

poverty, 147, 225, 430

praise, see worshipprayer, 179, 322, 424, 430, 499, 554, 920,

1205, 1223, 1451

prayer, answers to, 25, 451, 1334

prejudice, 1284, 1474, 1493pride, 547, 741, 958, 1004, 1124, 1125,

1172, 1178, 1353, 1425

priorities, 1143

prison, 1423

promises, God’s, 31, 1029

promises, keeping your, 1496

prophecy, 822

psychics, 474

pure, 569, 1166

purpose, 236, 577, 771, 782, 1128

questions, 1244

rape, 364rebellion, 1, 168, 459, 564, 661, 710, 793,

811, 878, 969, 1052, 1069, 1087, 1262

redemption, 269, 302, 308, 854

regret, 953, 1003, 1405

religion, 152, 1163repentance, 149, 534, 884, 889, 964, 1066,

1072, 1075, 1124, 1262

reputation, 305, 549, 607, 610

respect, 126

restoration, 1070, 1075, 1084, 1405

revenge, 1109, 1376

risk, 1204

role model, 1175, 1461romance, 302, 308, 309, 785, 786, 791,

792, 1338

rules, 401, 710, 931, 1483

Sabbath, 106sacrifi ce, 23, 116, 124, 310, 411, 486, 523,

1058, 1143, 1218, 1247, 1483sacrifi ce, Jesus’s, 99, 222, 718, 860, 1139,

1146, 1194, 1273, 1369, 1515

sadness, 964, 1268salvation, 433, 964, 1056, 1141, 1425,

1430, 1442, 1483, 1515

Satan, 581, 818, 836, 1559

satisfaction, see contentment

Second Coming, 1185, 1509, 1511, 1543

secret, 721, 909

self-centered, 166

self-image, 729

selfi sh, 187, 1303

Topical Index

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xii

self-pity, 336

self-worth, 33

servant, 1199, 1303, 1463

serving others, 718, 1329

set apart, 777, 981

sex, 47, 787, 791, 1387

shame, 168, 364, 741

siblings, 1, 44, 65

signifi cance, 1104

silence, 739sin, 222, 301, 360, 362, 433, 467, 486, 534,

549, 638, 721, 723, 874, 878, 884, 889, 893, 959, 970, 998, 1084, 1139, 1169,

1294, 1369, 1381, 1420

sisters, see siblings

slavery, 1472, 1474

spiritual life, 1013

stealing, 88

struggles, see trials

success, 59, 1095

talents, 741

talkative, 739, 903

temper, 748

Temple, 495, 498, 539, 1022

temptation, 184, 569, 805, 998, 1382

testimony, 1340, 1502

thanks, 166, 301, 704, 1062

theocracy, 1

thoughts, 734

time with God, 71, 1252, 1268

time, 766, 950, 977

tithe, 176, 486

treasure, 947trials, 85, 201, 276, 288, 554, 585, 626,

648, 689, 707, 837, 854, 966, 969, 1036,

1299, 1333, 1371, 1505

trouble, God’s help in, 42, 905trust, 8, 56, 79, 170, 269, 275, 304, 317,

626, 629, 655, 663, 680, 707, 938, 947,

1113, 1119, 1126, 1358, 1371, 1491

trustworthy, 294truth, 13, 336, 388, 437, 515, 903, 1230,

1313, 1413, 1486, 1496, 1510, 1519

unity, 1319, 1400, 1427

unknown, 767

unmotivated, 521

uptight, 707

victory, 581, 818, 836, 1385

violence, 364

virtue, 47

volunteer, 147, 225, 486, 912

vulnerable, 449

willingness, 1328

wisdom, 339, 390, 498, 661, 730, 768

women, 1246

women’s rights, 300work ethic, 25, 396, 455, 473, 493, 513,

523, 710, 726, 763, 766

works, 1422, 1498

worry, 823, 1257worship, 82, 273, 355, 378, 481, 627, 632,

640, 669, 691, 697, 923, 1454, 1536

youth, 207, 614, 1457, 1460

Topical Index

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God intended for everyone to be able to read and understand his Word. The Old Testament is written in Hebrew, the language of the people of Israel. Through the use of vivid stories based on real events and beautiful poetry, it appeals to the minds and hearts of the educated and the uneducated. The New Testament was fi rst written in the simple Greek of everyday life, not in the Latin of Roman courts or the classical Greek of the academies. Even Jesus, the Master Teacher, taught spiritual principles by comparing them to such familiar terms as pearls, seeds, rocks, trees, and sheep. Likewise, the New Century Ver-sion translates the Scriptures in familiar, everyday words of our times.

The New Century Version is a translation of God’s Word from the original Hebrew and Greek languages. A previous edition of the complete New Century Version, the International Children’s Bible, was published in 1986.

A Trustworthy Translation

Two basic premises guided the translation process of the New Century Ver-sion. The fi rst concern was that the translation be faithful to the manuscripts in the original languages. A team composed of the World Bible Translation Center and fi fty additional, highly qualifi ed and experienced Bible scholars and translators was assembled. The team included people with translation experi-ence on such accepted versions as the New International Version, the New American Standard Bible, and the New King James Version. The most recent scholarship and the best available Hebrew and Greek texts were used, princi-pally the third edition of the United Bible Societies’ Greek text and the latest edition of the Biblia Hebraica, along with the Septuagint.

A Clear Translation

The second concern was to make the language clear enough for anyone to read the Bible and understand it. In maintaining clear language, several guidelines were followed. Vocabulary choice has been based upon The Living Word Vocabulary by Dr. Edgar Dale and Dr. Joseph O’Rourke (Worldbook-Childcraft International, 1981), which is the standard used by the editors of The World Book Encyclopedia to determine appropriate vocabulary. For diffi cult words that have no simpler syn-onyms, footnotes, references, and dictionary defi nitions are provided. Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page and are indicated in the text by an n (for “note”).

preface

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xiv

The New Century Version aids understanding by putting concepts into natural terms. Modern measurements and geographical locations have been used as much as possible. For instance, terms such as “shekels,” “cubits,” “omer,” and “hin” have been converted to modern equivalents of weights and measures. Where geographical references are identical, the modern name has been used, such as the “Mediterranean Sea” instead of “Great Sea” or “Western Sea.” Also, to minimize confusion, the most familiar name for a place is used consistently instead of using variant names for the same place. “Lake Galilee” is used throughout the text rather than its variant forms, “Sea of Kinnereth,” “Lake Gennesaret,” and “Sea of Tiberias.”

Ancient customs are often unfamiliar to modern readers. Customs such as shaving a man’s beard to shame him or walking between the halves of a dead animal to seal an agreement are meaningless to most people today. So these are clarifi ed either in the text or in a footnote.

Since meanings of words change with time, care has been taken to avoid potential misunderstandings. Frequently in the Old Testament God tells his people to “devote” something to him, as when he tells the Israelites to devote Jericho and everything in it to him. While we might understand this to mean he is telling them to keep it safe and holy, the exact opposite is true. He is tell-ing them to destroy it totally as an offering to him. The New Century Version communicates the idea clearly by translating “devoted” in these situations as “destroyed as an offering to the LORD.”

Rhetorical questions in many instances have been stated according to their implied answer. The psalmist’s question “What god is so great as our God?” has been stated more directly as “No god is as great as our God.”

Figures of speech have been translated according to their meanings. For in-stance, the expression “the Virgin Daughter of Zion,” which is frequently used in the Old Testament, is simply translated “the people of Jerusalem.”

Idiomatic expressions of the biblical languages are translated to communicate the same meaning to today’s reader that would have been understood by the original audience. For example, the Hebrew idiom “he rested with his fathers” is translated by its meaning—“he died.”

Obscure terms have been clarifi ed. In the Old Testament God frequently condemns the people for their “high places” and “Asherah poles.” The New Century Version translates these according to their meanings, which would

preface

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have been understood by the Hebrews. “High places” is translated “places where gods were worshiped,” and “Asherah poles” is translated “Asherah idols.”

Gender language has been rendered in keeping with the principles of meaning-based translation. In the interest of providing the best rendering of the original Hebrew and Greek texts in contemporary English, appropriate gender terms are used whenever it is possible to do so without hindering clarity or accuracy. Masculine terms are used when the meaning of the original has to do with males, including references to deity and to male cultural situations such as the military and the priesthood. Feminine terms are used when the meaning of the original has to do with females. When the meaning of the original has to do with both males and females, nongendered terms are used. (In such cases, the masculine re-sumptive pronoun has sometimes been preferred to changing person or number.)

The divine name YHWH, the tetragrammaton, has been indicated in the New Century Version by putting “LORD,” and sometimes “GOD,” in capital letters, following the tradition of other English versions. This is to distinguish it from Adonai, another Hebrew word that is translated “Lord.”

Proper English style has been maintained while clarifying concepts and com-munication. The beauty of the Hebrew parallelism in poetry and the word-plays have been retained, and the images of the ancient languages have been captured in equivalent English images wherever possible.

Study Aids

Other features to enhance understanding of the text include subject head-ings throughout the text to identify speakers and topics, book subheadings to give a synopsis of each book’s theme, a dictionary with a topical concordance of biblical words and concepts, and footnotes offering additional information on selected verses.

Our Prayer

It is with great humility and prayerfulness that this Bible is presented. We acknowledge the infallibility of God’s Word, as well as our own human frailty. We pray that God has worked through us as his vessels so that we all might better learn his truth for ourselves and that it might richly grow in our lives. It is to his glory that this Bible is given.

—The Publisher

preface

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The name John means “God is merciful.”

PERSON HOLDING THE PEN GOD WROTEWITH: John, who often calls himself “thefollower Jesus loved,” wrote this book. Hisolder brother James was also one of theoriginal twelve apostles (Jesus’ closestfollowers).

WHEN THE PEN HIT THE PAPER: BetweenA.D. 80 and A.D. 90, approximately fifty yearsafter he’d witnessed the earthly ministry ofJesus.

SECOND-GLANCECHARACTER: Joseph fromArimathea, who’s mentionedin all four Gospels (Matthew27:57; Mark 15:42–43; Luke23:50–51; John 19:38), was arich member of the Jewishcouncil, which was like theJewish Supreme Court.Joseph’s powerful buddieshated Jesus, yet he believedin him. And Joseph risked hisreputation—possibly evenhis life—to give the Messiaha decent burial.

WHO GOT THE WORD: NewChristians, many of whom were beingpersecuted because the culture theylived in was very opposed to theirbeliefs.

WHAT WENT DOWN: John shares quite a few stories that Matthew, Mark, and Luke don’t.He tells about the time when Jesus single-handedly prevented a wedding day disaster byturning ordinary water into wine (John 2:1–10), when he compassionately raised Lazarusfrom death to life (John 11:1–44), and when he had a long, loaded talk with his twelvefollowers the night before he was crucified (John 13:1—16:33). John’s also the only Gospelauthor to call Jesus both the “Word of God” and the “Lamb of God.” John said he wroteabout Jesus so other people could “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” andcould “have life through his name” (John 20:31). He truly desired others to know the loveof God he’d experienced through Christ!

CHAT TIME: Chapter 5 covers an event thatmakes a strong argument for how muchpeople need God (John 5:1–9). Jesus asks asick guy, “Do you want to be well?” At firstglance, this question seems insensitive sincethis poor dude had been lying by a “healingpool,” seeking a miracle, for thirty-eightyears! But Jesus wasn’t being rude; he wasteaching the man that he couldn’t get well byhimself. He needed divine help! As soon asthe sick man admitted his weakness, Jesushealed him. Talk about the main idea of thispassage—that self-sufficiency only bringstrouble (even though it’s the opposite of whatour “do-it-yourself” society says is right).

opopopopopopopopopopJohn

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Christ Comes to the World

1 In the beginning there was the Word.n TheWord was with God, and the Word was

God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Allthings were made by him, and nothing wasmade without him. 4In him there was life, andthat life was the light of all people. 5The Lightshines in the darkness, and the darkness hasnot overpoweredn it.

6There was a man named Johnn who wassent by God. 7He came to tell people the truthabout the Light so that through him all peoplecould hear about the Light and believe. 8John

was not the Light, but he came to tell peoplethe truth about the Light. 9The true Light thatgives light to all was coming into the world!

10The Word was in the world, and theworld was made by him, but the world did notknow him. 11He came to the world that was hisown, but his own people did not accept him.12But to all who did accept him and believe inhim he gave the right to become children ofGod. 13They did not become his children in anyhuman way—by any human parents orhuman desire. They were born of God.

14The Word became a human and lived

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1:1 Word The Greek word is “logos,” meaning any kind of communication; it could be translated “message.” Here, it meansChrist, because Christ was the way God told people about himself. 1:5 overpowered This can also be translated, “under-stood.” 1:6 John John the Baptist, who preached to people about Christ’s coming (Matthew 3, Luke 3).

BopopopopopopopopopoPicture a world without light.

We wouldn’t be able to read,write, drive, run, bike, or dance.We’d stumble into everything inour path. We wouldn’t be able tosee each other or ourselves. We

wouldn’t be able to drink inbeauty with our eyes. The world would be joyless and blank.Come to think of it, without light, earth would be a barrenwasteland. A planet without sunlight would be devoid ofplants, therefore devoid of oxygen, and therefore unable tosustain life. (Besides, it would be way too stinkin’ cold tolive on!)

John is obsessed with light. Of the seventy-two times thatthe Greek word for “light” appears in the New Testament,thirty-three of them are in John’s Gospel. Throughout John,the words “light” and “life” are used interchangeably.Photosynthesis may not have been discovered until theeighteenth century, but John clearly understands thatwithout light, there’s no life. John says that Jesus’ life is alight to all people, and his light is what gives us real life.Dude, talk about deep!

When we choose to follow Jesus, he rescues us from thechaotic spiritual darkness of this world. His light changes us, directs us, and gives us life. Have you been MissIndependent, groping around in the dark and trying hard todo this life thing on your own? In reality, we need God asdesperately as this world needs light. Take some time toreflect on this truth and bask in God’s life-giving light.

CHECK OUTTHE CONTEXT:

(Read John 1—2)

Jesus is eternal. Jesus is life. Jesus is God.

John lets the cat out of the bag

about Jesus being God.

Jesus picks his circle of friends.

Hip hip hooray! Jesus saves thewedding day!

Jesus gets angry whenthe Temple turns into a

shopping mall.

DAILY DEVOSLIGHT = LIFEJOHN 1:4

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among us. We saw his glory—the glory that be-longs to the only Son of the Father—and hewas full of grace and truth. 15John tells thetruth about him and cries out, saying, “This isthe One I told you about: ‘The One who comesafter me is greater than I am, because he wasliving before me.’”

16Because he was full of grace and truth,from him we all received one gift after another.17The law was given through Moses, but graceand truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No onehas ever seen God. But God the only Son is veryclose to the Father,n and he has shown us whatGod is like.

John Tells People About Jesus19Here is the truth Johnn told when the

leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites toask him, “Who are you?”

20John spoke freely and did not refuse toanswer. He said, “I am not the Christ.”

