John | The Contemporary History of Jesus

Introduction To John’s Contemporary History of Jesus, Presenting ‘HIM’ As “The Son of GOD”

Professor John in about A.D. 90-95 writes a contemporary history about Jesus of Bethlehem; writing, testifying, and proving: why HE is the actual unique “SON of GOD”! Since the Writing’s completion (A.D. 90-95), multitudes of people worldwide have read or heard this discourse concerning Jesus of Bethlehem and made a choice based upon “WHY” Professor John wrote the Treatise. It is essential to remember that he was a historian contemporary to the One being revealed. The best definition of a ‘contemporary’ historian is: 1) He was alive at the time of his subject, 2) He wrote for those alive during his subject’s life or time, 3) He published and distributed during the generations that personally knew or were acquainted with his subject or person about whom he is writing, 4) He personally knew his subject or person of whom he is reporting. This particular historian (Professor John) did all of these and became the oldest living original follower of his history’s subject. He delivered this history while many first (1^st) and second (2^nd) generation haters and deniers were still alive and active. Once delivered and circulated, there (to date) has been no written denial from anyone for generations of any of Professor John’s contemporary history. That is an astounding legacy for any historian, but more so, for this particular subject-Jesus, the Son of GOD! His personal validation of nearly every event, too, is most formidable.

The format and structure of this first century A.D. Treatise is a great lesson in itself, as to how to construct a complete cover of any subject. His prologue opens and Professor John proceeds, then, to prove historically every declaration of his ‘Prologue’ in near chronological order with much descriptive confrontation validating his premise. The ability of the denier or debater to find a point of contention are provided by Professor John to assist their investigations into the Truth about His “Subject”. It is a tremendous lesson in both how to format and correctly quote your Subject in the context of a flowing history.

A necessary third (3^rd) thing about Prof. John’s Treatise revealing Jesus-The only unique Son of God- is the Letter’s “Theme”. Yes, It, from beginning to end, reveals in contemporary time the actions, comments, and Teachings of Jesus. It, too, reveals the unique character of the One sent by the Father of the universe (refers to Jesus being ‘sent’ over 50 times). Also, Jesus refers to Himself 21 times as “I AM”, which is a phrase only used by God as He names Himself. These would all be just a man claiming such things, except for a very serious proof that they are true- signs! Jesus did endless miracles and wonders during His time here, which were witnessed by thousands. They all were without any failures, were all instantaneous, were all complete, and were all done only by Him (as no man has ever had the power or ability to do them). Is there any way that such activity by a single person, declaring He is God in flesh, could achieve such things if He were not “God in flesh”? Any argument becomes nonsense, since the contemporary history is laid out for contemporaries to discredit. They never proved any part of Prof. John’s history a lie, exaggeration, made-up, or false in any way. Wow!

Prof. John reveals what the purpose for writing this account of Jesus was. It is an evangelistic contemporary history, which is to be used to convince folks that Jesus is the Son of God, and they then can confidently become a citizen in His Kingdom and ultimately receive eternal life with Him when time is stopped, and the universe is done. This amazing Letter is the only evangelistic tool the Holy Spirit left among so many possible writings. He wrote all the other inspired Letters of the New Covenant with the Kingdom in mind (for their needs), but this Letter is for those that are not citizens of Jesus’ Kingdom, and likely have no other way of knowing the genuine “Son of God”. Again, ‘Wow’!

There are a couple of notes on the Text of Professor John you need to be aware of:

