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耶稣的弟弟也不信他

这事以后,耶稣周游加利利,不愿在犹太往来,因为犹太人想要杀他。 犹太人的住棚节快到了, 耶稣的弟弟就对他说:“你应当离开这里上犹太去,好让你的门徒也可以看见你所行的事; 因为没有人想引人注目,却在暗处行事的。你既然行这些事,就应该向世人显明自己。” 原来连他的弟弟也不信他。 耶稣就对他们说:“我的时候还没有到,你们的时候却常常是方便的。 世人不能恨你们,却憎恨我,因为我指证他们的行为是邪恶的。 你们上去过节吧!我现在不上去过这个节,因为我的时机还没有成熟。” 他说了这些话以后,仍然住在加利利。

住棚节时在殿里教导人

10 然而,他的弟弟上去过节以后,他也上去过节,不是公开地去,却是暗中地去。 11 过节的时候,犹太人寻找耶稣,说:“那人在哪里呢?” 12 群众因他纷纷议论,有的说:“他是好人。”有的说:“不,他是欺骗众人的。” 13 但没有人敢公开讲论他,因为怕犹太人。

14 节期当中,耶稣上圣殿去教导人。 15 犹太人就希奇,说:“这个人没有学过,怎会通晓经书呢?” 16 耶稣说:“我的教训不是我自己的,而是出于那差我来的。 17 人若愿意遵行 神的旨意,就会知道这教训是出于 神,还是我凭着自己的意思说的。 18 那凭着自己的意思说的,是求自己的荣誉;但那寻求差他来者的荣耀的,才是真诚的人,在他里面没有不义。 19 摩西不是曾经把律法传给你们吗?你们竟然没有一个人遵行律法。你们为甚么想要杀我呢?” 20 群众回答:“你是鬼附的,谁想要杀你呢?” 21 耶稣说:“我行了一件事,你们都以为希奇。 22 摩西曾经把割礼传给你们(其实割礼不是从摩西开始的,而是从列祖开始的),因此,你们在安息日也给人行割礼。 23 如果人在安息日行割礼,为的是要遵守摩西的律法,那么我在安息日使一个人全身健康,你们就向我生气吗? 24 不要按外貌判断人,总要公公平平地判断人。”

他是基督吗?

25 当时,有些耶路撒冷人说:“这不是他们想要杀的人吗? 26 你看,他还在公开地讲话,竟然没有人对他说甚么,难道官长们真的认为这个人就是基督吗? 27 可是我们知道这个人是从哪里来的,只是基督来的时候,没有人知道他是从哪里来的!” 28 当时耶稣在殿里教导人,大声说:“你们以为认识我,也知道我从哪里来,其实我不是凭着自己的意思来的,但那差我来的是真实的,你们却不认识他。 29 然而我认识他,因为我从他那里来,也是他差我来的。” 30 于是他们想逮捕他,只是没有人下手,因为他的时候还没有到。 31 群众中有许多人信了他。他们说:“基督来的时候,他所行的神迹,能比这人所行的更多吗?”

法利赛人等想逮捕耶稣

32 法利赛人听见群众纷纷议论这些关于耶稣的事,祭司长和法利赛人就派差役去逮捕耶稣。 33 于是耶稣说:“我跟你们在一起的时候不多了,我要回到那差我来的那里去。 34 你们要寻找我,却找不着;我所在的地方,你们是不能去的。” 35 犹太人彼此说:“这个人要到哪里去,使我们找不着他呢?难道他要到散居在希腊人中的犹太人那里,去教导希腊人吗? 36 他说‘你们要寻找我,却找不着;我所在的地方,你们是不能去的’这话,是甚么意思呢?”

信的人要接受圣灵

37 节期的最后一天,就是最隆重的那一天,耶稣站着高声说:“人若渴了,可以到我这里来喝! 38 信我的人,就像圣经所说的,从他的腹中要涌流出活水的江河来。” 39 他这话是指着信他的人要接受圣灵说的;那时圣灵还没有降临,因为耶稣还没有得着荣耀。

群众因耶稣起了纷争

40 群众中有人听了这些话,就说:“这真是‘那位先知’!” 41 另有人说:“他是基督。”还有人说:“基督是从加利利出来的吗? 42 圣经不是说基督是大卫的后裔,是从大卫本乡伯利恒出来的吗?” 43 群众因为耶稣的缘故,就起了纷争。 44 他们中间有人想逮捕耶稣,只是没有人下手。

官长不信耶稣

45 差役回到祭司长和法利赛人那里。他们就问差役:“你们为甚么没有把他带来?” 46 差役回答:“从来没有人像他这样讲话的!” 47 法利赛人说:“连你们也受了欺骗吗? 48 官长或法利赛人中间有谁是信他的呢? 49 至于这群不明白律法的人,他们是可咒诅的。” 50 他们当中有一个人,就是以前来见耶稣的尼哥德慕,对他们说: 51 “如果不先听取他本人的口供,查明他所作的事,我们的律法怎能把他定罪呢?” 52 他们回答:“你也是从加利利出来的吗?你去考查一下,就知道先知是不会从加利利兴起的。”