21So they asked him, “Then who are you?Are you Elijah?”n

He answered, “No, I am not.”“Are you the Prophet?”n they asked.He answered, “No.”22Then they said, “Who are you? Give us an

answer to tell those who sent us. What do yousay about yourself?”

23John told them in the words of theprophet Isaiah:

“I am the voice of onecalling out in the desert:

‘Make the road straight for the Lord.’”Isaiah 40:3

24Some Pharisees who had been sent askedJohn: 25“If you are not the Christ or Elijah orthe Prophet, why do you baptize people?”

26John answered, “I baptize with water, butthere is one here with you that you don’t knowabout. 27He is the One who comes after me. Iam not good enough to untie the strings of hissandals.”

28This all happened at Bethany on the

other side of the Jordan River, where John wasbaptizing people.

29The next day John saw Jesus coming to-ward him. John said, “Look, the Lamb of God,n

who takes away the sin of the world! 30This isthe One I was talking about when I said, ‘Aman will come after me, but he is greater thanI am, because he was living before me.’ 31Even Idid not know who he was, although I camebaptizing with water so that the people of Is-rael would know who he is.”

32-33Then John said, “I saw the Spirit comedown from heaven in the form of a dove andrest on him. Until then I did not know who theChrist was. But the God who sent me to bap-tize with water told me, ‘You will see the Spiritcome down and rest on a man; he is the Onewho will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34I haveseen this happen, and I tell you the truth: Thisman is the Son of God.”n

The First Followers of Jesus35The next day Johnn was there again

with two of his followers. 36When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb ofGod!”n

37The two followers heard John say this, sothey followed Jesus. 38When Jesus turned andsaw them following him, he asked, “What areyou looking for?”

They said, “Rabbi, where are you staying?”(“Rabbi” means “Teacher.”)

39He answered, “Come and see.” So the twomen went with Jesus and saw where he wasstaying and stayed there with him that day. Itwas about four o’clock in the afternoon.

40One of the two men who followed Jesusafter they heard John speak about him was An-drew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41The first thingAndrew did was to find his brother Simon andsay to him, “We have found the Messiah.”(“Messiah” means “Christ.”)

42Then Andrew took Simon to Jesus. Jesuslooked at him and said, “You are Simon son of

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1:18 But . . . Father This could be translated, “But the only God is very close to the Father.” Also, some Greek copies read“But the only Son is very close to the Father.” 1:19, 35 John John the Baptist, who preached to people about Christ’s com-ing (Matthew 3, Luke 3). 1:21 Elijah A prophet who spoke for God. He lived hundreds of years before Christ and was ex-pected to return before Christ (Malachi 4:5–6). 1:21 Prophet They probably meant the prophet that God told Moses hewould send (Deuteronomy 18:15–19). 1:29, 36 Lamb of God Name for Jesus. Jesus is like the lambs that were offered for asacrifice to God. 1:34 the Son of God Some Greek copies read “God’s Chosen One.”

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John. You will be called Cephas.” (“Cephas”means “Peter.”n)

43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Fol-low me.”

44Philip was from the town of Bethsaida,where Andrew and Peter lived. 45Philip foundNathanael and told him, “We have found theman that Moses wrote about in the law, andthe prophets also wrote about him. He is Jesus,the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”

46But Nathanael said to Philip, “Can any-thing good come from Nazareth?”

Philip answered, “Come and see.”47As Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward

him, he said, “Here is truly an Israelite. There isnothing false in him.”

48Nathanael asked, “How do you know me?”Jesus answered, “I saw you when you were

under the fig tree, before Philip told you about me.”

49Then Nathanael said to Jesus, “Teacher,you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”

50Jesus said to Nathanael, “Do you believesimply because I told you I saw you under thefig tree? You will see greater things than that.”51And Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth,you will all see heaven open and ‘angels of Godgoing up and coming down’n on the Son ofMan.”

The Wedding at Cana

2 Two days later there was a wedding in thetown of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother

was there, 2and Jesus and his followers werealso invited to the wedding. 3When all thewine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him,“They have no more wine.”

4Jesus answered, “Dear woman, why cometo me? My time has not yet come.”

5His mother said to the servants, “Do what-ever he tells you to do.”

6In that place there were six stone waterjars that the Jews used in their washing cere-mony.n Each jar held about twenty or thirtygallons.

7Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jarswith water.” So they filled the jars to the top.

8Then he said to them, “Now take some outand give it to the master of the feast.”

So they took the water to the master.9When he tasted it, the water had becomewine. He did not know where the wine camefrom, but the servants who had brought thewater knew. The master of the wedding calledthe bridegroom 10and said to him, “People al-ways serve the best wine first. Later, after theguests have been drinking awhile, they servethe cheaper wine. But you have saved the bestwine till now.”

11So in Cana of Galilee Jesus did his firstmiracle. There he showed his glory, and his fol-lowers believed in him.

Jesus in the Temple12After this, Jesus went to the town of Ca-

pernaum with his mother, brothers, and fol-lowers. They stayed there for just a few days.13When it was almost time for the Jewish Pass-over Feast, Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14In theTemple he found people selling cattle, sheep,and doves. He saw others sitting at tables, ex-changing different kinds of money. 15Jesusmade a whip out of cords and forced all ofthem, both the sheep and cattle, to leave theTemple. He turned over the tables and scat-tered the money of those who were exchang-ing it. 16Then he said to those who were sellingpigeons, “Take these things out of here! Don’tmake my Father’s house a place for buying andselling!”

17When this happened, the followers re-membered what was written in the Scriptures:“My strong love for your Temple completelycontrols me.”n

18Some of his people said to Jesus, “Showus a miracle to prove you have the right to dothese things.”

19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this tem-ple, and I will build it again in three days.”

20They answered, “It took forty-six years tobuild this Temple! Do you really believe youcan build it again in three days?”

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1:42 Peter The Greek name “Peter,” like the Aramaic name “Cephas,” means “rock.” 1:51 ‘angels . . . down’ These wordsare from Genesis 28:12. 2:6 washing ceremony The Jewish people washed themselves in special ways before eating, be-fore worshiping in the Temple, and at other special times. 2:17 “My . . . me.” Quotation from Psalm 69:9.

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21(But the temple Jesus meant was his ownbody. 22After Jesus was raised from the dead,his followers remembered that Jesus had saidthis. Then they believed the Scripture and thewords Jesus had said.)

23When Jesus was in Jerusalem for thePassover Feast, many people believed in himbecause they saw the miracles he did. 24ButJesus did not believe in them because he knewthem all. 25He did not need anyone to tell himabout people, because he knew what was inpeople’s minds.

Nicodemus Comes to Jesus

3 There was a man named Nicodemus whowas one of the Pharisees and an impor-

tant Jewish leader. 2One night Nicodemuscame to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we know youare a teacher sent from God, because no onecan do the miracles you do unless God is withhim.”

3Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, un-less you are born again, you cannot be in God’skingdom.”

4Nicodemus said, “But if a person is alreadyold, how can he be born again? He cannotenter his mother’s womb again. So how can aperson be born a second time?”

5But Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth,unless you are born from water and the Spirit,you cannot enter God’s kingdom. 6Human life

comes from human parents, but spiritual lifecomes from the Spirit. 7Don’t be surprisedwhen I tell you, ‘You must all be born again.’8The wind blows where it wants to and youhear the sound of it, but you don’t know wherethe wind comes from or where it is going. It is

the same with every person who is born fromthe Spirit.”

9Nicodemus asked, “How can this hap-pen?”

10Jesus said, “You are an important teacherin Israel, and you don’t understand thesethings? 11I tell you the truth, we talk aboutwhat we know, and we tell about what wehave seen, but you don’t accept what we tellyou. 12I have told you about things here onearth, and you do not believe me. So you willnot believe me if I tell you about things ofheaven. 13The only one who has ever gone upto heaven is the One who came down fromheaven—the Son of Man.n

14“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in thedesert,n the Son of Man must also be lifted up.15So that everyone who believes can have eter-nal life in him.

16“God loved the world so much that hegave his one and only Son so that whoever be-lieves in him may not be lost, but have eternallife. 17God did not send his Son into the worldto judge the world guilty, but to save the worldthrough him. 18People who believe in God’sSon are not judged guilty. Those who do notbelieve have already been judged guilty, be-cause they have not believed in God’s one andonly Son. 19They are judged by this fact: TheLight has come into the world, but they did notwant light. They wanted darkness, becausethey were doing evil things. 20All who do evilhate the light and will not come to the light,because it will show all the evil things they do.21But those who follow the true way come tothe light, and it shows that the things they dowere done through God.”

Jesus and John the Baptist22After this, Jesus and his followers went

into the area of Judea, where he stayed with hisfollowers and baptized people. 23John was alsobaptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because therewas plenty of water there. People were goingthere to be baptized. 24(This was before Johnwas put into prison.)

25Some of John’s followers had an

1283 john 3:25

3:13 the Son of Man Some Greek copies continue, “who is in heaven.” 3:14 Moses . . . desert When the Israelites weredying from snakebites, God told Moses to put a bronze snake on a pole. The people who looked at the snake were healed(Numbers 21:4–9).

“I tell you the truth,

unless you are born from water

and the Spirit, you cannot enter

God’s kingdom.”

JOHN 3:5

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argument with a Jew about religious washing.n26So they came to John and said, “Teacher, re-member the man who was with you on theother side of the Jordan River, the one youspoke about so much? He is baptizing, andeveryone is going to him.”

27John answered, “A man can get only whatGod gives him. 28You yourselves heard me say,‘I am not the Christ, but I am the one sent toprepare the way for him.’ 29The bride belongsonly to the bridegroom. But the friend whohelps the bridegroom stands by and listens tohim. He is thrilled that he gets to hear the

bridegroom’s voice. In the same way, I amreally happy. 30He must become greater, and Imust become less important.

The One Who Comes fromHeaven

31“The One who comes from above isgreater than all. The one who is from the earthbelongs to the earth and talks about things onthe earth. But the One who comes from heavenis greater than all. 32He tells what he has seenand heard, but no one accepts what he says.33Whoever accepts what he says has proven

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3:25 religious washing The Jewish people washed themselves in special ways before eating, before worshiping in the Tem-ple, and at other special times.

BopopopopopopopopopoIs there a part of town you

avoid? Or maybe there’s a certainhallway at school that you steerclear of because you don’t wantto be associated with “those”people. Whether we’re honest

about it or not, we all wrestle withdiscrimination. We grow up learning that certain groups ofpeople should be shunned—the poor, the rich, African-Americans, Caucasians, Republicans, Democrats,prostitutes, homosexuals, the homeless, or even thementally ill.

Leave it to Jesus to break through every cultural andsocial barrier. He takes the road less traveled when he treksthrough Samaria to meet this woman. Most Jews went milesout of their way to avoid bumping into Samaritans. Jewsdespised the Samaritans, calling them “inferior half-breeds.” Plus, it was taboo for a Jewish teacher to conversewith any woman—let alone a sexually promiscuous one—inpublic. Yet Jesus’ all-embracing love compels him to meetthis Samaritan woman and offer her eternal life.

Jesus’ life showed that his love for people does notchange. We often choose to hang out with people who are“safe” and comfortable, people who look like us, talk likeus, and think like us. Are you willing to love without borderslike Jesus did, regardless of what your friends—even yourChristian friends—might say? God’s love is for everyone, andso is his truth. Show God’s love . . . and people will actuallyhear you when you share the Good News that Jesus came tosave us from sin and darkness!

CHECK OUTTHE CONTEXT:

(Read John 3—5)

Nicodemus sneaks outat night to chat with

Jesus. Shhh!

John the Baptist humblyputs Jesus on hisrightful pedestal.

The Samaritan womanhas a date with

destiny—Jacob’s well athigh noon.

Jesus heals and gets introuble for it.

DAILY DEVOSLOVE WITHOUT BORDERSJOHN 4:9

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that God is true. 34The One whom God sentspeaks the words of God, because God giveshim the Spirit fully. 35The Father loves the Sonand has given him power over everything.36Those who believe in the Son have eternallife, but those who do not obey the Son willnever have life. God’s anger stays on them.”

Jesus and a Samaritan Woman

4 The Pharisees heard that Jesus was mak-ing and baptizing more followers than

John, 2although Jesus himself did not baptizepeople, but his followers did. 3Jesus knew thatthe Pharisees had heard about him, so he leftJudea and went back to Galilee. 4But on theway he had to go through the country of Sa-maria.

5In Samaria Jesus came to the town calledSychar, which is near the field Jacob gave to hisson Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there. Jesus wastired from his long trip, so he sat down besidethe well. It was about twelve o’clock noon.7When a Samaritan woman came to the wellto get some water, Jesus said to her, “Please giveme a drink.” 8(This happened while Jesus’ fol-lowers were in town buying some food.)

9The woman said, “I am surprised that youask me for a drink, since you are a Jewish manand I am a Samaritan woman.” (Jewish peopleare not friends with Samaritans.n)

10Jesus said, “If you only knew the free giftof God and who it is that is asking you forwater, you would have asked him, and hewould have given you living water.”

11The woman said, “Sir, where will you getthis living water? The well is very deep, andyou have nothing to get water with. 12Are yougreater than Jacob, our father, who gave us thiswell and drank from it himself along with hissons and flocks?”

13Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinksthis water will be thirsty again, 14but whoeverdrinks the water I give will never be thirsty.The water I give will become a spring of watergushing up inside that person, giving eternallife.”

15The woman said to him, “Sir, give me thiswater so I will never be thirsty again and willnot have to come back here to get more water.”

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TheWoman atthe Well

The other women draw water in themorning, but not her. She comes whenno one will be at the well—so that therewill be no looks of disgust ordisapproval. She’d rather deal with theheat than scorching words. As sheapproaches, she notices a man isalready there. He seems to be Jewishand she’s relieved. The Jews hateSamaritans, and she’s happy that she’llprobably be ignored for once.

“Please give me a drink.” She stopsher work and looks over her shoulder.Surely, he’s not talking to me. But theyare alone. In case he hasn’t noticed,she quickly points out that she’s aSamaritan woman. “Go get yourhusband and come back here,” he says.

“I have no husband,” she repliessoftly. Her mind races as he tells hershe has had five husbands and the manshe’s living with now is not her husbandat all. What kind of Jew is he? shewonders.

She tries to change the subject,bringing up disagreements betweenJews and Samaritans, but he won’t besidetracked. “When the Messiah comes,he will explain everything to us,” shesays, hoping to end the conversation.

“I am he—I, the one talking to you.”He has revealed himself to her? ASamaritan woman? A sinner? She doesnot wait but runs into town announcingher encounter with the Savior.

Jesus knows about our messed uplives, yet he still invites us into a deeperrelationship with him.

4:9 Jewish people . . . Samaritans. This can also be translated “Jewish people don’t use things that Samaritans have used.”

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16Jesus told her, “Go get your husband andcome back here.”

17The woman answered, “I have no hus-band.”

Jesus said to her, “You are right to say youhave no husband. 18Really you have had fivehusbands, and the man you live with now isnot your husband. You told the truth.”

