John 7:10-20

Contemporary English Version

Jesus at the Festival of Shelters

¹⁰ After Jesus' brothers had gone to the festival, he went secretly, without telling anyone.

¹¹ During the festival the leaders of the people looked for Jesus and asked, “Where is he?” ¹² The crowds even got into an argument about him. Some were saying, “Jesus is a good man,” while others were saying, “He is lying to everyone.” ¹³ But the people were afraid of their leaders, and none of them talked in public about him.

¹⁴ When the festival was about half over, Jesus went into the temple and started teaching. ¹⁵ The leaders were surprised and said, “How does this man know so much? He has never been taught!”

¹⁶ Jesus replied:

I am not teaching something I thought up. What I teach comes from the one who sent me. ¹⁷ If you really want to obey God, you will know if what I teach comes from God or from me. ¹⁸ If I wanted to bring honor to myself, I would speak for myself. But I want to honor the one who sent me. This is why I tell the truth and not a lie. ¹⁹ Didn't Moses give you the Law? Yet none of you obey it! So why do you want to kill me?

²⁰ The crowd replied, “You're crazy! What makes you think someone wants to kill you?”