53 于是各人都回家去了。(后期抄本才加上7:53~8:11)

Jesus and his brothers

After this, Jesus visited many places in Galilee. He did not want to visit Judea because the Jewish leaders there wanted to kill him. It was almost time for the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles.[a] So Jesus' brothers said to him, ‘You should leave this place and you should go to Judea. Then your disciples will see the great things that you do. Nobody does things secretly if he wants everyone to know him. You are doing these things, so you should show yourself to everybody.’ Even his own brothers did not believe in him.

So Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the right time for me yet. For you, any time is right. People who belong to this world cannot hate you. But they hate me. The things that they do are very bad. And I tell them that those things are wrong. That is why they hate me. You should go to the festival. I will not go to it now, because it is not the right time for me yet.’ After Jesus said that, he stayed in Galilee.

Jesus goes to the Festival of Tabernacles

10 Some time after his brothers had gone, Jesus also went to the festival. But he did not let other people know that he was going. Instead, he went secretly. 11 The Jewish leaders were looking for him at the festival. They asked, ‘Where is that man?’ 12 People in the crowd were talking quietly to each other about Jesus. Some people said, ‘He is a good man.’ But other people said, ‘No, he is telling the people things that are not true.’ 13 But nobody spoke in public places about him, because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.

14 In the middle of the time of the festival, Jesus went to the temple. He started to teach in the yard there. 15 The Jewish leaders were very surprised. They asked, ‘How does this man know so much? He has not learned in our schools.’ 16 Jesus answered, ‘What I teach does not come from me. No, it comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do what God wants will know about my teaching. They will know whether it comes from God, or whether it comes from my own thoughts. 18 A person who teaches his own ideas wants people to think that he himself is great. But I want to show that the one who sent me is great. A person like that is honest and there is nothing false in him. 19 Moses gave God's Law to you. But not one of you obeys that Law. Why are you trying to kill me?’

20 The crowd answered, ‘You have a demon in you! Nobody is trying to kill you!’

21 Jesus replied, ‘I did one miracle on the day of rest, and all of you were surprised. 22 Moses gave you a law that you must circumcise your sons. Your ancestors taught that, even before Moses was born. So you will agree to circumcise a boy, even on the day of rest.[b] 23 You will do that so that you obey Moses' law. So you should not be angry with me because I made a man completely well on the day of rest. 24 Do not quickly decide whether something is right or wrong just because of what you see. Instead, think about it carefully. Then you will judge in a right way.’

The people talk about whether Jesus is the Messiah

25 Some of the people in Jerusalem began to say, ‘This is the man that our leaders want to kill. 26 But look! He is speaking to the crowds, and the leaders are not saying anything against him! Perhaps they really think that he is the Messiah! 27 But we know where this man came from. When the Messiah comes, nobody will know that. Nobody will know where he has come from.’

28 Jesus was still teaching in the yard of the temple. He shouted, ‘Yes, you say that you know me. And you know where I came from. But I have not come because I myself decided to come. He who sent me is true. You do not know him. 29 But I know him because I have come from him. He is the one who sent me.’ 30 When they heard this, they tried to take hold of him. But nobody could put their hands on him, because it was not yet the right time. 31 But many people in the crowd believed in Jesus. They said, ‘This man has done so many miracles. Surely he is the Messiah! Nobody could do more miracles than he has done.’

32 The Pharisees heard what these people were saying quietly about Jesus. Then the leaders of the priests and the Pharisees sent some of their officers to take him away.

33 Jesus said, ‘I will be with you for only a short time. Then I will return to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me. You cannot go to the place where I will be.’ 35 The Jewish leaders asked each other, ‘What is he trying to tell us? Where can he go so that we cannot find him? Perhaps he will go to our people who have gone away to live among the Greek people.[c] Perhaps he will go to teach the Greek people. 36 He said, “You will look for me, but you will not find me.” And he also said, “You cannot go to the place where I will be.” What does he mean?’

Streams of water that give life to people

37 The last day of the festival was the most important day. On that day, Jesus stood up and he spoke with a loud voice. He said, ‘If anyone is thirsty, he should come to me so that he may drink. 38 It says in the Bible, “God will cause streams of water to pour out from anyone who believes in me. Water that gives life will come out from inside that person.” ’ 39 Jesus was speaking about God's Spirit, who would come to people some time after that. Those people who believed in Jesus would receive God's Spirit at that later time. But God had not yet given his Spirit to people, because he had not yet raised Jesus back up to heaven.[d]

The people argue about who Jesus is

40 The people in the crowd heard Jesus say these words. Some of them said, ‘Surely this man must be the Prophet from God that we have been waiting for!’ 41 Other people said, ‘This man is the Messiah.’ But some other people said, ‘The Messiah will not come from Galilee! 42 The Bible says that the Messiah will come from King David's family.[e] He will come from Bethlehem, the town where David lived.’ 43 In this way the people had different thoughts about Jesus. 44 Some people wanted to take hold of him. But nobody could put their hands on him to take him away.

