He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize.

I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).

But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

“A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”

But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body.

But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people.

Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.

The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

“He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.

He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them!

And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?

But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.

Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?”

But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”

You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.

Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath,

But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”

But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.”

But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”

“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true.

Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved.

But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.

But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

“There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum.

but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!”

But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me.

And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.

But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said.

Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died.

But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.

I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.)

Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.”

But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters,

Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime.

The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil.

Jesus Teaches Openly at the Temple

But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view.

There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.”

But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.

Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.

Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.”

But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.)

But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah?

But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.”

While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him.

But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.”

Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.

But Jesus told them, “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me.

You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.”

What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’ and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?”

(When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee?

Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.

This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!”

but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”

Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me.

You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone.

Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.

The Unbelieving People Warned

Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”

I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.”

But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father.

So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me.

“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”

A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.

I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”

Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.

Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”

The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’

Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’

but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him.

At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.

But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Some said he was, and others said, “No, he just looks like him!” But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!”

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them.

but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.”

“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

“But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?”

Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses!

We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”

We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will.

“If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.

But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.

They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”

But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them.

And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.”

But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.”

But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”

But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.”

Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”

They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.

When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house.

But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”

“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”

You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”

But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.

They kept looking for Jesus, but as they stood around in the Temple, they said to each other, “What do you think? He won’t come for Passover, will he?”

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said,

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.

“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!

The Unbelief of the People

But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.

But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,

Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.

Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me.

I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.

But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.”

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

“I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’

Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going.

Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”

“But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.

He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.

Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.

but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.

But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.

If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father.

“But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going.

But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.

“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

Sadness Will Be Turned to Joy

“In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”

Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’?

Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again.

I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.

So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

“I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father.

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.

Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.

I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.

“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.

But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”

Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”

But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?”

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?”

But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)

Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.”

He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer.

Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”

“Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!” “What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs.

They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in.

She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.

“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.

But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was.

“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.”

So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”