Any time you see a set of ‘brackets’- [ ], this is not Professor John’s work, but for your information.
The mark * is also for your information and not part of his Text.
Any quotes of the Jewish Old Law and Prophets, too, are for your information and curiosity. Usually in [ ] or {}.
The original koine Greek Text of Professor John was written in capital Greek letters with no punctuation with a certain number of Greek letters per line and equal numbers of lines per page (as all the other contemporary histories about Jesus.) This provides for careful translation by the ‘Thoughts’ in the Text, rather than translating by Grammars.
You will notice ( ) to indicate the beginning of a new ‘Thought’. These are not part of Prof. John’s Text, rather they are given so you can follow the “Thoughts” of his Text as the Holy Spirit inspired him.
All indentions (paragraphs) in each Thought are still a part of that Thought. As you study the Treatise, you will see parenthesis in the Text. Those ( ) are a part of Prof. John’s Text.
An * (asterisk) is used at verbs that in most ‘interpretations’ (NIV, NKJ, RSV, etc.) have mis-translations. This is most important in the use of “Imperfect” verbs, due to the fact that English does not have an imperfect verb tense that is equal to the Greek imperfect. The Greek imperfect is a continual past action that is only stopped in its past direction by a contextual ending of the past event. If the imperfect use is not clearly defined by a contextual stop, the imperfect continues indefinitely into the past.

You will notice various symbols used (->, x,<-,>|, fut,ps,mid,,pt,s,p), which area a legend of verb and noun tenses, moods, and voices in the koine Greek Text to assist in correct translation. They (in order) are: present, aorist, imperfect, perfect, future, passive, middle, participle, singular, and plural.

There, also, will be many words and phrases that are seriously different than a Bible translation (most are interpretations by scholars with low and erring integrity). Also, there are very serious additions to the inspired Text of Prof. John (notably John 7:53-8:11, which is not in any 1^st century AD manuscript, yet in all New Testaments except the McCord). All variants must be studied prior to doing a contextual study of any Book of the New Covenant or a presentation of God’s inspired Word.
There are many words and phrases in Professor John’s contemporary history of “Jesus, the unique Son of God” that you, as a student ought to note in your study. Such as: to know (oida) and to understand (ginosko), “I AM”, Word, “Son of God”, Light, signs (not the use of miracles), “Verily, verily…”, Greek imperatives, became/created/only begotten (ginomai),and always was/already was/continually was (eimi/nv)-not created, love versas strong affection (agape-philadelphia), belief/faith/be persuaded (as noun/verb/modifier), unique (monogenes not monos gennetheis) in 4 places, immerse (not baptize or Baptist which is not an English translation), was (a past tense English verb ought to be ‘already was/always was/continually was because the Greek verb is an ‘imperfect’ not an ‘aorist’), “…was sent…” is used over 50 times about where Jesus came from, “I assure you all…” (nothing Jesus says ought to be challenged or can be any kind of error/He is assuring them and inviting their investigation as to Whom He is), predicts many things (His murder, return from death, Jerusalem’s fall, work of Holy Spirit and 11 Apostles, death of Lazarus, etc.), multiple “signs” (7 specific ones-water to wine/heals cripple man/fed thousands/walks on water/boat to dock quickly/disappears when trying to kill Him and heals blind man/ raises Lazarus from death/many other ‘signs’ throughout the Book make a total of around 17 given by Prof. John.
The organization of the Book: Begins the 19 Thoughts with a ‘Prologue’, which are the various things about Jesus that will be proved by the remaining ‘Thoughts’ of the Letter. He declares that Jesus of Bethlehem is the unique ‘Son of God’ God promised to send to mankind for their salvation. He then provides historical evidence among Jesus’ contemporaries to allow investigation, so that, they could be convinced that all he writes about Jesus is accurate. Prof. John in the final ‘Thought’ (19th) tells his audience that he has written these ‘signs’ for them to study and determine if all he wrote about Jesus is accurate. He is the only writer that writes a Book of the New Covenant that is for “evangelistic” work. This Book is, thus, for the ages, until Jesus will return for His Kingdom to be used evangelistically.
Each ‘Thought’ is centered around Prof. John’s declaration that Jesus is “the unique Son of God”. He develops that ‘Theme’ in various ways and after Jesus’ resurrection, declares that the various ‘signs’ are all given (and prove) that Jesus is ‘the Son of God’ promised to mankind and that if they come to the conclusion that He is, each of them can receive God’s, also, promised eternal life.

Professor John’s contemporary history revealing Jesus as the unique Son of God

* This asterisk notes an imperfect tense in the koine Greek Text, which require an adverb in English.