45 The officers returned to the leaders of the priests and the Pharisees. The leaders asked their officers, ‘Why did you not bring Jesus here?’ 46 The officers answered, ‘Nobody has ever spoken great things like this man speaks.’ 47 The Pharisees replied, ‘He seems to have made you believe his lies! 48 None of the Pharisees or our leaders believe in him. 49 But this crowd does not know what God's Law teaches. God will surely punish them.’

50 Nicodemus spoke to them. He himself was one of the Pharisees. He was the man who had gone to speak with Jesus before. He said, 51 ‘We must find out first what this man has done. Then we can decide if it is right to punish him. Our law says that we must listen to him first.’ 52 They answered Nicodemus, ‘Perhaps you come from Galilee, as well as him! Study what the Bible teaches. You will learn that no prophet of God ever comes from Galilee.’ 53 [Then everyone went to his own home.][f]

Footnotes

  1. 7:2 The Festival of Tabernacles continued for a week. See Leviticus 23:34, where it is called the Feast of Huts. The people built huts from branches and they lived in these small huts during the festival. This helped them to remember what God had done. A long time before this, their ancestors had left Egypt and they had lived in huts like this. God had brought them out of Egypt so that they did not have to be slaves there any longer. The festival happened each year, after Israel's people had brought in all the harvest from the fields. It was a time for the people to thank God because he was so good to them.
  2. 7:22 God had told Israel's people that they must circumcise every boy. To circumcise means to cut off the skin that covers the end of a boy's or a man's sex part. It was a mark to show that Israel's people had agreed to obey God. It showed that they belonged to God's people, Israel. They circumcised a boy eight days after he was born. Even if the eighth day was their day of rest, they circumcised the baby on that day.
  3. 7:35 Greek people come from the country called Greece. When Jesus lived on the earth, Greek people also lived in many other countries.
  4. 7:39 Many verses in the Old Testament speak about ‘water’ that gives us life. See Isaiah 44:3; 58:11 and Zechariah 13:1; 14:8. The Jews would read these verses aloud at the Festival of Tabernacles.
  5. 7:42 The Bible that the Jews read was the Old Testament.
  6. 7:53 Many old translations do not have this verse.

Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles

After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders(A) there were looking for a way to kill him.(B) But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles(C) was near, Jesus’ brothers(D) said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.(E)

Therefore Jesus told them, “My time(F) is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me(G) because I testify that its works are evil.(H) You go to the festival. I am not[b] going up to this festival, because my time(I) has not yet fully come.” After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus(J) and asking, “Where is he?”

12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”(K) 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.(L)

Jesus Teaches at the Festival

14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.(M) 15 The Jews(N) there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning(O) without having been taught?”(P)

16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.(Q) 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out(R) whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory,(S) but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law?(T) Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”(U)

20 “You are demon-possessed,”(V) the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”

21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle,(W) and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision(X) (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs),(Y) you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”(Z)

Division Over Who Jesus Is

25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?(AA) 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities(AB) really concluded that he is the Messiah?(AC) 27 But we know where this man is from;(AD) when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts,(AE) cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from.(AF) I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true.(AG) You do not know him, 29 but I know him(AH) because I am from him and he sent me.”(AI)

30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him,(AJ) because his hour had not yet come.(AK) 31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him.(AL) They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs(AM) than this man?”

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.

33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time,(AN) and then I am going to the one who sent me.(AO) 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”(AP)

35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered(AQ) among the Greeks,(AR) and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”(AS)

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival,(AT) Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.(AU) 38 Whoever believes(AV) in me, as Scripture has said,(AW) rivers of living water(AX) will flow from within them.”[c](AY) 39 By this he meant the Spirit,(AZ) whom those who believed in him were later to receive.(BA) Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.(BB)

40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”(BC)

41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?(BD) 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants(BE) and from Bethlehem,(BF) the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided(BG) because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.(BH)

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,”(BI) the guards replied.

47 “You mean he has deceived you also?”(BJ) the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?(BK) 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

50 Nicodemus,(BL) who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”(BM)


[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36, John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.]

53 Then they all went home,

Footnotes

  1. John 7:1 Some manuscripts not have authority
  2. John 7:8 Some manuscripts not yet
  3. John 7:38 Or me. And let anyone drink 38 who believes in me.” As Scripture has said, “Out of him (or them) will flow rivers of living water.”