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John 9-12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

A Man Born Blind Receives Sight

9 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.(A) 4 We[a] must work the works of him who sent me[b] while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.(B) 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”(C) 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes,(D) 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.(E) 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am he.” 10 But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.(F) 15 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided.(G) 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”(H)

18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus[c] to be the Messiah[d] would be put out of the synagogue.(I) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.”(J) 25 He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.(K) 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”(L) 30 The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.(M) 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”[e](N) 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir?[f] Tell me, so that I may believe in him.”(O) 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”(P) 38 He said, “Lord,[g] I believe.” And he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see and those who do see may become blind.”(Q) 40 Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?”(R) 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.(S)

Jesus the Good Shepherd

10 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.(T) 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[h] are thieves and bandits, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.(U)

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.(V) 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.(W) 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.(X) 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes[i] it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

19 Again the Jews were divided because of these words.(Y) 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?”(Z) 21 Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”(AA)

Jesus Is Rejected by the Jews

22 At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.(AB) 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah,[j] tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me,(AC) 26 but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep.(AD) 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.(AE) 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.(AF) 29 My Father, in regard to what he has given me, is greater than all,[k] and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand.(AG) 30 The Father and I are one.”

31 The Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human, are making yourself God.”(AH) 34 Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law,[l] ‘I said, you are gods’?(AI) 35 If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’—and the scripture cannot be annulled— 36 can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?(AJ) 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me.(AK) 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand[m] that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”(AL) 39 Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.(AM)

40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. 41 Many came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.”(AN) 42 And many believed in him there.(AO)

The Death of Lazarus

11 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.(AP) 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill.(AQ) 3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus,[n] “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather, it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”(AR) 5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6 after having heard that Lazarus[o] was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”(AS) 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?”(AT) 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble because they see the light of this world. 10 But those who walk at night stumble because the light is not in them.” 11 After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.”[p] 13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Thomas, who was called the Twin,[q] said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Jesus the Resurrection and the Life

17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus[r] had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother.(AU) 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.”(AV) 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”(AW) 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[s] Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,(AX) 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,[t] the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”(AY)

Jesus Weeps

28 When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come to the village but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”(AZ) 33 When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34 He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus began to weep.(BA) 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”(BB)

Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life

38 Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.(BC) 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.”(BD) 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”(BE) 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me.(BF) 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.”(BG) 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”(BH)

The Plot to Kill Jesus

45 Many of the Jews, therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did believed in him.(BI) 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.(BJ) 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place[u] and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all!(BK) 50 You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.”(BL) 51 He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. 53 So from that day on they planned to put him to death.(BM)

54 Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness, and he remained there with the disciples.(BN)

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.(BO) 56 They were looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus[v] was should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Mary Anoints Jesus

12 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.(BP) 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him.(BQ) 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped them[w] with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.(BR) 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it[x] so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.(BS) 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”(BT)

The Plot to Kill Lazarus

9 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.(BU)

Jesus’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—
    the King of Israel!”(BV)

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15 “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
    sitting on a donkey’s colt!”(BW)

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.(BX) 17 So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify.[y] 18 It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. 19 The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”(BY)

Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks.(BZ) 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew, then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.(CA) 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.(CB) 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.(CC)

Jesus Speaks about His Death

27 “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say: ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.(CD) 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”(CE) 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.(CF) 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people[z] to myself.”(CG) 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 34 The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah[aa] remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”(CH) 35 Jesus said to them, “The light is in you[ab] for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.(CI) 37 Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

“Lord, who has believed our message,
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”(CJ)

39 And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said,

40 “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their heart,
so that they might not look with their eyes
    and understand with their heart and turn—
    and I would heal them.”(CK)

41 Isaiah said this because[ac] he saw his glory and spoke about him.(CL) 42 Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue,(CM) 43 for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.

Summary of Jesus’s Teaching

44 Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me.(CN) 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.(CO) 46 I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.(CP) 47 I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world but to save the world.(CQ) 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge,(CR) 49 for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.”