Date: A.D. 90-95

(1st) In [the] beginning already was* the Word, and the Word continually was* with God, and the Word always was* God. This One already was* in [the] beginning with God. All things were ‘brought into existence’ by Him, and without Him nothing ‘was brought into existence’ that ‘has been created’. Life continually was* in Him, and the Life always was* the Light of mankind. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not put it out. {1:5}

There ‘was brought into being’ a man sent [->] from God, whose name was John. [Not the author, another John.] He ‘came’ as a witness to testify about the Light, in order that all might believe through him. He never was* the Light, but more so, he came to testify about the Light. It always was* the real Light, which enlightens every person, that ‘came’ into the world. {1:9}

He continuously was* in the world, and the world was brought into existence by Him, but the world never understood Him. He ‘came’ to His own things, but His own people did not receive Him. He gave the right to become God’s children to everyone who received Him; the ones who believe unto His Name; who were born, not of blood, neither of the will of the flesh, nor of human will, but more so, of God. {1:13}

The Word ‘was brought into existence’-in flesh- and lived with us, and we saw His splendor, the splendor as of an unique One from the Father, full of Grace and Truth. John [the immersing one] testified about Him, and cried out, “This always was* He! Whom I said, ‘The One who ‘comes’ after me is my Superior, for He already was* before me!’” We all have received of His fullness, and Grace upon Grace [undeserved and unwanted gift from God]. The Law was given through Moses; Grace and Truth ‘came’ [brought into existence] through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The unique Son, Who is in the Father’s bosom, has Himself fully made Him known. {1:18}

(2nd) This is John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask, “Who are you?” He spoke out openly and did not deny, but declared, “I am not the Christ!” They inquired, “Who then? Are you Elijah?” He replied, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” They said to him, “Who are you, that we may answer those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He answered, “I am a voice crying in the desert: ‘make the Lord’s [Yahweh] way straight,’ even as Isaiah the prophet said.” (Isa.40:3) They were sent from the Pharisees, and they asked, “Why are you immersing, if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?” John replied, “I immerse in water; in the midst of you there stands One Whom you do not know [oida], the One Who ‘comes’ after me, the strap of whose sandal I am unworthy to untie.” {1:27}

These events took place in Bethabara beyond the Jordan where John was continually immersing. The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him [after Jesus’ temptations], and he said, “Behold! [Look there!] The Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sin. This is He of Whom I said, ‘A man ‘comes’ after me Who is my Superior, for He always existed* before me.’ I did not know Him, but more so, I came immersing in water, so that He might be manifested [clearly seen] to Israel.” Also, John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit coming down as a dove from heaven and remaining on Him. I did not know Him, but the One Who sent me to immerse in water said, ‘On Whom you see the Spirit coming down and remaining on Him, this is the One immersing in the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and have testified that this One is God’s [unique] Son.” {1:34}

(3^rd) The next day, John again was standing with two of his disciples, and when he saw Jesus walking, he said, “Behold! The Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw that they were following, and He asked, “What do you want?” They answered, “Rabbi (which means “Teacher”), where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” They went and saw where He was staying, and they continued with Him that day; it was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John speaking and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which means, “Christ”). He brought him to Jesus, who looked at him, and said, “You are Simon, the son of Jonah; you shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). {1:42}

The next day He wanted to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote [Deut.18:15]; Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael replied to him, “Can anything good be from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and spoke about him, “Behold! [Look, there!] A true Israelite, in whom is no deceit.” Nathanael said to Him, “How is it that you understand me?” Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are God’s Son! You are Israel’s King!” Jesus said, “Do you believe because I said that I saw you under the fig tree? You shall see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I assure you, you shall see heaven opened, and God’s angels going up and coming down on the Son of man.” {1:51}

(4^th) On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and Jesus’ mother was there. Both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what have I to do with you? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you!” Six stone jars were set there, according to the Jews’ purification rites, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” They filled them to the top. Then he said to them, “Now draw out and carry it to the chief steward,” and they did so. The steward tasted the water which had become wine and did not know where it came from (however, the servants who had drawn the water knew), and he called the bridegroom, and said to him, “Every man first sets out the good wine, and when they have drunk freely, the inferior; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this beginning of signs in Cana of Galilee, and displayed His glory, and his disciples believed in Him. {2:11}