19The woman said, “Sir, I can see that youare a prophet. 20Our ancestors worshiped onthis mountain, but you say that Jerusalem isthe place where people must worship.”

21Jesus said, “Believe me, woman. The timeis coming when neither in Jerusalem nor onthis mountain will you actually worship theFather. 22You Samaritans worship somethingyou don’t understand. We understand what weworship, because salvation comes from theJews. 23The time is coming when the true wor-shipers will worship the Father in spirit andtruth, and that time is here already. You see,the Father too is actively seeking such peopleto worship him. 24God is spirit, and those whoworship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

25The woman said, “I know that theMessiah is coming.” (Messiah is the One calledChrist.) “When the Messiah comes, he will ex-plain everything to us.”

26Then Jesus said, “I am he—I, the one talk-ing to you.”

27Just then his followers came back fromtown and were surprised to see him talkingwith a woman. But none of them asked, “Whatdo you want?” or “Why are you talking withher?”

28Then the woman left her water jar andwent back to town. She said to the people,29“Come and see a man who told me every-thing I ever did. Do you think he might be theChrist?” 30So the people left the town and wentto see Jesus.

31Meanwhile, his followers were begginghim, “Teacher, eat something.”

32But Jesus answered, “I have food to eatthat you know nothing about.”

33So the followers asked themselves, “Didsomebody already bring him food?”

34Jesus said, “My food is to do what the Onewho sent me wants me to do and to finish his

work. 35You have a saying, ‘Four more monthstill harvest.’ But I tell you, open your eyes andlook at the fields ready for harvest now. 36Al-ready, the one who harvests is being paid andis gathering crops for eternal life. So the onewho plants and the one who harvests celebrateat the same time. 37Here the saying is true, ‘Oneperson plants, and another harvests.’ 38I sentyou to harvest a crop that you did not work on.Others did the work, and you get to finish uptheir work.”n

39Many of the Samaritans in that town be-lieved in Jesus because of what the womansaid: “He told me everything I ever did.”40When the Samaritans came to Jesus, theybegged him to stay with them, so he stayedthere two more days. 41And many more be-lieved because of the things he said.

42They said to the woman, “First we be-lieved in Jesus because of what you said, butnow we believe because we heard him our-selves. We know that this man really is theSavior of the world.”

Jesus Heals an Officer’s Son43Two days later, Jesus left and went to Gal-

ilee. 44(Jesus had said before that a prophet isnot respected in his own country.) 45WhenJesus arrived in Galilee, the people there wel-comed him. They had seen all the things he didat the Passover Feast in Jerusalem, because theyhad been there, too.

46Jesus went again to visit Cana in Galileewhere he had changed the water into wine.One of the king’s important officers lived inthe city of Capernaum, and his son was sick.47When he heard that Jesus had come fromJudea to Galilee, he went to Jesus and beggedhim to come to Capernaum and heal his son,because his son was almost dead. 48Jesus said tohim, “You people must see signs and miraclesbefore you will believe in me.”

49The officer said, “Sir, come before mychild dies.”

50Jesus answered, “Go. Your son will live.”The man believed what Jesus told him and

went home. 51On the way the man’s servantscame and met him and told him, “Your son isalive.”

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4:38 I . . . their work. As a farmer sends workers to harvest grain, Jesus sends his followers out to bring people to God.

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52The man asked, “What time did my sonbegin to get well?”

They answered, “Yesterday at one o’clockthe fever left him.”

53The father knew that one o’clock was theexact time that Jesus had said, “Your son willlive.” So the man and all the people who livedin his house believed in Jesus.

54That was the second miracle Jesus didafter coming from Judea to Galilee.

Jesus Heals a Man at a Pool

5 Later Jesus went to Jerusalem for a specialfeast. 2In Jerusalem there is a pool with

five covered porches, which is called Bethesdan

in the Hebrew language.n This pool is near theSheep Gate. 3Many sick people were lying onthe porches beside the pool. Some were blind,some were crippled, and some were paralyzed[, and they waited for the water to move.4Sometimes an angel of the Lord came down tothe pool and stirred up the water. After theangel did this, the first person to go into thepool was healed from any sickness he had].n 5Aman was lying there who had been sick forthirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw the manand knew that he had been sick for such a longtime, Jesus asked him, “Do you want to bewell?”

7The sick man answered, “Sir, there is noone to help me get into the pool when thewater starts moving. While I am coming to thewater, someone else always gets in before me.”

8Then Jesus said, “Stand up. Pick up yourmat and walk.” 9And immediately the man waswell; he picked up his mat and began to walk.

The day this happened was a Sabbath day.10So the Jews said to the man who had beenhealed, “Today is the Sabbath. It is against ourlaw for you to carry your mat on the Sabbathday.”

11But he answered, “The man who mademe well told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”

12Then they asked him, “Who is the manwho told you to pick up your mat and walk?”

13But the man who had been healed didnot know who it was, because there were

many people in that place, and Jesus had left.

14Later, Jesus found the man at the Templeand said to him, “See, you are well now. Stopsinning so that something worse does not hap-pen to you.”

15Then the man left and told his peoplethat Jesus was the one who had made himwell.

16Because Jesus was doing this on the Sab-bath day, some evil people began to persecutehim. 17But Jesus said to them, “My Father neverstops working, and so I keep working, too.”

18This made them try still harder to killhim. They said, “First Jesus was breaking thelaw about the Sabbath day. Now he says thatGod is his own Father, making himself equalwith God!”

Jesus Has God’s Authority19But Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, the

Son can do nothing alone. The Son does onlywhat he sees the Father doing, because the Sondoes whatever the Father does. 20The Fatherloves the Son and shows the Son all the thingshe himself does. But the Father will show theSon even greater things than this so that youcan all be amazed. 21Just as the Father raises thedead and gives them life, so also the Son giveslife to those he wants to. 22In fact, the Fatherjudges no one, but he has given the Son powerto do all the judging 23so that all people willhonor the Son as much as they honor the Fa-ther. Anyone who does not honor the Son doesnot honor the Father who sent him.

24“I tell you the truth, whoever hears whatI say and believes in the One who sent me haseternal life. That person will not be judgedguilty but has already left death and enteredlife. 25I tell you the truth, the time is comingand is already here when the dead will hear thevoice of the Son of God, and those who hearwill have life. 26Life comes from the Fatherhimself, and he has allowed the Son to havelife in himself as well. 27And the Father hasgiven the Son the approval to judge, becausehe is the Son of Man. 28Don’t be surprised at

1287 john 5:28

5:2 Bethesda Some Greek copies read “Bethzatha” or “Bethsaida,” different names for the pool of Bethesda. 5:2 Hebrewlanguage Or Aramaic, the languages of many people in this region in the first century. 5:3–4 and . . . had Some Greekcopies do not contain all or most of the bracketed text.

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this: A time is coming when all who are deadand in their graves will hear his voice. 29Thenthey will come out of their graves. Those whodid good will rise and have life forever, butthose who did evil will rise to be judged guilty.

Jesus Is God’s Son30“I can do nothing alone. I judge only the

way I am told, so my judgment is fair. I don’ttry to please myself, but I try to please the Onewho sent me.

31“If only I tell people about myself, what Isay is not true. 32But there is another who tellsabout me, and I know that the things he saysabout me are true.

33“You have sent people to John, and he hastold you the truth. 34It is not that I need whathumans say; I tell you this so you can be saved.35John was like a burning and shining lamp,and you were happy to enjoy his light for awhile.

36“But I have a proof about myself that isgreater than that of John. The things I do,which are the things my Father gave me to do,prove that the Father sent me. 37And the Fatherhimself who sent me has given proof aboutme. You have never heard his voice or seenwhat he looks like. 38His teaching does not livein you, because you don’t believe in the Onethe Father sent. 39You carefully study the Scrip-tures because you think they give you eternallife. They do in fact tell about me, 40but you re-fuse to come to me to have that life.

41“I don’t need praise from people. 42But Iknow you—I know that you don’t have God’slove in you. 43I have come from my Father andspeak for him, but you don’t accept me. Butwhen another person comes, speaking only forhimself, you will accept him. 44You try to getpraise from each other, but you do not try toget the praise that comes from the only God.So how can you believe? 45Don’t think that Iwill stand before the Father and say you arewrong. The one who says you are wrong isMoses, the one you hoped would save you. 46Ifyou really believed Moses, you would believeme, because Moses wrote about me. 47But ifyou don’t believe what Moses wrote, how canyou believe what I say?”

More than Five Thousand Fed

6 After this, Jesus went across Lake Galilee(or, Lake Tiberias). 2Many people followed

him because they saw the miracles he did toheal the sick. 3Jesus went up on a hill and satdown there with his followers. 4It was almostthe time for the Jewish Passover Feast.

5When Jesus looked up and saw a largecrowd coming toward him, he said to Philip,“Where can we buy enough bread for all thesepeople to eat?” 6(Jesus asked Philip this ques-tion to test him, because Jesus already knewwhat he planned to do.)

7Philip answered, “Someone would have towork almost a year to buy enough bread foreach person to have only a little piece.”

8Another one of his followers, Andrew,Simon Peter’s brother, said, 9“Here is a boy withfive loaves of barley bread and two little fish,but that is not enough for so many people.”

10Jesus said, “Tell the people to sit down.”There was plenty of grass there, and about fivethousand men sat down there. 11Then Jesustook the loaves of bread, thanked God forthem, and gave them to the people who weresitting there. He did the same with the fish,giving as much as the people wanted.

12When they had all had enough to eat,Jesus said to his followers, “Gather the leftoverpieces of fish and bread so that nothing iswasted.” 13So they gathered up the pieces andfilled twelve baskets with the pieces left fromthe five barley loaves.

14When the people saw this miracle thatJesus did, they said, “He must truly be theProphetn who is coming into the world.”

15Jesus knew that the people planned tocome and take him by force and make himtheir king, so he left and went into the hillsalone.

Jesus Walks on the Water16That evening Jesus’ followers went down

to Lake Galilee. 17It was dark now, and Jesushad not yet come to them. The followers gotinto a boat and started across the lake to Caper-naum. 18By now a strong wind was blowing,and the waves on the lake were getting bigger.19When they had rowed the boat about three

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6:14 Prophet They probably meant the prophet that God told Moses he would send (Deuteronomy 18:15–19).

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or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on thewater, coming toward the boat. The followerswere afraid, 20but Jesus said to them, “It is I. Donot be afraid.” 21Then they were glad to takehim into the boat. At once the boat came toland at the place where they wanted to go.

The People Seek Jesus22The next day the people who had stayed

on the other side of the lake knew that Jesushad not gone in the boat with his followers butthat they had left without him. And they knewthat only one boat had been there. 23But thensome boats came from Tiberias and landednear the place where the people had eaten thebread after the Lord had given thanks. 24When

the people saw that Jesus and his followerswere not there now, they got into boats andwent to Capernaum to find Jesus.

Jesus, the Bread of Life25When the people found Jesus on the

other side of the lake, they asked him,“Teacher, when did you come here?”

26Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, youaren’t looking for me because you saw me domiracles. You are looking for me because youate the bread and were satisfied. 27Don’t workfor the food that spoils. Work for the food thatstays good always and gives eternal life. TheSon of Man will give you this food, because onhim God the Father has put his power.”

1289 john 6:27

BopopopopopopopopopoHave you ever inhaled an

entire bag of potato chips orcookies and still been hungryafterward? Technically speaking,you’ve just consumed about twothousand calories; that’s enoughcalories to keep you full for

twenty-four hours. So why isn’t your body satisfied? Thosecalories you’ve just devoured are totally empty, lacking anynutritional content whatsoever. Your body is still craving realfood with real nutrients.

Jesus uses a brilliant food metaphor in the sixth chapterof John. He has just fed the five thousand the day before, sopeople are well aware that Jesus is able to provide for theirphysical needs. Jesus takes it a step further, announcingthat he can dish out spiritual food for all who come to him.And we’re talking nutrient-packed, hard-core fuel for thesoul. This ain’t no wimpy cookie or greasy chip. Jesussatisfies what our insides are crying out for. He’s all thatwe’re designed to need . . . he’s enough!

Jesus knew that people were “getting life” from stuff thatwouldn’t keep them satisfied. We do the same thing. We tryto fill up our souls with an assortment of spiritual junk food:attention from guys, approval from friends, or success inacademics, sports, or the arts. If these methods fail, we trynumbing our souls with music, TV, the Internet, food,alcohol, drugs, etc. These things may be able to provide atemporary “high,” but they always leave us yearning formore. So what have you been feasting on—junk food orJesus?

CHECK OUTTHE CONTEXT:

(Read John 6—7)

Jesus and his pals havedinner. (Oh, and theyinvite a few thousand

friends, too.)

Jesus goes out for a little stroll

on the lake.

The Bread of Lifespeech . . .

something for thepeople to chew on.

Jesus gets thePharisees all riled up,

as always.

DAILY DEVOSJUNK FOOD FOR THE SOULJOHN 6:35

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28The people asked Jesus, “What are thethings God wants us to do?”

29Jesus answered, “The work God wantsyou to do is this: Believe the One he sent.”

30So the people asked, “What miracle willyou do? If we see a miracle, we will believe you.What will you do? 31Our ancestors ate themanna in the desert. This is written in the Scrip-tures: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”n

32Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, it was notMoses who gave you bread from heaven; it ismy Father who is giving you the true breadfrom heaven. 33God’s bread is the One whocomes down from heaven and gives life to theworld.”

34The people said, “Sir, give us this bread al-ways.”

35Then Jesus said, “I am the bread thatgives life. Whoever comes to me will never behungry, and whoever believes in me will neverbe thirsty. 36But as I told you before, you haveseen me and still don’t believe. 37The Fathergives me the people who are mine. Every oneof them will come to me, and I will always ac-cept them. 38I came down from heaven to dowhat God wants me to do, not what I want todo. 39Here is what the One who sent me wantsme to do: I must not lose even one whom Godgave me, but I must raise them all on the lastday. 40Those who see the Son and believe inhim have eternal life, and I will raise them onthe last day. This is what my Father wants.”

41Some people began to complain aboutJesus because he said, “I am the bread thatcomes down from heaven.” 42They said, “This isJesus, the son of Joseph. We know his fatherand mother. How can he say, ‘I came downfrom heaven’?”

43But Jesus answered, “Stop complaining toeach other. 44The Father is the One who sentme. No one can come to me unless the Fatherdraws him to me, and I will raise that personup on the last day. 45It is written in the proph-ets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’n Everyonewho listens to the Father and learns from himcomes to me. 46No one has seen the Father ex-cept the One who is from God; only he hasseen the Father. 47I tell you the truth, whoeverbelieves has eternal life. 48I am the bread that

gives life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna inthe desert, but still they died. 50Here is thebread that comes down from heaven. Anyonewho eats this bread will never die. 51I am theliving bread that came down from heaven.Anyone who eats this bread will live forever.This bread is my flesh, which I will give up sothat the world may have life.”

52Then the evil people began to argueamong themselves, saying, “How can this mangive us his flesh to eat?”

53Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, you musteat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink hisblood. Otherwise, you won’t have real life inyou. 54Those who eat my flesh and drink myblood have eternal life, and I will raise them upon the last day. 55My flesh is true food, and myblood is true drink. 56Those who eat my fleshand drink my blood live in me, and I live inthem. 57The living Father sent me, and I live be-cause of the Father. So whoever eats me willlive because of me. 58I am not like the breadyour ancestors ate. They ate that bread and stilldied. I am the bread that came down fromheaven, and whoever eats this bread will liveforever.” 59Jesus said all these things while hewas teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

The Words of Eternal Life60When the followers of Jesus heard this,

many of them said, “This teaching is hard.Who can accept it?”

61Knowing that his followers were com-plaining about this, Jesus said, “Does thisteaching bother you? 62Then will it also botheryou to see the Son of Man going back to theplace where he came from? 63It is the Spiritthat gives life. The flesh doesn’t give life. Thewords I told you are spirit, and they give life.64But some of you don’t believe.” (Jesus knewfrom the beginning who did not believe andwho would turn against him.) 65Jesus said,“That is the reason I said, ‘If the Father does notbring a person to me, that one cannot come.’”

66After Jesus said this, many of his follow-ers left him and stopped following him.

67Jesus asked the twelve followers, “Do youwant to leave, too?”

68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, who

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6:31 ‘He gave . . . eat.’ Quotation from Psalm 78:24. 6:45 ‘They . . . God.’ Quotation from Isaiah 54:13.

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would we go to? You have the words that giveeternal life. 69We believe and know that youare the Holy One from God.”

70Then Jesus answered, “I chose all twelveof you, but one of you is a devil.”

71Jesus was talking about Judas, the son ofSimon Iscariot. Judas was one of the twelve,but later he was going to turn against Jesus.

Jesus’ Brothers Don’t Believe

7 After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee.He did not want to travel in Judea, be-

cause some evil people there wanted to killhim. 2It was time for the Feast of Shelters. 3SoJesus’ brothers said to him, “You should leavehere and go to Judea so your followers therecan see the miracles you do. 4Anyone whowants to be well known does not hide what hedoes. If you are doing these things, show your-self to the world.” 5(Even Jesus’ brothers did notbelieve in him.)

6Jesus said to his brothers, “The right timefor me has not yet come, but any time is rightfor you. 7The world cannot hate you, but ithates me, because I tell it the evil things itdoes. 8So you go to the feast. I will not go yetn

to this feast, because the right time for me hasnot yet come.” 9After saying this, Jesus stayedin Galilee.

10But after Jesus’ brothers had gone to thefeast, Jesus went also. But he did not let peoplesee him. 11At the feast some people were look-ing for him and saying, “Where is that man?”

12Within the large crowd there, many peo-ple were whispering to each other about Jesus.Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others said, “No, he fools the people.” 13Butno one was brave enough to talk about Jesusopenly, because they were afraid of the elders.

Jesus Teaches at the Feast14When the feast was about half over, Jesus

went to the Temple and began to teach. 15Thepeople were amazed and said, “This man hasnever studied in school. How did he learn somuch?”

16Jesus answered, “The things I teach arenot my own, but they come from him who

sent me. 17If people choose to do what Godwants, they will know that my teaching comesfrom God and not from me. 18Those who teachtheir own ideas are trying to get honor forthemselves. But those who try to bring honorto the one who sent them speak the truth, andthere is nothing false in them. 19Moses gaveyou the law,n but none of you obeys that law.Why are you trying to kill me?”

20The people answered, “A demon hascome into you. We are not trying to kill you.”

21Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, andyou are all amazed. 22Moses gave you the lawabout circumcision. (But really Moses did notgive you circumcision; it came from our ances-tors.) And yet you circumcise a baby boy on aSabbath day. 23If a baby boy can be circumcisedon a Sabbath day to obey the law of Moses,why are you angry at me for healing a person’swhole body on the Sabbath day? 24Stop judgingby the way things look, but judge by what isreally right.”

Is Jesus the Christ?25Then some of the people who lived in Je-

rusalem said, “This is the man they are tryingto kill. 26But he is teaching where everyone cansee and hear him, and no one is trying to stophim. Maybe the leaders have decided he reallyis the Christ. 27But we know where this man isfrom. Yet when the real Christ comes, no onewill know where he comes from.”

28Jesus, teaching in the Temple, cried out,“Yes, you know me, and you know where I amfrom. But I have not come by my own author-ity. I was sent by the One who is true, whomyou don’t know. 29But I know him, because Iam from him, and he sent me.”

30When Jesus said this, they tried to seizehim. But no one was able to touch him, be-cause it was not yet the right time. 31But manyof the people believed in Jesus. They said,“When the Christ comes, will he do more mira-cles than this man has done?”

The Leaders Try to Arrest Jesus32The Pharisees heard the crowd whisper-

ing these things about Jesus. So the leading

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7:8 yet Some Greek copies do not have this word. 7:19 law Moses gave God’s people the Law that God gave him onMount Sinai (Exodus 34:29–32).

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priests and the Pharisees sent some Templeguards to arrest him. 33Jesus said, “I will bewith you a little while longer. Then I will goback to the One who sent me. 34You will lookfor me, but you will not find me. And you can-not come where I am.”

35Some people said to each other, “Wherewill this man go so we cannot find him? Willhe go to the Greek cities where our people liveand teach the Greek people there? 36What didhe mean when he said, ‘You will look for me,but you will not find me,’ and ‘You cannotcome where I am’?”

Jesus Talks About the Spirit37On the last and most important day of

the feast Jesus stood up and said in a loudvoice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to meand drink. 38If anyone believes in me, rivers ofliving water will flow out from that person’sheart, as the Scripture says.” 39Jesus was talkingabout the Holy Spirit. The Spirit had not yetbeen given, because Jesus had not yet beenraised to glory. But later, those who believed inJesus would receive the Spirit.

The People Argue About Jesus40When the people heard Jesus’ words,

some of them said, “This man really is theProphet.”n

41Others said, “He is the Christ.”Still others said, “The Christ will not

come from Galilee. 42The Scripture says thatthe Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where Davidlived.” 43So the people did not agree with each other about Jesus. 44Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one was able totouch him.

Some Leaders Won’t Believe45The Temple guards went back to the lead-

ing priests and the Pharisees, who asked, “Whydidn’t you bring Jesus?”

46The guards answered, “The words he saysare greater than the words of any other personwho has ever spoken!”

47The Pharisees answered, “So Jesus has

fooled you also! 48Have any of the leaders orthe Pharisees believed in him? No! 49But thesepeople, who know nothing about the law, areunder God’s curse.”

50Nicodemus, who had gone to see Jesusbefore, was in that group.n He said, 51“Our lawdoes not judge a person without hearing himand knowing what he has done.”

52They answered, “Are you from Galilee,too? Study the Scriptures, and you will learnthat no prophet comes from Galilee.”

Some of the earliest surviving Greek copies do notcontain 7:53—8:11.

[53And everyone left and went home.

The Woman Caught in Adultery

8 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2Butearly in the morning he went back to the

Temple, and all the people came to him, and hesat and taught them. 3The teachers of the lawand the Pharisees brought a woman who hadbeen caught in adultery. They forced her tostand before the people. 4They said to Jesus,“Teacher, this woman was caught having sex-ual relations with a man who is not her hus-band. 5The law of Moses commands that westone to death every woman who does this.What do you say we should do?” 6They wereasking this to trick Jesus so that they couldhave some charge against him.

But Jesus bent over and started writing onthe ground with his finger. 7When they contin-ued to ask Jesus their question, he raised upand said, “Anyone here who has never sinnedcan throw the first stone at her.” 8Then Jesusbent over again and wrote on the ground.

9Those who heard Jesus began to leave oneby one, first the older men and then the others.Jesus was left there alone with the womanstanding before him. 10Jesus raised up againand asked her, “Woman, where are they? Hasno one judged you guilty?”

11She answered, “No one, sir.”Then Jesus said, “I also don’t judge you

guilty. You may go now, but don’t sin any-more.”]

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7:40 Prophet They probably meant the prophet God told Moses he would send (Deuteronomy 18:15–19).7:50 Nicodemus . . . group. The story about Nicodemus going and talking to Jesus is in John 3:1–21.

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Jesus Is the Light of the World12Later, Jesus talked to the people again,

saying, “I am the light of the world. The personwho follows me will never live in darkness butwill have the light that gives life.”

13The Pharisees said to Jesus, “When youtalk about yourself, you are the only one to saythese things are true. We cannot accept whatyou say.”

14Jesus answered, “Yes, I am saying thesethings about myself, but they are true. I knowwhere I came from and where I am going. Butyou don’t know where I came from or where Iam going. 15You judge by human standards. Iam not judging anyone. 16But when I do judge,I judge truthfully, because I am not alone. TheFather who sent me is with me. 17Your own lawsays that when two witnesses say the samething, you must accept what they say. 18I amone of the witnesses who speaks about myself,and the Father who sent me is the other wit-ness.”

19They asked, “Where is your father?”Jesus answered, “You don’t know me or my

Father. If you knew me, you would know myFather, too.” 20Jesus said these things while hewas teaching in the Temple, near where themoney is kept. But no one arrested him, be-cause the right time for him had not yet come.

The People Misunderstand Jesus21Again, Jesus said to the people, “I will

leave you, and you will look for me, but youwill die in your sins. You cannot come where Iam going.”

22So the Jews asked, “Will he kill himself?Is that why he said, ‘You cannot come where Iam going’?”

23Jesus said, “You people are from herebelow, but I am from above. You belong to thisworld, but I don’t belong to this world. 24So Itold you that you would die in your sins. Yes,you will die in your sins if you don’t believethat I am he.”

25They asked, “Then who are you?”Jesus answered, “I am what I have told you

from the beginning. 26I have many things tosay and decide about you. But I tell people onlythe things I have heard from the One who sentme, and he speaks the truth.”

1293 john 8:26

TheWoman

Caught inAdultery

She begs them to let her go, butthey force her through the streets to theTemple steps. A small crowd isgathered, listening to a man. She fallsto the ground, avoiding the staring eyesthat surround her.

A teacher of the Law points at herbut directs his remarks to Jesus. “Thiswoman was caught having sexualrelations with a man who is not herhusband. The Law of Moses commandsthat we stone to death every womanwho does this. What do you say weshould do?” She feels sick to herstomach and her hands shake.

Jesus walks toward her. He willthrow the first stone, she thinks, tryingto catch her breath. She hears ascratching sound and quickly looks infront of her. This man is writingsomething in the dirt.

He looks up. “Anyone here who hasnever sinned can throw the first stoneat her.” Then he writes on the groundagain. Her heart pounds. One by one,the people leave. “Has no one judgedyou guilty?” Jesus asks.

“No one, sir.”“I also don’t judge you guilty. You

may go now, but don’t sin anymore.”People are quick to point out our

sins, but Jesus is just as quick to forgiveand redeem.

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27The people did not understand that hewas talking to them about the Father. 28SoJesus said to them, “When you lift up the Sonof Man, you will know that I am he. You willknow that these things I do are not by my ownauthority but that I say only what the Fatherhas taught me. 29The One who sent me is withme. I always do what is pleasing to him, so hehas not left me alone.” 30While Jesus was say-ing these things, many people believed in him.

Freedom from Sin31So Jesus said to the Jews who believed in

him, “If you continue to obey my teaching, youare truly my followers. 32Then you will knowthe truth, and the truth will make you free.”

33They answered, “We are Abraham’s chil-

dren, and we have never been anyone’s slaves.So why do you say we will be free?”

34Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth,everyone who lives in sin is a slave to sin. 35Aslave does not stay with a family forever, but ason belongs to the family forever. 36So if theSon makes you free, you will be truly free. 37Iknow you are Abraham’s children, but youwant to kill me because you don’t accept myteaching. 38I am telling you what my Fatherhas shown me, but you do what your fatherhas told you.”

39They answered, “Our father is Abraham.”Jesus said, “If you were really Abraham’s

children, you would don the things Abrahamdid. 40I am a man who has told you the truthwhich I heard from God, but you are trying

john 8:27 1294

BopopopopopopopopopoPretend it’s the last day of

school. You’re on the bus or inyour car, pulling out of the schoolparking lot. Take a big whiff.What is that sweet smell in theair? Freedom. For three glorious

months you are free fromteachers, class lectures, 6:00 a.m. alarms, and homework.Yessssssss.

In John 8, Jesus says that we have an even better kind offreedom—freedom from sin. Sin doesn’t just magicallydisappear when we decide to follow Jesus. It’s there everyday trying to tempt us, discourage us, and distract us. ButJesus says that his truth sets us free. He gives us eyes to seeSatan’s lies and our own self-deception.

Unfortunately, many of us stay enslaved to sin, stuck indysfunctional and addictive ways of coping with life. Weblindly allow sin to control our lives, dragging its heavychains with us wherever we go. But Jesus has already freedus! All we need to do is claim it and walk in it. Jesus doesn’tfree us from sin so we can do whatever we want. He frees usfrom sin so we can truly worship, truly love, and truly live.Jesus frees us to be all that God meant for us to be. We havebeen given freedom . . . now it’s time to start using thatfreedom to live for God.

CHECK OUTTHE CONTEXT:

(Read John 8—9)

Jesus turns a would-bestoning into a moment

for self-reflection.

Jesus offers life and freedom.

Some people still justdon’t get Jesus.

Jesus heals a blind manby using saliva-ladenmud. (And of course,

the Pharisees getcompletely bent out of

shape about it.)

DAILY DEVOSFREE TO BEJOHN 8:36

8:39 If . . . do Some Greek copies read “If you are really Abraham’s children, you will do.”

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to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that. 41So you are doing the things your own fatherdid.”

But they said, “We are not like childrenwho never knew who their father was. God isour Father; he is the only Father we have.”

42Jesus said to them, “If God were reallyyour Father, you would love me, because Icame from God and now I am here. I did notcome by my own authority; God sent me. 43Youdon’t understand what I say, because you can-not accept my teaching. 44You belong to yourfather the devil, and you want to do what hewants. He was a murderer from the beginningand was against the truth, because there is notruth in him. When he tells a lie, he showswhat he is really like, because he is a liar andthe father of lies. 45But because I speak thetruth, you don’t believe me. 46Can any of youprove that I am guilty of sin? If I am telling thetruth, why don’t you believe me? 47The personwho belongs to God accepts what God says.But you don’t accept what God says, becauseyou don’t belong to God.”

Jesus Is Greater than Abraham48They answered, “We say you are a Samar-

itan and have a demon in you. Are we notright?”

49Jesus answered, “I have no demon in me.I give honor to my Father, but you dishonorme. 50I am not trying to get honor for myself.There is One who wants this honor for me, andhe is the judge. 51I tell you the truth, whoeverobeys my teaching will never die.”

52They said to Jesus, “Now we know thatyou have a demon in you! Even Abraham andthe prophets died. But you say, ‘Whoever obeysmy teaching will never die.’ 53Do you thinkyou are greater than our father Abraham, whodied? And the prophets died, too. Who do youthink you are?”

