Life Through THE SON

       So, because JESUS was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted HIM. JESUS said to them, "MY FATHER is always at HIS work to this very day, and I, too, am working." For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill HIM; not only was HE breaking the Sabbath, but HE was even calling GOD HIS OWN FATHER, making HIMSELF equal with GOD.

       JESUS gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, THE SON can do nothing by HIMSELF; HE can do only what HE sees HIS FATHER doing, because whatever THE FATHER does THE SON also does. For THE FATHER loves THE SON and shows HIM all HE does. Yes, to your amazement HE will show HIM even greater things than these. For just as THE FATHER raises the dead and gives them life, even so THE SON gives life to whom HE is pleased to give it. Moreover, THE FATHER judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to THE SON, that all may honor THE SON just as they honor THE FATHER. He who does not honor THE SON does not honor THE FATHER, who sent HIM.

       "I tell you the truth, whoever hears MY word and believes HIM who sent ME has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of THE SON OF GOD and those who hear will live. For as THE FATHER has life in HIMSELF, so HE has granted THE SON to have life in HIMSELF. And HE has given HIM authority to judge because HE is THE SON OF MAN.

       "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear HIS voice and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By MYSELF I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and MY judgment is just, for I seek not to please MYSELF but HIM who sent ME.

Gospel of John: chapter 5, verses 16 - 30

Testimonies About JESUS

       "If I testify about MYSELF, MY testimony is not valid. There is another who testifies in MY favor, and I know that HIS testimony about ME is valid.

       "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

       "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that THE FATHER has given ME to finish, and which I AM doing, testifies that THE FATHER has sent ME. And THE FATHER who sent ME has HIMSELF testified concerning ME. You have never heard HIS voice nor seen HIS form, nor does HIS word dwell in you, for you do not believe THE ONE HE sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about ME, yet you refuse to come to ME to have life.

       "I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of GOD in your hearts. I have come in MY FATHER'S name, and you do not accept ME; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from THE ONLY GOD?

       "But do not think I will accuse you before THE FATHER. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe ME, for he wrote about ME. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"

Gospel of John: chapter 5, verses 31 - 47

JESUS The Bread of Life

       When they found HIM on the other side of the lake, they asked HIM, "Rabbi, when did YOU get here?"

       JESUS answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for ME, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which THE SON OF MAN will give you. On HIM GOD THE FATHER has placed HIS seal of approval."

       Then they asked HIM, "What must we do to do the works GOD requires?"

       JESUS answered, "The work of GOD is this: to believe in THE ONE HE has sent."

       So they asked HIM, "What miraculous sign then will YOU give that we may see it and believe YOU? What will YOU do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'HE gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "

       JESUS said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is MY FATHER who gives you THE TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN. For THE BREAD OF GOD is HE who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

       "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."

       Then JESUS declared, "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. He who comes to ME will never go hungry, and he who believes in ME will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen ME and still you do not believe. All that THE FATHER gives ME will come to ME, and whoever comes to ME I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do MY will but to do the will of HIM who sent ME. And this is the will of HIM who sent ME, that I shall lose none of all that HE has given ME, but raise them up at the last day. For MY FATHER'S will is that everyone who looks to THE SON and believes in HIM shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

       At this the Jews began to grumble about HIM because HE said, "I AM THE BREAD THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN." They said, "Is this not JESUS, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can HE now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"

       "Stop grumbling among yourselves," JESUS answered. "No one can come to ME unless THE FATHER who sent ME draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by GOD.' Everyone who listens to THE FATHER and learns from HIM comes to ME. No one has seen THE FATHER except THE ONE who is from GOD; only HE has seen THE FATHER. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is THE BREAD THAT COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN, which a man may eat and not die. I AM THE LIVING BREAD THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is MY flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

       Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us HIS flesh to eat?"

       JESUS said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of THE SON OF MAN and drink HIS blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats MY flesh and drinks MY blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For MY flesh is real food and MY blood is real drink. Whoever eats MY flesh and drinks MY blood remains in ME, and I in him. Just as THE LIVING FATHER sent ME and I live because of THE FATHER, so the one who feeds on ME will live because of ME. This is THE BREAD THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." HE said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Gospel of John: chapter 6, verses 25 - 59

The Validity of JESUS' Testimony

       When JESUS spoke again to the people, HE said, "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. Whoever follows ME will never walk in darkness, but will have THE LIGHT OF LIFE."

       The Pharisees challenged HIM, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."

       JESUS answered, "Even if I testify on MY own behalf, MY testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I AM going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I AM going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, MY decisions are right, because I AM not alone. I stand with THE FATHER, who sent ME. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I AM ONE who testifies for MYSELF; MY other witness is THE FATHER, who sent ME."

       Then they asked HIM, "Where is your father?"

       "You do not know ME or MY FATHER," JESUS replied. "If you knew ME, you would know MY FATHER also." HE spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized HIM, because HIS time had not yet come.

       Once more JESUS said to them, "I AM going away, and you will look for ME, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come."

       This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, 'Where I go, you cannot come'?"

       But HE continued, "You are from below; I AM from above. You are of this world; I AM not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I AM THE ONE I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."