Footnotes

  1. 9.4 Other ancient authorities read I
  2. 9.4 Other ancient authorities read us
  3. 9.22 Gk him
  4. 9.22 Or the Christ
  5. 9.35 Other ancient authorities read the Son of God
  6. 9.36 Or Lord
  7. 9.38 Or Sir
  8. 10.8 Other ancient authorities lack before me
  9. 10.18 Other ancient authorities read has taken
  10. 10.24 Or the Christ
  11. 10.29 Other ancient authorities read What my Father has given me is greater than all else or My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all
  12. 10.34 Other ancient authorities read in the law
  13. 10.38 Other ancient authorities lack and understand; others read and believe
  14. 11.3 Gk him
  15. 11.6 Gk he
  16. 11.12 Or will be saved
  17. 11.16 Gk Didymus
  18. 11.17 Gk he
  19. 11.25 Other ancient authorities lack and the life
  20. 11.27 Or the Christ
  21. 11.48 Or our temple; Gk our place
  22. 11.57 Gk he
  23. 12.3 Gk his feet
  24. 12.7 Gk lacks She bought it
  25. 12.17 Other ancient authorities read with him began to testify that he had called . . . from the dead
  26. 12.32 Other ancient authorities read all things
  27. 12.34 Or the Christ
  28. 12.35 Other ancient authorities read with you
  29. 12.41 Other ancient witnesses read when
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John 9-12
New International Version

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi,(A) who sinned,(B) this man(C) or his parents,(D) that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.(E) 4 As long as it is day,(F) we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”(G)

6 After saying this, he spit(H) on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam”(I) (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.(J)

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?”(K) 9 Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”(L)

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.(M) 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight.(N) “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”(O)

But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?”(P) So they were divided.(Q)

17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

The man replied, “He is a prophet.”(R)

18 They(S) still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders,(T) who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out(U) of the synagogue.(V) 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”(W)

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,”(X) they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”(Y)

25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 He answered, “I have told you already(Z) and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!(AA) 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”(AB)

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.(AC) 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God,(AD) he could do nothing.”

34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth;(AE) how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.(AF)

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe(AG) in the Son of Man?”(AH)

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”(AI)

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”(AJ)

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.(AK)

39 Jesus said,[a] “For judgment(AL) I have come into this world,(AM) so that the blind will see(AN) and those who see will become blind.”(AO)

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”(AP)

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.(AQ)

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.(AR) 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.(AS) 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.(AT) He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.(AU) 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.(AV) 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech,(AW) but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.(AX)

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am(AY) the gate(AZ) for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me(BA) are thieves and robbers,(BB) but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[b] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,(BC) and have it to the full.(BD)

11 “I am(BE) the good shepherd.(BF) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.(BG) 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.(BH) Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd;(BI) I know my sheep(BJ) and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father(BK)—and I lay down my life for the sheep.(BL) 16 I have other sheep(BM) 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(BN) and one shepherd.(BO) 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life(BP)—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.(BQ) I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”(BR)

19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided.(BS) 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed(BT) and raving mad.(BU) Why listen to him?”

21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon.(BV) Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”(BW)

Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

22 Then came the Festival of Dedication[c] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.(BX) 24 The Jews(BY) who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”(BZ)

25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you,(CA) but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,(CB) 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.(CC) 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,(CD) and they follow me.(CE) 28 I give them eternal life,(CF) and they shall never perish;(CG) no one will snatch them out of my hand.(CH) 29 My Father, who has given them to me,(CI) is greater than all[d];(CJ) no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”(CK)

31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him,(CL) 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”(CM)

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law,(CN) ‘I have said you are “gods”’[e]?(CO) 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God(CP) came—and Scripture cannot be set aside(CQ)— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart(CR) as his very own(CS) and sent into the world?(CT) Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?(CU) 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.(CV) 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”(CW) 39 Again they tried to seize him,(CX) but he escaped their grasp.(CY)

40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan(CZ) to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign,(DA) all that John said about this man was true.”(DB) 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.(DC)

The Death of Lazarus

11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany,(DD) the village of Mary and her sister Martha.(DE) 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)(DF) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love(DG) is sick.”

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory(DH) so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”(DI)

8 “But Rabbi,”(DJ) they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you,(DK) and yet you are going back?”

9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light.(DL) 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend(DM) Lazarus has fallen asleep;(DN) but I am going there to wake him up.”