54Jesus answered, “If I give honor to myself,that honor is worth nothing. The One whogives me honor is my Father, and you say he isyour God. 55You don’t really know him, but Iknow him. If I said I did not know him, Iwould be a liar like you. But I do know him,and I obey what he says. 56Your father Abra-ham was very happy that he would see my day.He saw that day and was glad.”

57They said to him, “You have never seenAbraham! You are not even fifty years old.”

58Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, be-fore Abraham was even born, I am!” 59WhenJesus said this, the people picked up stones tothrow at him. But Jesus hid himself, and thenhe left the Temple.

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a manwho had been born blind. 2His followers

asked him, “Teacher, whose sin caused thisman to be born blind—his own sin or his par-ents’ sin?”

3Jesus answered, “It is not this man’s sin orhis parents’ sin that made him blind. This manwas born blind so that God’s power could beshown in him. 4While it is daytime, we mustcontinue doing the work of the One who sentme. Night is coming, when no one can work.5While I am in the world, I am the light of theworld.”

6After Jesus said this, he spit on the groundand made some mud with it and put the mudon the man’s eyes. 7Then he told the man, “Goand wash in the Pool of Siloam.” (Siloammeans Sent.) So the man went, washed, andcame back seeing.

8The neighbors and some people who hadearlier seen this man begging said, “Isn’t thisthe same man who used to sit and beg?”

9Some said, “He is the one,” but others said,“No, he only looks like him.”

The man himself said, “I am the man.”10They asked, “How did you get your

sight?”11He answered, “The man named Jesus

made some mud and put it on my eyes. Thenhe told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I wentand washed, and then I could see.”

12They asked him, “Where is this man?”“I don’t know,” he answered.

Pharisees Question the Healing13Then the people took to the Pharisees the

man who had been blind. 14The day Jesus hadmade mud and healed his eyes was a Sabbathday. 15So now the Pharisees asked the man,“How did you get your sight?”

He answered, “He put mud on my eyes, Iwashed, and now I see.”

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16So some of the Pharisees were saying,“This man does not keep the Sabbath day, so heis not from God.”

But others said, “A man who is a sinnercan’t do miracles like these.” So they could notagree with each other.

17They asked the man again, “What do yousay about him since it was your eyes heopened?”

The man answered, “He is a prophet.”18These leaders did not believe that he had

been blind and could now see again. So theysent for the man’s parents 19and asked them, “Isthis your son who you say was born blind?Then how does he now see?”

20His parents answered, “We know thatthis is our son and that he was born blind.21But we don’t know how he can now see. Wedon’t know who opened his eyes. Ask him. Heis old enough to speak for himself.” 22His par-ents said this because they were afraid of theelders, who had already decided that anyonewho said Jesus was the Christ would beavoided. 23That is why his parents said, “He isold enough. Ask him.”

24So for the second time, they called theman who had been blind. They said, “Youshould give God the glory by telling the truth.We know that this man is a sinner.”

25He answered, “I don’t know if he is a sin-ner. One thing I do know: I was blind, and nowI see.”

26They asked, “What did he do to you?How did he make you see again?”

27He answered, “I already told you, and youdidn’t listen. Why do you want to hear itagain? Do you want to become his followers,too?”

28Then they insulted him and said, “Youare his follower, but we are followers of Moses. 29We know that God spoke to Moses,but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”

30The man answered, “This is a verystrange thing. You don’t know where he comesfrom, and yet he opened my eyes. 31We allknow that God does not listen to sinners, buthe listens to anyone who worships and obeyshim. 32Nobody has ever heard of anyone giving

sight to a man born blind. 33If this man werenot from God, he could do nothing.”

34They answered, “You were born full ofsin! Are you trying to teach us?” And theythrew him out.

Spiritual Blindness35When Jesus heard that they had thrown

him out, Jesus found him and said, “Do you be-lieve in the Son of Man?”

36He asked, “Who is the Son of Man, sir, sothat I can believe in him?”

37Jesus said to him, “You have seen him.The Son of Man is the one talking with you.”

38He said, “Lord, I believe!” Then the manworshiped Jesus.

39Jesus said, “I came into this world so thatthe world could be judged. I came so that theblindn would see and so that those who see willbecome blind.”

40Some of the Pharisees who were nearbyheard Jesus say this and asked, “Are you sayingwe are blind, too?”

41Jesus said, “If you were blind, you wouldnot be guilty of sin. But since you keep sayingyou see, your guilt remains.”

The Shepherd and His Sheep

10 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, the per-son who does not enter the sheepfold

by the door, but climbs in some other way, is athief and a robber. 2The one who enters by thedoor is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The onewho guards the door opens it for him. And thesheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. Hecalls his own sheep by name and leads themout. 4When he brings all his sheep out, he goesahead of them, and they follow him becausethey know his voice. 5But they will never fol-low a stranger. They will run away from himbecause they don’t know his voice.” 6Jesus toldthe people this story, but they did not under-stand what it meant.

Jesus Is the Good Shepherd7So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I

am the door for the sheep. 8All the people whocame before me were thieves and robbers. Thesheep did not listen to them. 9I am the door,

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and the person who enters through me will besaved and will be able to come in and go outand find pasture. 10A thief comes to steal andkill and destroy, but I came to give life—life inall its fullness.

11“I am the good shepherd. The good shep-herd gives his life for the sheep. 12The workerwho is paid to keep the sheep is different fromthe shepherd who owns them. When theworker sees a wolf coming, he runs away andleaves the sheep alone. Then the wolf attacksthe sheep and scatters them. 13The man runsaway because he is only a paid worker anddoes not really care about the sheep.

14“I am the good shepherd. I know mysheep, and my sheep know me, 15just as the Fa-

ther knows me, and I know the Father. I givemy life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep thatare not in this flock, and I must bring themalso. They will listen to my voice, and therewill be one flock and one shepherd. 17The Fa-ther loves me because I give my life so that Ican take it back again. 18No one takes it awayfrom me; I give my own life freely. I have theright to give my life, and I have the right totake it back. This is what my Father com-manded me to do.”

19Again the leaders did not agree with eachother because of these words of Jesus. 20Manyof them said, “A demon has come into him andmade him crazy. Why listen to him?”

21But others said, “A man who is crazy with

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BopopopopopopopopopoWhat images do you conjure

up in your mind when Jesus callshimself the Good Shepherd? Ifyou’re like most people, youprobably recall syrupy-sweet,feel-good Sunday school pictures

of Jesus carrying a little lamb inhis arms, looking at it with a tender, doting gaze. These arehappy, fluffy pictures. You can just imagine Jesus gentlypetting the sheep and whispering to them, “Good sheep.Nice sheep.” But perhaps we’re missing something.

The symbolism of Jesus being the Good Shepherdextends far beyond his warm affection toward us; that’s apart of it, but not the whole. Throughout John 10, Jesus, ourGood Shepherd, declares adamantly that he will protect,guard, rescue, and fight for his sheep. He knows that hissheep are in serious danger. Satan—the wolf, the thief—islurking around, attempting to steal, kill, and destroy. TheGood Shepherd promises to wrestle the Enemy for thesesheep, to fight for their very lives—even if it means layingdown his own life. This isn’t a pretty, warm-fuzzy picture—it’s a bloody battle.

The Enemy is still on the prowl, trying his worst to stealtrue life from believers. Thankfully, we have a GoodShepherd––a Warrior Shepherd––who still fights for ourhearts. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the spiritualwar that’s raging around you, to reveal the lies that Satanthrows at you personally, and to teach you what it means tolive life to the fullest.

CHECK OUTTHE CONTEXT:

(Read John 10—12)

The Good Shepherdloves his furry sheep.

Lazarus dies.

Jesus cries.

Lazarus stinks.

Jesus brings Lazarusback to life.

Mary pours some priceyperfume on Jesus’ feet

as a gesture of love.

The King of Israel ridesinto Jerusalem on an

ordinary donkey.

DAILY DEVOSWARRIOR SHEPHERDJOHN 10:10–11

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a demon does not say things like this. Can ademon open the eyes of the blind?”

Jesus Is Rejected22The time came for the Feast of Dedica-

tion at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus waswalking in the Temple in Solomon’s Porch.24Some people gathered around him and said,“How long will you make us wonder aboutyou? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

25Jesus answered, “I told you already, butyou did not believe. The miracles I do in my Fa-ther’s name show who I am. 26But you don’t be-lieve, because you are not my sheep. 27Mysheep listen to my voice; I know them, andthey follow me. 28I give them eternal life, andthey will never die, and no one can steal themout of my hand. 29My Father gave my sheep tome. He is greater than all, and no person cansteal my sheep out of my Father’s hand. 30TheFather and I are one.”

31Again some of the people picked upstones to kill Jesus. 32But he said to them, “Ihave done many good works from the Father.Which of these good works are you killing me for?”

33They answered, “We are not killing youbecause of any good work you did, but becauseyou speak against God. You are only a human,but you say you are the same as God!”

34Jesus answered, “It is written in your lawthat God said, ‘I said, you are gods.’n 35ThisScripture called those people gods who re-ceived God’s message, and Scripture is alwaystrue. 36So why do you say that I speak againstGod because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? I am theone God chose and sent into the world. 37If Idon’t do what my Father does, then don’t be-lieve me. 38But if I do what my Father does,even though you don’t believe in me, believewhat I do. Then you will know and understandthat the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

39They tried to take Jesus again, but he es-caped from them.

40Then he went back across the JordanRiver to the place where John had first bap-tized. Jesus stayed there, 41and many peoplecame to him and said, “John never did a mira-cle, but everything John said about this man is

true.” 42And in that place many believed inJesus.

The Death of Lazarus

11 A man named Lazarus was sick. He livedin the town of Bethany, where Mary and

her sister Martha lived. 2Mary was the womanwho later put perfume on the Lord and wipedhis feet with her hair. Mary’s brother was Laza-rus, the man who was now sick. 3So Mary andMartha sent someone to tell Jesus, “Lord, theone you love is sick.”

4When Jesus heard this, he said, “This sick-ness will not end in death. It is for the glory ofGod, to bring glory to the Son of God.” 5Jesusloved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6Butwhen he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayedwhere he was for two more days. 7Then Jesussaid to his followers, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

8The followers said, “But Teacher, somepeople there tried to stone you to death only ashort time ago. Now you want to go backthere?”

9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelvehours in the day? If anyone walks in the day-light, he will not stumble, because he can seeby this world’s light. 10But if anyone walks atnight, he stumbles because there is no light tohelp him see.”

11After Jesus said this, he added, “Ourfriend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am goingthere to wake him.”

12The followers said, “But Lord, if he is onlyasleep, he will be all right.”

13Jesus meant that Lazarus was dead, buthis followers thought he meant Lazarus wasreally sleeping. 14So then Jesus said plainly,“Lazarus is dead. 15And I am glad for your sakesI was not there so that you may believe. Butlet’s go to him now.”

16Then Thomas (the one called Didymus)said to the other followers, “Let us also go sothat we can die with him.”

Jesus in Bethany17When Jesus arrived, he learned that Laza-

rus had already been dead and in the tomb forfour days. 18Bethany was about two miles fromJerusalem. 19Many of the Jews had come there

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to comfort Martha and Mary about theirbrother.

20When Martha heard that Jesus was com-ing, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayedhome. 21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you hadbeen here, my brother would not have died.22But I know that even now God will give youanything you ask.”

23Jesus said, “Your brother will rise and liveagain.”

24Martha answered, “I know that he willrise and live again in the resurrectionn on thelast day.”

25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrectionand the life. Those who believe in me will havelife even if they die. 26And everyone who livesand believes in me will never die. Martha, doyou believe this?”

27Martha answered, “Yes, Lord. I believethat you are the Christ, the Son of God, theOne coming to the world.”

Jesus Cries28After Martha said this, she went back and

talked to her sister Mary alone. Martha said,“The Teacher is here and he is asking for you.”29When Mary heard this, she got up quicklyand went to Jesus. 30Jesus had not yet comeinto the town but was still at the place whereMartha had met him. 31The Jews were withMary in the house, comforting her. When theysaw her stand and leave quickly, they followedher, thinking she was going to the tomb to crythere.

32But Mary went to the place where Jesuswas. When she saw him, she fell at his feet andsaid, “Lord, if you had been here, my brotherwould not have died.”

33When Jesus saw Mary crying and theJews who came with her also crying, he wasupset and was deeply troubled. 34He asked,“Where did you bury him?”

“Come and see, Lord,” they said.35Jesus cried.36So the Jews said, “See how much he loved

him.”37But some of them said, “If Jesus opened

the eyes of the blind man, why couldn’t hekeep Lazarus from dying?”

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Mary ofBethany

Mary is surrounded in her home bymourners who have come to grieve withher, but they’re unable to comfort her.Her brother Lazarus is dead, and herheart is broken. Her tears have driedup, and she rocks in a chair, holding herbrother’s robe in her hands.

“It’s Jesus,” her sister Martha says,running from the house. But Marydoesn’t move. Even a glimpse of theirgood friend can’t bring relief. Marthacomes back inside and sits in front ofMary. “The Teacher is here, and he isasking for you,” she whispers. Marynods and goes to where Jesus iswaiting. When she catches sight of him,her tears flow again. Sobs shake herbody as she falls at his feet. “Lord, ifyou had been here, my brother wouldnot have died.”

Her loss is so huge, and Jesus ismoved by her brokenness. His voice isquiet as he bends close to her. “Wheredid you bury him?” She leads him tothe tomb and stands at his side asJesus weeps. Was he crying over thedeath of Lazarus, or was it somethingmore?

But at a few words from Jesus’ lips,the unthinkable happens! And whenLazarus walks out of the tomb, Maryremembers his words: “Didn’t I tell youthat if you believed you would see theglory of God?” How could she have everthought that any sadness could begreater than his power?

In times of loss and celebration,Mary looked to Jesus. Where do youturn?

11:24 resurrection Being raised from the dead to live again.

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Jesus Raises Lazarus38Again feeling very upset, Jesus came to

the tomb. It was a cave with a large stone cov-ering the entrance. 39Jesus said, “Move thestone away.”

Martha, the sister of the dead man, said,“But, Lord, it has been four days since he died.There will be a bad smell.”

40Then Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell youthat if you believed you would see the glory ofGod?”

41So they moved the stone away from the entrance. Then Jesus looked up and said,“Father, I thank you that you heard me. 42Iknow that you always hear me, but I said these things because of the people here around me. I want them to believe that yousent me.” 43After Jesus said this, he cried out ina loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44The deadman came out, his hands and feet wrappedwith pieces of cloth, and a cloth around hisface.

Jesus said to them, “Take the cloth off ofhim and let him go.”

The Plan to Kill Jesus45Many of the people, who had come to

visit Mary and saw what Jesus did, believed inhim. 46But some of them went to the Phariseesand told them what Jesus had done. 47Then theleading priests and Pharisees called a meetingof the council. They asked, “What should wedo? This man is doing many miracles. 48If welet him continue doing these things, everyonewill believe in him. Then the Romans willcome and take away our Temple and our na-tion.”