       "Who are you?" they asked.

       "Just what I have been claiming all along," JESUS replied. "I have much to say in judgment of you. But HE who sent ME is reliable, and what I have heard from HIM I tell the world."

       They did not understand that HE was telling them about HIS FATHER. So JESUS said, "When you have lifted up THE SON OF MAN, then you will know that I AM THE ONE I claim to be and that I do nothing on MY own but speak just what THE FATHER has taught ME. THE ONE who sent ME is with ME; HE has not left ME alone, for I always do what pleases HIM." Even as HE spoke, many put their faith in HIM.

Gospel of John: chapter 8, verses 12 - 30

The Children of Abraham

       To the Jews who had believed HIM, JESUS said, "If you hold to MY teaching, you are really MY disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

       They answered HIM, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

       JESUS replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if THE SON sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill ME, because you have no room for MY word. I AM telling you what I have seen in THE FATHER'S presence, and you do what you have heard from your father."

       "Abraham is our father," they answered.

       "If you were Abraham's children," said JESUS, "then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill ME, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from GOD. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father does."

       "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."

Gospel of John: chapter 8, verses 31 - 41

The Children of the Devil

       JESUS said to them, "If GOD were your FATHER, you would love ME, for I came from GOD and now am here. I have not come on MY own; but HE sent ME. Why is MY language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe ME! Can any of you prove ME guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe ME? He who belongs to GOD hears what GOD says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to GOD."

Gospel of John: chapter 8, verses 42 - 47

The Claims of JESUS About HIMSELF

       The Jews answered HIM, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"

       "I am not possessed by a demon," said JESUS, "but I honor MY FATHER and you dishonor ME. I am not seeking glory for MYSELF; but there is one who seeks it, and HE is THE JUDGE. I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps MY word, he will never see death."

       At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"

       JESUS replied, "If I glorify MYSELF, MY glory means nothing. MY FATHER, whom you claim as your GOD, is THE ONE who glorifies ME. Though you do not know HIM, I know HIM. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know HIM and keep HIS word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing MY day; he saw it and was glad."

       "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to HIM, "and You have seen Abraham!"

       "I tell you the truth," JESUS answered, "before Abraham was born, I AM!" At this, they picked up stones to stone HIM, but JESUS hid HIMSELF, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Gospel of John: chapter 8, verses 48 - 59

The Shepherd and His Flock

   "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." JESUS used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what HE was telling them.

       Therefore JESUS said again, "I tell you the truth, I AM THE GATE FOR THE SHEEP. All who ever came before ME were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I AM THE GATE; whoever enters through ME will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

       "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. THE GOOD SHEPHERD lays down HIS life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

       "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD; I know MY sheep and MY sheep know ME--just as THE FATHER knows ME and I know THE FATHER--and I lay down MY life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to MY voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason MY FATHER loves ME is that I lay down MY life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from ME, but I lay it down of MY own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from MY FATHER."

       At these words the Jews were again divided. Many of them said, "HE is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to HIM?"

       But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

Gospel of John: chapter 10, verses 1 -21

The Unbelief of the Jews

       Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and JESUS was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around HIM, saying, "How long will YOU keep us in suspense? If YOU are THE CHRIST, tell us plainly."

       JESUS answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in MY FATHER'S name speak for ME, but you do not believe because you are not MY sheep. MY sheep listen to MY voice; I know them, and they follow ME. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of MY hand. MY FATHER, who has given them to ME, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of MY FATHER'S hand. I and THE FATHER are one."

      Again the Jews picked up stones to stone HIM, but JESUS said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from THE FATHER. For which of these do you stone ME?"

       "We are not stoning YOU for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because YOU, a mere man, claim to be GOD."

       JESUS answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'? If HE called them 'gods,' to whom the word of GOD came--and the Scripture cannot be broken--what about THE ONE whom THE FATHER set apart as HIS very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse ME of blasphemy because I said, 'I AM GOD'S SON'? Do not believe ME unless I do what MY FATHER does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe ME, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that THE FATHER is in ME, and I in THE FATHER." Again they tried to seize HIM, but HE escaped their grasp.

       Then JESUS went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here HE stayed and many people came to HIM. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." And in that place many believed in JESUS.

Gospel of John: chapter 10, verses 22 - 42

The Jews Continue in Their Unbelief

       Even after JESUS had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in HIM. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

          "LORD, who has believed our message

              and to whom has the arm of THE LORD been revealed?"

       For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

          "HE has blinded their eyes

              and deadened their hearts,

          so they can neither see with their eyes,

              nor understand with their hearts,

              nor turn--and I would heal them."

Isaiah said this because he saw JESUS' glory and spoke about HIM.

       Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in HIM. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from GOD.

       Then JESUS cried out, "When a man believes in ME, he does not believe in ME only, but in THE ONE who sent ME. When he looks at ME, he sees THE ONE who sent ME. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in ME should stay in darkness.

       "As for the person who hears MY words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects ME and does not accept MY words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of MY own accord, but THE FATHER who sent ME commanded ME what to say and how to say it. I know that HIS command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what THE FATHER has told ME to say."

Gospel of John: chapter 12, verses 37 - 50