12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.(DO)

14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

16 Then Thomas(DP) (also known as Didymus[f]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.(DQ) 18 Now Bethany(DR) was less than two miles[g] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.(DS) 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.(DT)

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.(DU) 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”(DV)

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection(DW) at the last day.”(DX)

25 Jesus said to her, “I am(DY) the resurrection and the life.(DZ) The one who believes(EA) in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing(EB) in me will never die.(EC) Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah,(ED) the Son of God,(EE) who is to come into the world.”(EF)

28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher(EG) is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.(EH) 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her,(EI) noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”(EJ)

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved(EK) in spirit and troubled.(EL) 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35 Jesus wept.(EM)

36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”(EN)

37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man(EO) have kept this man from dying?”(EP)

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved,(EQ) came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.(ER) 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”(ES)

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe,(ET) you will see the glory of God?”(EU)

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up(EV) and said, “Father,(EW) I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here,(EX) that they may believe that you sent me.”(EY)

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”(EZ) 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen,(FA) and a cloth around his face.(FB)

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary,(FC) and had seen what Jesus did,(FD) believed in him.(FE) 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees(FF) called a meeting(FG) of the Sanhedrin.(FH)

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.(FI) 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas,(FJ) who was high priest that year,(FK) spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”(FL)

51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.(FM) 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.(FN)

54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea.(FO) Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover,(FP) many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing(FQ) before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus,(FR) and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

Jesus Anointed at Bethany(FS)

12 Six days before the Passover,(FT) Jesus came to Bethany,(FU) where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,(FV) while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[h] of pure nard, an expensive perfume;(FW) she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.(FX) And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,(FY) objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[i]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag,(FZ) he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.(GA) 8 You will always have the poor among you,[j](GB) but you will not always have me.”

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.(GC) 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him(GD) many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.(GE)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King(GF)

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches(GG) and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna![k]”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[l](GH)

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”(GI)

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
    see, your king is coming,
    seated on a donkey’s colt.”[m](GJ)

16 At first his disciples did not understand all this.(GK) Only after Jesus was glorified(GL) did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

17 Now the crowd that was with him(GM) when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign,(GN) went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”(GO)

Jesus Predicts His Death

20 Now there were some Greeks(GP) among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida(GQ) in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “The hour(GR) has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.(GS) 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,(GT) it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it(GU) for eternal life.(GV) 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.(GW) My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27 “Now my soul is troubled,(GX) and what shall I say? ‘Father,(GY) save me from this hour’?(GZ) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven,(HA) “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit,(HB) not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world;(HC) now the prince of this world(HD) will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[n] from the earth,(HE) will draw all people to myself.”(HF) 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.(HG)

34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law(HH) that the Messiah will remain forever,(HI) so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man(HJ) must be lifted up’?(HK) Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light(HL) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,(HM) before darkness overtakes you.(HN) Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”(HO) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.(HP)

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs(HQ) in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 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?”[o](HR)

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

40 “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
    nor understand with their hearts,
    nor turn—and I would heal them.”[p](HS)

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory(HT) and spoke about him.(HU)

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.(HV) But because of the Pharisees(HW) they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;(HX) 43 for they loved human praise(HY) more than praise from God.(HZ)

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.(IA) 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.(IB) 46 I have come into the world as a light,(IC) so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.(ID) 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them(IE) at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me(IF) to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life.(IG) So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”(IH)

Footnotes

  1. John 9:39 Some early manuscripts do not have Then the man said … 39 Jesus said.
  2. John 10:9 Or kept safe
  3. John 10:22 That is, Hanukkah
  4. John 10:29 Many early manuscripts What my Father has given me is greater than all
  5. John 10:34 Psalm 82:6
  6. John 11:16 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.
  7. John 11:18 Or about 3 kilometers
  8. John 12:3 Or about 0.5 liter
  9. John 12:5 Greek three hundred denarii
  10. John 12:8 See Deut. 15:11.
  11. John 12:13 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise
  12. John 12:13 Psalm 118:25,26
  13. John 12:15 Zech. 9:9
  14. John 12:32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  15. John 12:38 Isaiah 53:1
  16. John 12:40 Isaiah 6:10
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