49One of the men there was Caiaphas, thehigh priest that year. He said, “You peopleknow nothing! 50You don’t realize that it is bet-ter for one man to die for the people than forthe whole nation to be destroyed.”

51Caiaphas did not think of this himself. Ashigh priest that year, he was really prophesy-ing that Jesus would die for their nation 52andfor God’s scattered children to bring them alltogether and make them one.

53That day they started planning to killJesus. 54So Jesus no longer traveled openlyamong the people. He left there and went to a

place near the desert, to a town called Ephraimand stayed there with his followers.

55It was almost time for the Passover Feast.Many from the country went up to Jerusalembefore the Passover to do the special things tomake themselves pure. 56The people looked forJesus and stood in the Temple asking eachother, “Is he coming to the Feast? What do youthink?” 57But the leading priests and the Phar-isees had given orders that if anyone knewwhere Jesus was, he must tell them. Then theycould arrest him.

Jesus with Friends in Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover Feast, Jesuswent to Bethany, where Lazarus lived.

(Lazarus is the man Jesus raised from the dead.)2There they had a dinner for Jesus. Marthaserved the food, and Lazarus was one of thepeople eating with Jesus. 3Mary brought in apint of very expensive perfume made frompure nard. She poured the perfume on Jesus’feet, and then she wiped his feet with her hair.And the sweet smell from the perfume filledthe whole house.

4Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ followers whowould later turn against him, was there. Judassaid, 5“This perfume was worth an entire year’swages. Why wasn’t it sold and the moneygiven to the poor?” 6But Judas did not reallycare about the poor; he said this because hewas a thief. He was the one who kept themoney box, and he often stole from it.

7Jesus answered, “Leave her alone. It wasright for her to save this perfume for today, theday for me to be prepared for burial. 8You willalways have the poor with you, but you willnot always have me.”

The Plot Against Lazarus9A large crowd of people heard that Jesus

was in Bethany. So they went there to see notonly Jesus but Lazarus, whom Jesus raised fromthe dead. 10So the leading priests made plans tokill Lazarus, too. 11Because of Lazarus many ofthe Jews were leaving them and believing inJesus.

Jesus Enters Jerusalem12The next day a great crowd who had

come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast heard

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that Jesus was coming there. 13So they tookbranches of palm trees and went out to meetJesus, shouting,

“Praisen God!God bless the One who comes in the name

of the Lord!God bless the King of Israel!”

Psalm 118:25–2614Jesus found a colt and sat on it. This was

as the Scripture says,15“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem!

Your king is coming,sitting on the colt of a donkey.”

Zechariah 9:9

16The followers of Jesus did not understandthis at first. But after Jesus was raised to glory,they remembered that this had been writtenabout him and that they had done these thingsto him.

People Tell About Jesus17There had been many people with Jesus

when he raised Lazarus from the dead and toldhim to come out of the tomb. Now they weretelling others about what Jesus did. 18Manypeople went out to meet Jesus, because theyhad heard about this miracle. 19So the Phar-isees said to each other, “You can see that noth-ing is going right for us. Look! The wholeworld is following him.”

Jesus Talks About His Death20There were some Greek people, too,

who came to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover Feast. 21They went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” 22Philip toldAndrew, and then Andrew and Philip toldJesus.

23Jesus said to them, “The time has comefor the Son of Man to receive his glory. 24I tellyou the truth, a grain of wheat must fall to theground and die to make many seeds. But if itnever dies, it remains only a single seed.25Those who love their lives will lose them, butthose who hate their lives in this world willkeep true life forever. 26Whoever serves memust follow me. Then my servant will be withme everywhere I am. My Father will honoranyone who serves me.

27“Now I am very troubled. Should I say,‘Father, save me from this time’? No, I came tothis time so I could suffer. 28Father, bring gloryto your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I havebrought glory to it, and I will do it again.”

29The crowd standing there, who heard thevoice, said it was thunder.

But others said, “An angel has spoken tohim.”

30Jesus said, “That voice was for your sake, not mine. 31Now is the time for the world to be judged; now the ruler of this worldwill be thrown down. 32If I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people towardme.” 33Jesus said this to show how he woulddie.

34The crowd said, “We have heard from thelaw that the Christ will live forever. So why doyou say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’?Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35Then Jesus said, “The light will be withyou for a little longer, so walk while you have the light. Then the darkness will notcatch you. If you walk in the darkness, you will not know where you are going. 36Believein the light while you still have it so that youwill become children of light.” When Jesus had said this, he left and hid himself fromthem.

Some People Won’t Believe inJesus

37Though Jesus had done many miracles infront of the people, they still did not believe inhim. 38This was to bring about what Isaiah theprophet had said:

1301 john 12:38

12:13 Praise Literally, “Hosanna,” a Hebrew word used at first in praying to God for help, but at this time it was probably ashout of joy used in praising God or his Messiah.

“Don’t be afraid,

people of Jerusalem!

Your king is coming,

sitting on the colt of a donkey.”

JOHN 12:15

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“Lord, who believed what we told them?

Who saw the Lord’s power in this?” Isaiah 53:1

39This is why the people could not believe:Isaiah also had said,

40“He has blinded their eyes,and he has closed their minds.

Otherwise they would see with their eyes

and understand in their mindsand come back to me and be healed.”

Isaiah 6:1041Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ gloryand spoke about him.

42But many believed in Jesus, even many ofthe leaders. But because of the Pharisees, theydid not say they believed in him for fear theywould be put out of the synagogue. 43Theyloved praise from people more than praisefrom God.

44Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believesin me is really believing in the One who sentme. 45Whoever sees me sees the One who sentme. 46I have come as light into the world sothat whoever believes in me would not stay indarkness.

47“Anyone who hears my words and doesnot obey them, I do not judge, because I did notcome to judge the world, but to save the world.48There is a judge for those who refuse to be-lieve in me and do not accept my words. Theword I have taught will be their judge on thelast day. 49The things I taught were not frommyself. The Father who sent me told me whatto say and what to teach. 50And I know thateternal life comes from what the Father com-mands. So whatever I say is what the Fathertold me to say.”

Jesus Washes His Followers’Feet

13 It was almost time for the PassoverFeast. Jesus knew that it was time for

him to leave this world and go back to the Fa-ther. He had always loved those who were hisown in the world, and he loved them all theway to the end.

2Jesus and his followers were at the eve-

ning meal. The devil had already persuadedJudas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to turn againstJesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had givenhim power over everything and that he hadcome from God and was going back to God. 4Soduring the meal Jesus stood up and took off hisouter clothing. Taking a towel, he wrapped itaround his waist. 5Then he poured water into abowl and began to wash the followers’ feet,drying them with the towel that was wrappedaround him.

6Jesus came to Simon Peter, who said tohim, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7Jesus answered, “You don’t understandnow what I am doing, but you will understandlater.”

8Peter said, “No, you will never wash myfeet.”

Jesus answered, “If I don’t wash your feet,you are not one of my people.”

9Simon Peter answered, “Lord, then washnot only my feet, but wash my hands and myhead, too!”

10Jesus said, “After a person has had a bath,his whole body is clean. He needs only to washhis feet. And you men are clean, but not all ofyou.” 11Jesus knew who would turn againsthim, and that is why he said, “Not all of you areclean.”

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and sat down again.He asked, “Do you understand what I have just done for you? 13You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that is what I am. 14If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should washeach other’s feet. 15I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, a servant is not greaterthan his master. A messenger is not greaterthan the one who sent him. 17If you knowthese things, you will be blessed if you dothem.

18“I am not talking about all of you. I knowthose I have chosen. But this is to bring aboutwhat the Scripture said: ‘The man who ate atmy table has turned against me.’n 19I am tellingyou this now before it happens so that when ithappens, you will believe that I am he. 20I tell

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you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I sendalso accepts me. And whoever accepts me alsoaccepts the One who sent me.”

Jesus Talks About His Death21After Jesus said this, he was very trou-

bled. He said openly, “I tell you the truth, oneof you will turn against me.”

22The followers all looked at each other, be-cause they did not know whom Jesus was talk-ing about. 23One of the followers sittingn nextto Jesus was the follower Jesus loved. 24SimonPeter motioned to him to ask Jesus whom hewas talking about.

25That follower leaned closer to Jesus andasked, “Lord, who is it?”

26Jesus answered, “I will dip this bread into

the dish. The man I give it to is the man whowill turn against me.” So Jesus took a piece ofbread, dipped it, and gave it to Judas Iscariot,the son of Simon. 27As soon as Judas took thebread, Satan entered him. Jesus said to him,“The thing that you will do—do it quickly.”28No one at the table understood why Jesussaid this to Judas. 29Since he was the one whokept the money box, some of the followersthought Jesus was telling him to buy what wasneeded for the feast or to give something to thepoor.

30Judas took the bread Jesus gave him andimmediately went out. It was night.

31When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “Nowthe Son of Man receives his glory, and God re-ceives glory through him. 32If God receives

1303 john 13:32

BopopopopopopopopopoThink of the grossest possible

summer job that you couldhave—like scrubbingnauseatingly raunchy outhousetoilets or collecting bags of trashall day while unidentifiedgarbage juice drips down your

arms. Mmm . . . yummy.In Jesus’ time, people wore open sandals, which allowed

their feet to get pretty nasty as they walked. All sorts of dirtand other street grime collected on them after a long day. Itwas the job of a household slave to wash the filthy feet ofhouseguests—a daily chore they probably despised. It’s nowonder that Jesus’ followers are totally weirded out whenJesus decides to wash their grungy, stinky feet. Here’s Godhimself—with skin on—doing a lowly, demeaning task of aslave. Talk about humility!

Just like Jesus’ followers, we tend to have a “me first”approach to life. Putting others first just doesn’t comenaturally. But Jesus’ life—his words, thoughts, and actions—show us that we should see things upside down from the restof the world. “When you do things, do not let selfishness orpride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honorto others than to yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

Keep this in mind as you do chores at home, work at yourafter-school job, volunteer in the community, and choose acareer. God wants you to be willing to roll up your sleevesand do whatever it takes to show this world a radical,intense kind of love.

CHECK OUTTHE CONTEXT:

(Read John 13—16)

Jesus shocks hisfollowers by washing

their stinky feet.

Judas eats the breadand disappears into the

night.

Jesus reassures hisfriends that the Holy

Spirit is coming to therescue.

Jesus recaps the mostimportant things in life:loving God and loving

people.

DAILY DEVOSLOVE LIKE YOU MEAN ITJOHN 13:14–15

13:23 sitting Literally, “lying.” The people of that time ate lying down and leaning on one arm.

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glory through him,n then God will give glory tothe Son through himself. And God will givehim glory quickly.”

33Jesus said, “My children, I will be withyou only a little longer. You will look for me,and what I told the Jews, I tell you now: WhereI am going you cannot come.

34“I give you a new command: Love eachother. You must love each other as I have lovedyou. 35All people will know that you are myfollowers if you love each other.”

Peter Will Say He Doesn’t KnowJesus

36Simon Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, where areyou going?”

Jesus answered, “Where I am going youcannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

37Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow younow? I am ready to die for you!”

38Jesus answered, “Are you ready to die forme? I tell you the truth, before the roostercrows, you will say three times that you don’tknow me.”

Jesus Comforts His Followers

14 Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts betroubled. Trust in God, and trust in me.

2There are many rooms in my Father’s house; Iwould not tell you this if it were not true. I amgoing there to prepare a place for you. 3After Igo and prepare a place for you, I will comeback and take you to be with me so that youmay be where I am. 4You know the way to theplace where I am going.”n

5Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we don’tknow where you are going. So how can weknow the way?”

6Jesus answered, “I am the way, and thetruth, and the life. The only way to the Fatheris through me. 7If you really knew me, youwould know my Father, too. But now you doknow him, and you have seen him.”

8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Fa-ther. That is all we need.”

9Jesus answered, “I have been with you along time now. Do you still not know me,

Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Fa-ther. So why do you say, ‘Show us the Father’?10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father andthe Father is in me? The words I say to youdon’t come from me, but the Father lives in meand does his own work. 11Believe me when Isay that I am in the Father and the Father is inme. Or believe because of the miracles I havedone. 12I tell you the truth, whoever believes inme will do the same things that I do. Thosewho believe will do even greater things thanthese, because I am going to the Father. 13Andif you ask for anything in my name, I will do itfor you so that the Father’s glory will be shownthrough the Son. 14If you ask me for anythingin my name, I will do it.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit15“If you love me, you will obey my com-

mands. 16I will ask the Father, and he will giveyou another Helpern to be with you forever—17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accepthim, because it does not see him or know him.But you know him, because he lives with youand he will be in you.

18“I will not leave you all alone like or-phans; I will come back to you. 19In a littlewhile the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you willlive, too. 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and that you are in me and I am in you. 21Those who know my commandsand obey them are the ones who love me, and my Father will love those who love me. I will love them and will show myself tothem.”

22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But,Lord, why do you plan to show yourself to usand not to the rest of the world?”

23Jesus answered, “If people love me, theywill obey my teaching. My Father will lovethem, and we will come to them and make ourhome with them. 24Those who do not love medo not obey my teaching. This teaching thatyou hear is not really mine; it is from my Fa-ther, who sent me.

25“I have told you all these things while I

john 13:33 1304

13:32 If . . . him Some Greek copies do not have this phrase. 14:4 You . . . going. Some Greek copies read “You knowwhere I am going and the way to the place I am going.” 14:16 Helper “Counselor” or “Comforter.” Jesus is talking about theHoly Spirit.

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am with you. 26But the Helper will teach you everything and will cause you to remem-ber all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in myname.

27“I leave you peace; my peace I give you. Ido not give it to you as the world does. So don’tlet your hearts be troubled or afraid. 28Youheard me say to you, ‘I am going, but I am com-ing back to you.’ If you loved me, you shouldbe happy that I am going back to the Father,because he is greater than I am. 29I have toldyou this now, before it happens, so that whenit happens, you will believe. 30I will not talkwith you much longer, because the ruler ofthis world is coming. He has no power overme, 31but the world must know that I love theFather, so I do exactly what the Father told meto do.

“Come now, let us go.

Jesus Is Like a Vine

15 “I am the true vine; my Father is thegardener. 2He cuts off every branch of

mine that does not produce fruit. And he trimsand cleans every branch that produces fruit sothat it will produce even more fruit. 3You arealready clean because of the words I have spo-ken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remainin you. A branch cannot produce fruit alonebut must remain in the vine. In the same way,you cannot produce fruit alone but must re-main in me.

5“I am the vine, and you are the branches.If any remain in me and I remain in them, theyproduce much fruit. But without me they cando nothing. 6If any do not remain in me, theyare like a branch that is thrown away and thendies. People pick up dead branches, throwthem into the fire, and burn them. 7If you re-main in me and follow my teachings, you canask anything you want, and it will be given toyou. 8You should produce much fruit and showthat you are my followers, which brings gloryto my Father. 9I loved you as the Father lovedme. Now remain in my love. 10I have obeyedmy Father’s commands, and I remain in hislove. In the same way, if you obey my com-mands, you will remain in my love. 11I have

told you these things so that you can have thesame joy I have and so that your joy will be thefullest possible joy.

12“This is my command: Love each other asI have loved you. 13The greatest love a personcan show is to die for his friends. 14You are my

friends if you do what I command you. 15I nolonger call you servants, because a servant doesnot know what his master is doing. But I callyou friends, because I have made known toyou everything I heard from my Father. 16Youdid not choose me; I chose you. And I gave youthis work: to go and produce fruit, fruit thatwill last. Then the Father will give you any-thing you ask for in my name. 17This is mycommand: Love each other.

Jesus Warns His Followers18“If the world hates you, remember that it

hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world,it would love you as it loves its own. But I havechosen you out of the world, so you don’t be-long to it. That is why the world hates you.20Remember what I told you: A servant is notgreater than his master. If people did wrong tome, they will do wrong to you, too. And if theyobeyed my teaching, they will obey yours, too.21They will do all this to you on account of me,because they do not know the One who sentme. 22If I had not come and spoken to them,they would not be guilty of sin, but now theyhave no excuse for their sin. 23Whoever hatesme also hates my Father. 24I did works amongthem that no one else has ever done. If I hadnot done these works, they would not be guiltyof sin. But now they have seen what I havedone, and yet they have hated both me and myFather. 25But this happened so that what iswritten in their law would be true: ‘They hatedme for no reason.’n

1305 john 15:25

15:25 ‘They . . . reason.’ These words could be from Psalm 35:19 or Psalm 69:4.

“This is my command:

Love each other as I have loved you.

The greatest love a person can show is

to die for his friends.”

JOHN 15:12–13

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26“I will send you the Helpern from the Fa-ther; he is the Spirit of truth who comes fromthe Father. When he comes, he will tell aboutme, 27and you also must tell people about me,because you have been with me from the be-ginning.

16 “I have told you these things to keepyou from giving up. 2People will put

you out of their synagogues. Yes, the time iscoming when those who kill you will thinkthey are offering service to God. 3They will do this because they have not known the Father and they have not known me. 4I havetold you these things now so that when the time comes you will remember that Iwarned you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit“I did not tell you these things at the

beginning, because I was with you then. 5Now I am going back to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, ‘Where are yougoing?’ 6Your hearts are filled with sadness be-cause I have told you these things. 7But I tellyou the truth, it is better for you that I go away. When I go away, I will send the Helpern

to you. If I do not go away, the Helper will notcome. 8When the Helper comes, he will proveto the people of the world the truth about sin,about being right with God, and about judg-ment. 9He will prove to them that sin is not be-lieving in me. 10He will prove to them thatbeing right with God comes from my going tothe Father and not being seen anymore. 11Andthe Helper will prove to them that judgmenthappened when the ruler of this world wasjudged.

12“I have many more things to say to you,but they are too much for you now. 13But whenthe Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you intoall truth. He will not speak his own words, buthe will speak only what he hears, and he willtell you what is to come. 14The Spirit of truthwill bring glory to me, because he will takewhat I have to say and tell it to you. 15All thatthe Father has is mine. That is why I said thatthe Spirit will take what I have to say and tellit to you.

Sadness Will Become Happiness16“After a little while you will not see me,

and then after a little while you will see meagain.”

17Some of the followers said to each other,“What does Jesus mean when he says, ‘After alittle while you will not see me, and then aftera little while you will see me again’? And whatdoes he mean when he says, ‘Because I amgoing to the Father’?” 18They also asked, “Whatdoes he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t un-derstand what he is saying.”

19Jesus saw that the followers wanted toask him about this, so he said to them, “Areyou asking each other what I meant when Isaid, ‘After a little while you will not see me,and then after a little while you will see meagain’? 20I tell you the truth, you will cry andbe sad, but the world will be happy. You will besad, but your sadness will become joy. 21When

a woman gives birth to a baby, she has pain, be-cause her time has come. But when her baby isborn, she forgets the pain, because she is sohappy that a child has been born into theworld. 22It is the same with you. Now you aresad, but I will see you again and you will behappy, and no one will take away your joy. 23Inthat day you will not ask me for anything. I tellyou the truth, my Father will give you any-thing you ask for in my name. 24Until now youhave not asked for anything in my name. Askand you will receive, so that your joy will bethe fullest possible joy.

Victory over the World25“I have told you these things indirectly in

stories. But the time will come when I will not

john 15:26 1306

15:26; 16:7 Helper “Counselor” or “Comforter.” Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit.

“I tell you the truth,

you will cry and be sad,

but the world will be happy.

You will be sad,

but your sadness

will become joy.”

JOHN 16:20

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use stories like that to tell you things; I willspeak to you in plain words about the Father.26In that day you will ask the Father for thingsin my name. I mean, I will not need to ask theFather for you. 27The Father himself loves you.He loves you because you loved me and be-lieved that I came from God. 28I came from theFather into the world. Now I am leaving theworld and going back to the Father.”

29Then the followers of Jesus said, “You arespeaking clearly to us now and are not usingstories that are hard to understand. 30We cansee now that you know all things. You can an-swer a person’s question even before it is asked.This makes us believe you came from God.”

31Jesus answered, “So now you believe?32Listen to me; a time is coming when you willbe scattered, each to your own home. Thattime is now here. You will leave me alone, but Iam never really alone, because the Father iswith me.

33“I told you these things so that you canhave peace in me. In this world you will havetrouble, but be brave! I have defeated theworld.”

Jesus Prays for His Followers

17 After Jesus said these things, he lookedtoward heaven and prayed, “Father, the

time has come. Give glory to your Son so thatthe Son can give glory to you. 2You gave theSon power over all people so that the Soncould give eternal life to all those you gavehim. 3And this is eternal life: that people knowyou, the only true God, and that they knowJesus Christ, the One you sent. 4Having fin-ished the work you gave me to do, I broughtyou glory on earth. 5And now, Father, give meglory with you; give me the glory I had withyou before the world was made.

6“I showed what you are like to those yougave me from the world. They belonged to you,and you gave them to me, and they haveobeyed your teaching. 7Now they know thateverything you gave me comes from you. 8Igave them the teachings you gave me, and theyaccepted them. They knew that I truly camefrom you, and they believed that you sent me.9I am praying for them. I am not praying forpeople in the world but for those you gave me,because they are yours. 10All I have is yours,

and all you have is mine. And my glory isshown through them. 11I am coming to you; Iwill not stay in the world any longer. But theyare still in the world. Holy Father, keep themsafe by the power of your name, the name yougave me, so that they will be one, just as youand I are one. 12While I was with them, I keptthem safe by the power of your name, thename you gave me. I protected them, and onlyone of them, the one worthy of destruction,was lost so that the Scripture would come true.

13“I am coming to you now. But I praythese things while I am still in the world sothat these followers can have all of my joy inthem. 14I have given them your teaching. Andthe world has hated them, because they don’tbelong to the world, just as I don’t belong tothe world. 15I am not asking you to take themout of the world but to keep them safe fromthe Evil One. 16They don’t belong to the world,just as I don’t belong to the world. 17Make themready for your service through your truth; yourteaching is truth. 18I have sent them into theworld, just as you sent me into the world. 19Fortheir sake, I am making myself ready to serveso that they can be ready for their service ofthe truth.

20“I pray for these followers, but I am alsopraying for all those who will believe in me be-cause of their teaching. 21Father, I pray thatthey can be one. As you are in me and I am inyou, I pray that they can also be one in us.Then the world will believe that you sent me.22I have given these people the glory that yougave me so that they can be one, just as youand I are one. 23I will be in them and you willbe in me so that they will be completely one.Then the world will know that you sent meand that you loved them just as much as youloved me.

24“Father, I want these people that yougave me to be with me where I am. I wantthem to see my glory, which you gave me be-cause you loved me before the world wasmade. 25Father, you are the One who is good.The world does not know you, but I know you,and these people know you sent me. 26Ishowed them what you are like, and I willshow them again. Then they will have thesame love that you have for me, and I will livein them.”

1307 john 17:26

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Jesus Is Arrested

18 When Jesus finished praying, he went with his followers across the

Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and Jesus and his followers wentinto it.

2Judas knew where this place was, becauseJesus met there often with his followers. Judaswas the one who turned against Jesus. 3SoJudas came there with a group of soldiers andsome guards from the leading priests and thePharisees. They were carrying torches,lanterns, and weapons.

4Knowing everything that would happento him, Jesus went out and asked, “Who is ityou are looking for?”

5They answered, “Jesus from Nazareth.”“I am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, the one who

turned against Jesus, was standing there withthem.) 6When Jesus said, “I am he,” theymoved back and fell to the ground.

7Jesus asked them again, “Who is it you arelooking for?”

They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”8“I told you that I am he,” Jesus said. “So if

you are looking for me, let the others go.” 9Thishappened so that the words Jesus said beforewould come true: “I have not lost any of theones you gave me.”

10Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled itout and struck the servant of the high priest,cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s namewas Malchus.) 11Jesus said to Peter, “Put your

john 18:1 1308Bopopopopopopopopopo

If you attend a public highschool, you’re well aware of thesocial expectations that hit youfrom every side. And often times,private high schools don’t lookmuch different. In both types of

schools, there’s an obnoxiousamount of peer pressure and a million unspoken rules aboutwhat’s hot and what’s not. So what is your role as a believerin this drama known as high school?

In the last few hours before his arrest, Jesus shares somecritical words in John 17 about this exact issue. Jesus knowshis followers will have a tendency to go to one of twoextremes: either they’ll try to escape the world and hide outtogether in a little bubble, all safe and sound and Christian;or they’ll delve headfirst into the world and its pursuits,becoming exactly like them. He prays for his followers tofind that delicate balance between being in the world, yetnot of the world.

As we build relationships with unbelievers, it’s crucial tostay connected with other believers and God, allowing histruth to cleanse us and protect us from the Enemy. It’samazing how our speech, dress, values, and actions canstart to look curiously identical to the rest of the world ifwe’re not careful. We lose our saltiness and our light, andwe begin to blend right in. We need to embrace the peopleof this world but not their values and lifestyles. Ask God tohelp you find the perfect balance.

CHECK OUTTHE CONTEXT:

(Read John 17—19)

Jesus prays one final prayer

before the infamousnight begins.

The ultimate betrayalleads to the

ultimate sacrifice.

Peter chops off one ofthe guard’s ears.

Pilate questions Jesusand then hands him

over to the angry mob.

Jesus is crucified and buried.

DAILY DEVOSIN IT, NOT OF ITJOHN 17:15–18

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sword back. Shouldn’t I drink the cupn the Father gave me?”

Jesus Is Brought Before Annas12Then the soldiers with their commander

and the guards arrested Jesus. They tied him13and led him first to Annas, the father-in-lawof Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caia-phas was the one who told the Jews that itwould be better if one man died for all the people.

Peter Says He Doesn’t KnowJesus

15Simon Peter and another one of Jesus’ followers went along after Jesus. This followerknew the high priest, so he went with Jesusinto the high priest’s courtyard. 16But Peterwaited outside near the door. The followerwho knew the high priest came back out-side, spoke to the girl at the door, and broughtPeter inside. 17The girl at the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of that man’s fol-lowers?”

Peter answered, “No, I am not!”18It was cold, so the servants and guards

had built a fire and were standing around it,warming themselves. Peter also was standingwith them, warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus19The high priest asked Jesus questions

about his followers and his teaching. 20Jesusanswered, “I have spoken openly to everyone. Ihave always taught in synagogues and in theTemple, where all the Jews come together. Inever said anything in secret. 21So why do youquestion me? Ask the people who heard myteaching. They know what I said.”

22When Jesus said this, one of the guardsstanding there hit him. The guard said, “Is thatthe way you answer the high priest?”

23Jesus answered him, “If I said somethingwrong, then show what it was. But if what Isaid is true, why do you hit me?”

24Then Annas sent Jesus, who was still tied,to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Says Again He Doesn’tKnow Jesus

25As Simon Peter was standing and warm-ing himself, they said to him, “Aren’t you oneof that man’s followers?”

Peter said it was not true; he said, “No, I amnot.”

26One of the servants of the high priest was there. This servant was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off. The ser-vant said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”

27Again Peter said it wasn’t true. At once arooster crowed.

Jesus Is Brought Before Pilate28Early in the morning they led Jesus from

Caiaphas’s house to the Roman governor’spalace. They would not go inside the palace,because they did not want to make themselvesunclean;n they wanted to eat the Passover meal. 29So Pilate went outside to them andasked, “What charges do you bring against this man?”

30They answered, “If he were not a crimi-nal, we wouldn’t have brought him to you.”

31Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselvesand judge him by your own law.”

“But we are not allowed to put anyone todeath,” the Jews answered. 32(This happened sothat what Jesus said about how he would diewould come true.)

33Then Pilate went back inside the palaceand called Jesus to him and asked, “Are you theking of the Jews?”

34Jesus said, “Is that your own question, ordid others tell you about me?”

35Pilate answered, “I am not one of you. Itwas your own people and their leading priestswho handed you over to me. What have youdone wrong?”

36Jesus answered, “My kingdom does notbelong to this world. If it belonged to thisworld, my servants would have fought to keep me from being given over to the Jewishleaders. But my kingdom is from anotherplace.”

1309 john 18:36

18:11 cup Jesus is talking about the painful things that will happen to him. Accepting these things will be very hard, likedrinking a cup of something bitter. 18:28 unclean Going into the Roman palace would make them unfit to eat the Pass-over Feast, according to their Law.

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37Pilate said, “So you are a king!”Jesus answered, “You are the one saying I

am a king. This is why I was born and cameinto the world: to tell people the truth. Andeveryone who belongs to the truth listens to me.”

38Pilate said, “What is truth?” After he saidthis, he went out to the crowd again and saidto them, “I find nothing against this man. 39Butit is your custom that I free one prisoner to youat Passover time. Do you want me to free the‘king of the Jews’?”

40They shouted back, “No, not him! Let Bar-abbas go free!” (Barabbas was a robber.)

19 Then Pilate ordered that Jesus be takenaway and whipped. 2The soldiers made

a crown from some thorny branches and put iton Jesus’ head and put a purple robe aroundhim. 3Then they came to him many times andsaid, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and hit him inthe face.

4Again Pilate came out and said to them,“Look, I am bringing Jesus out to you. I wantyou to know that I find nothing against him.”5So Jesus came out, wearing the crown ofthorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them,“Here is the man!”

6When the leading priests and the guardssaw Jesus, they shouted, “Crucify him! Cru-cify him!”

But Pilate answered, “Crucify him yourselves, because I find nothing againsthim.”

7The leaders answered, “We have a law thatsays he should die, because he said he is theSon of God.”

8When Pilate heard this, he was even moreafraid. 9He went back inside the palace andasked Jesus, “Where do you come from?” ButJesus did not answer him. 10Pilate said, “You re-fuse to speak to me? Don’t you know I havepower to set you free and power to have youcrucified?”

11Jesus answered, “The only power youhave over me is the power given to you byGod. The man who turned me in to you isguilty of a greater sin.”

12After this, Pilate tried to let Jesus go.But some in the crowd cried out, “Anyone

who makes himself king is against Caesar. If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar.”

13When Pilate heard what they were say-ing, he brought Jesus out and sat down on thejudge’s seat at the place called The Stone Pave-ment. (In the Hebrew languagen the name isGabbatha.) 14It was about noon on PreparationDay of Passover week. Pilate said to the crowd,“Here is your king!”

15They shouted, “Take him away! Take himaway! Crucify him!”

Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to cru-cify your king?”

The leading priests answered, “The onlyking we have is Caesar.”

16So Pilate handed Jesus over to them to becrucified.

Jesus Is CrucifiedThe soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17Carry-

ing his own cross, Jesus went out to a placecalled The Place of the Skull, which in the He-brew languagen is called Golgotha. 18Therethey crucified Jesus. They also crucified twoother men, one on each side, with Jesus in themiddle. 19Pilate wrote a sign and put it on thecross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE

JEWS. 20The sign was written in Hebrew, inLatin, and in Greek. Many of the people readthe sign, because the place where Jesus wascrucified was near the city. 21The leadingpriests said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King ofthe Jews.’ But write, ‘This man said, “I am theKing of the Jews.”’”

22Pilate answered, “What I have written, Ihave written.”

23After the soldiers crucified Jesus, theytook his clothes and divided them into fourparts, with each soldier getting one part. Theyalso took his long shirt, which was all onepiece of cloth, woven from top to bottom. 24Sothe soldiers said to each other, “We should nottear this into parts. Let’s throw lots to see whowill get it.” This happened so that this Scrip-ture would come true:

“They divided my clothes among them,and they threw lots for my clothing.”

Psalm 22:18

john 18:37 1310

19:13, 17 Hebrew language Or Aramaic, the languages of many people in this region in the first century.

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So the soldiers did this.25Standing near his cross were Jesus’

mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife ofClopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesussaw his mother and the follower he lovedstanding nearby, he said to his mother, “Dearwoman, here is your son.” 27Then he said to the follower, “Here is your mother.” From thattime on, the follower took her to live in hishome.

Jesus Dies28After this, Jesus knew that everything

had been done. So that the Scripture wouldcome true, he said, “I am thirsty.”n 29There wasa jar full of vinegar there, so the soldierssoaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on abranch of a hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’mouth. 30When Jesus tasted the vinegar, hesaid, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his headand died.

31This day was Preparation Day, and thenext day was a special Sabbath day. Since thereligious leaders did not want the bodies tostay on the cross on the Sabbath day, theyasked Pilate to order that the legs of the menbe brokenn and the bodies be taken away. 32Sothe soldiers came and broke the legs of the firstman on the cross beside Jesus. Then they brokethe legs of the man on the other cross besideJesus. 33But when the soldiers came to Jesusand saw that he was already dead, they did notbreak his legs. 34But one of the soldiers stuckhis spear into Jesus’ side, and at once blood andwater came out. 35(The one who saw this hap-pen is the one who told us this, and whateverhe says is true. And he knows that he tells thetruth, and he tells it so that you might believe.)36These things happened to make the Scripturecome true: “Not one of his bones will be bro-ken.”n 37And another Scripture says, “They willlook at the one they stabbed.”n

Jesus Is Buried38Later, Joseph from Arimathea asked

Pilate if he could take the body of Jesus.

(Joseph was a secret follower of Jesus, becausehe was afraid of some of the leaders.) Pilategave his permission, so Joseph came and tookJesus’ body away. 39Nicodemus, who earlier had come to Jesus at night, went with Joseph.He brought about seventy-five pounds ofmyrrh and aloes. 40These two men took Jesus’body and wrapped it with the spices in piecesof linen cloth, which is how they bury thedead. 41In the place where Jesus was crucified,there was a garden. In the garden was a newtomb that had never been used before. 42Themen laid Jesus in that tomb because it wasnearby, and they were preparing to start theirSabbath day.

Jesus’ Tomb Is Empty

20 Early on the first day of the week,Mary Magdalene went to the tomb

while it was still dark. When she saw that thelarge stone had been moved away from thetomb, 2she ran to Simon Peter and the followerwhom Jesus loved. Mary said, “They have takenthe Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t knowwhere they have put him.”

3So Peter and the other follower started forthe tomb. 4They were both running, but theother follower ran faster than Peter andreached the tomb first. 5He bent down andlooked in and saw the strips of linen clothlying there, but he did not go in. 6Then follow-ing him, Simon Peter arrived and went into thetomb and saw the strips of linen lying there.7He also saw the cloth that had been aroundJesus’ head, which was folded up and laid in adifferent place from the strips of linen. 8Thenthe other follower, who had reached the tombfirst, also went in. He saw and believed. 9(Theydid not yet understand from the Scripturesthat Jesus must rise from the dead.)

Jesus Appears to MaryMagdalene

10Then the followers went back home.11But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. Asshe was crying, she bent down and looked

1311 john 20:11

19:28 “I am thirsty.” Read Psalms 22:15; 69:21. 19:31 broken The breaking of their bones would make them die sooner.19:36 “Not one . . . broken.” Quotation from Psalm 34:20. The idea is from Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12. 19:37 “They . . .stabbed.” Quotation from Zechariah 12:10.

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inside the tomb. 12She saw two angels dressedin white, sitting where Jesus’ body had been,one at the head and one at the feet.

13They asked her, “Woman, why are youcrying?”

She answered, “They have taken away myLord, and I don’t know where they have puthim.” 14When Mary said this, she turnedaround and saw Jesus standing there, but shedid not know it was Jesus.

15Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are youcrying? Whom are you looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said tohim, “Did you take him away, sir? Tell mewhere you put him, and I will get him.”

16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”Mary turned toward Jesus and said in the

Hebrew language,n “Rabboni.” (This means“Teacher.”)

17Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, be-cause I have not yet gone up to the Father. Butgo to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am goingback to my Father and your Father, to my Godand your God.’”

18Mary Magdalene went and said to the fol-lowers, “I saw the Lord!” And she told themwhat Jesus had said to her.

Jesus Appears to His Followers19When it was evening on the first day of

the week, Jesus’ followers were together. Thedoors were locked, because they were afraid ofthe elders. Then Jesus came and stood right inthe middle of them and said, “Peace be withyou.” 20After he said this, he showed them hishands and his side. His followers were thrilledwhen they saw the Lord.

21Then Jesus said again, “Peace be with you.As the Father sent me, I now send you.” 22Afterhe said this, he breathed on them and said, “Re-ceive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyonehis sins, they are forgiven. If you don’t forgivethem, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas24Thomas (called Didymus), who was one

of the twelve, was not with them when Jesuscame. 25The other followers kept tellingThomas, “We saw the Lord.”

john 20:12 1312

20:16 Hebrew language Or Aramaic, the languages of many people in this region in the first century.

MaryMagdalene

Mary Magdalene runs through thedark streets, trying not to drawattention to herself. She cries quietly asshe enters the garden where Jesus hasbeen buried. There is no one here. Doesanyone even care? she wonders.

For years no one would come closeto her, and she had to steal or beg forfood. Seven demons made her anoutcast in society. Loneliness hadoverwhelmed her until he touched her.When Jesus called out the demons, shewas free from the suffering and painand humiliation. She started followinghim and gave everything she had tohelp him spread his Good News.

But now Jesus is dead, and she isonce again alone. She tiptoes to thetomb so she can be near him. Suddenlyshe feels the wind knocked out of her—the stone has been rolled away, and herSavior is gone! Why would they take him?she moans. Tears stream down her faceas she kneels before the massive hole.

“Woman, why are you crying?” Thevoice scares her, but what she feelsmost is sadness.

She assumes he’s the gardener. “Didyou take him away, sir?”

“Mary.” The voice is gentle andstrong, full of comfort and hope.

She jumps to her feet. Jesus is alive!He could have gone to the high priestor to Pilate, but instead chose her asthe first one to see him after hisresurrection.

Jesus reveals himself to those whoknow they need him.

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But Thomas said, “I will not believe it untilI see the nail marks in his hands and put myfinger where the nails were and put my handinto his side.”

26A week later the followers were in thehouse again, and Thomas was with them. Thedoors were locked, but Jesus came in and stoodright in the middle of them. He said, “Peace bewith you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put yourfinger here, and look at my hands. Put yourhand here in my side. Stop being an unbelieverand believe.”

28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and myGod!”

29Then Jesus told him, “You believe be-

cause you see me. Those who believe withoutseeing me will be truly blessed.”

Why John Wrote This Book30Jesus did many other miracles in the

presence of his followers that are not writtenin this book. 31But these are written so that youmay believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son ofGod. Then, by believing, you may have lifethrough his name.

Jesus Appears to SevenFollowers

21 Later, Jesus showed himself to his fol-lowers again—this time at Lake Galilee.n

1313 john 21:1

BopopopopopopopopopoPoor Thomas always gets a

bad rap. You’ve probably heardthe phrase “doubting Thomas.”Well, Thomas Didymus was theinspiration behind it. His greatact of disbelief in John 20 has

been forever immortalized in theminds of Sunday school students everywhere.

Okay, so maybe he is a little pessimistic at times, but he’salso a man of courage and commitment. Back in John 11,Jesus tells his followers that he’s going toward Jerusalem—avery dangerous place for Jesus at this point. Thomas doesn’tmince words here. He says it like it is: “Let us also go so thatwe can die with him” (John 11:16). He’s keepin’ it real, yetgoing forward in faith. Then in John 20, we find Thomasrefusing to believe that Jesus is alive. Thomas hasn’t had achance—unlike his buddies—to see Jesus after hisresurrection. When Jesus does appear to Thomas, though,he instantly believes.

Do you wrestle with doubts about God? Do yousometimes wonder if he even exists? After reading aboutJesus’ life, do you believe it’s all true? If you have doubts,bring them to God. He’s not afraid of any question you throwhis way. In fact, he wants us to be intelligent about ourbeliefs. He wants us to keep it real. But don’t just stay stuckin your doubts. Seek the truth, talk to God, and talk to otherbelievers. Thomas may have doubted initially, buteventually, he moved forward in faith.

CHECK OUTTHE CONTEXT:

(Read John 20—21)

Mary goes to pay herrespects to Jesus

and gets the surprise of her life.

Jesus is alive!

Jesus hangs out and has lunch with hisfollowers on the beach.

Peter and Jesus have a necessary

heart-to-heart.

DAILY DEVOSKEEPIN’ IT REALJOHN 20:29

21:1 Lake Galilee Literally, “Sea of Tiberias.”

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This is how he showed himself: 2Some of thefollowers were together: Simon Peter, Thomas(called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Gal-ilee, the two sons of Zebedee, and two otherfollowers. 3Simon Peter said, “I am going out tofish.”

The others said, “We will go with you.” Sothey went out and got into the boat. Theyfished that night but caught nothing.

4Early the next morning Jesus stood on theshore, but the followers did not know it wasJesus. 5Then he said to them, “Friends, did youcatch any fish?”

They answered, “No.”6He said, “Throw your net on the right side

of the boat, and you will find some.” So theydid, and they caught so many fish they couldnot pull the net back into the boat.

7The follower whom Jesus loved said toPeter, “It is the Lord!” When Peter heard himsay this, he wrapped his coat around himself.(Peter had taken his clothes off.) Then hejumped into the water. 8The other followerswent to shore in the boat, dragging the net fullof fish. They were not very far from shore, onlyabout a hundred yards. 9When the followersstepped out of the boat and onto the shore,they saw a fire of hot coals. There were fish onthe fire, and there was bread.

10Then Jesus said, “Bring some of the fishyou just caught.”

11Simon Peter went into the boat andpulled the net to the shore. It was full of bigfish, one hundred fifty-three in all, but eventhough there were so many, the net did nottear. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and eat.” Noneof the followers dared ask him, “Who are you?”because they knew it was the Lord. 13Jesuscame and took the bread and gave it to them,along with the fish.

14This was now the third time Jesusshowed himself to his followers after he wasraised from the dead.

Jesus Talks to Peter15When they finished eating, Jesus said to

Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you loveme more than these?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that Ilove you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”16Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do

you love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I

love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”17A third time he said, “Simon son of John,

do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the

third time, “Do you love me?” Peter said, “Lord,you know everything; you know that I loveyou!”

He said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18I tell you the truth, when you were younger, youtied your own belt and went where youwanted. But when you are old, you will put out your hands and someone else will tie youand take you where you don’t want to go.”19(Jesus said this to show how Peter would dieto give glory to God.) Then Jesus said to Peter,“Follow me!”

20Peter turned and saw that the followerJesus loved was walking behind them. (Thiswas the follower who had leaned against Jesusat the supper and had said, “Lord, who willturn against you?”) 21When Peter saw him be-hind them, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what abouthim?”

22Jesus answered, “If I want him to liveuntil I come back, that is not your business.You follow me.”

23So a story spread among the followersthat this one would not die. But Jesus did notsay he would not die. He only said, “If I wanthim to live until I come back, that is not yourbusiness.”

24That follower is the one who is tellingthese things and who has now written them down. We know that what he says istrue.

25There are many other things Jesus did. Ifevery one of them were written down, I sup-pose the whole world would not be big enoughfor all the books that would be written.

john 21:2 1314

Jesus said to them,

“Come and eat.” None of the followers

dared ask him, “Who are you?”

because they knew it was the Lord.

JOHN 21:12

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( john the big picture)

JESUS IS GOD!At first glance, the Book of John appears redundant—another Gospel? Why do we need yet

another testimony of Jesus’ life? Well, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke narrate whatJesus did, but John’s Gospel reveals who Jesus is. Every chapter oozes with proof and declarationof Jesus’ divine nature. In fact, John says that’s exactly why he wrote this book: “So that you maybelieve that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (20:31).

So why is it so important that Jesus is truly God? If he was just some nice, cool guy that lovedpeople a lot, Christianity couldn’t exist. Jesus’ perfection as God, wrapped in human form, madehim an acceptable sacrifice for our sins . . . and that’s the only way we can become friends withour heavenly Father. We’re completely wrecked by sin without Jesus Christ as our Savior.

The Book of John is so significant in the way it complements the rest of the Bible. It gives ussuch an intimate portrait of Jesus: his passion, his devotion, his warmth, his intensity, his self-sacrifice, his humanness, and his deity.

For both the believer and the one who is searching for truth, John provides a profoundencounter with our Creator and Savior. As you meditate on the rich imagery and vivid wordpictures, the reality of Jesus Christ becomes totally captivating. John’s Gospel is a great place tofind Jesus and fall in love with him—for the first time or the hundredth.

I get real! LWhy did God choose to live on earth? (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4–5)

Did Jesus care about what people thought about him? Should you? (John 5:41; John 12:42–43;Galatians 1:10)

What part does the Holy Spirit play in your life? (John 16:13; Acts 2:17–21; 9:31; Galatians 5:16–25)

Do you look out for the well-being of others, or do you mainly focus on your own needs andwants? (Romans 12:10; Ephesians 5:1–2; Philippians 2:3–5; 1 John 3:16–18)

Are you independent or dependent when it comes to your relationship with God? (Psalm 63:1;John 15:5; 2 Corinthians 1:8–10)

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