After this, He went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they remained there not many [a few] days. The Jewish Passover was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the Temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the moneychangers sitting. He made a whip of ropes, and drove all out of the Temple, both the oxen and the sheep, and He poured out the coins of the moneychangers, and upset their tables. He said to those who sold doves, “Take these away. Stop turning My Father’s house into a market-house.” His disciples remembered that it is written, “Zeal for your house shall consume me.” [Ps.69:9] The Jews answered Him, “What ‘sign’ do you show us because you are doing these things?” Jesus said, “Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up!” The Jews replied, “This Temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking about His body as the Temple. After He was raised up from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture [Is.53] and what Jesus had said. While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover during the Feast, many believed in His Name, seeing the ‘signs’ which He was doing. But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, because He understands all men, and because He had no need that anyone should testify about man, because He Himself understood what is in man. {2:25}

(5^th) Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a Ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night, and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these ‘signs’ which You are doing, unless God is with Him.” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I assure you, unless one is born again, he cannot see God’s Kingdom.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man when he is old be born again? Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I assure you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter God’s Kingdom. Flesh is born of flesh, and spirit is born of Spirit. Do not be surprised that I said to you, ‘It is necessary for you to be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you know neither where it comes from, nor where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus asked, “How can these things be?” Jesus said, “Are you a teacher in Israel and do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I assure you, we speak what we know, and testify what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I speak to you of heavenly things? No one has gone up into heaven, except the One who came down out of heaven, the ‘Son of man’. As Moses lifted up the snake in the desert [Num.21:9], even so, must the ‘Son of man’ be lifted up, in order that everyone who is believing in Him, may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His ‘unique’ Son, in order that everyone who is believing unto Him might [should] not perish, but more so, may [can] have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but more so, that the world might be saved through Him. The one who is believing[->] unto Him is not judged; but the one who does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed [>|] unto the Name of the ‘unique’ Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than the Light, for their works were wicked; everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, lest his works would be condemned. And everyone whose works are Truth comes to the Light, so that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.” {3:21}

(6^th) After these things, Jesus and His disciples came into the Judean country, where He spent some time, and was immersing. And John was immersing in Aenon near Salem, because much waters were there, and they were coming and were being immersed, for John had not yet been imprisoned. A questioning with the Jews about purification arose from John’s disciples. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, of Whom you testified, behold! He is immersing, and everyone is going to Him.” John answered, “A man can receive nothing except it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear witness to me that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but more so, I have been sent before Him.’ The bridegroom has the bride; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease. The One who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is of the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. The One who comes from heaven testifies of what He has seen and heard, and no one [else] is receiving His testimony. The one who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. He Whom God sent, speaks the sayings of God, for He does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. The one who believes unto the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but more so, God’s anger remains against him.” {3:36}

(7^th) The Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and immersing more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself was not immersing, but His disciples), and He left Judea and went again to Galilee. However, He had to pass through Samaria. He came to the Samaritan city of Sychar, near the piece of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph, where was Jacob’s well. About six o’clock, Jesus, who was tired from his travels, was sitting as He was at the well. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink!” (The disciples had gone into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman replied, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (The Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered, “If you knew God’s gift, and Who He is that asked you, ‘Give Me a drink!’, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She replied, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. From where do you have living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons and his flocks?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water which I will give him will never thirst; but more so, the water which I will give will become in him a well of water springing up into eternal life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not thirst, neither come here to draw.” He said, “Go, call your husband, and come back!” She replied, “I have no husband.” Jesus said, “You have answered honestly, ‘I have no husband’, for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.” The woman said, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, but you say that it is necessary to worship in Jerusalem.” Jesus answered, “Woman, you must believe Me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father, neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem. You worship one whom you do not know, but we know the One Whom we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But more so, the hour comes and now is when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in Truth, for the Father seeks such worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and Truth.” The woman replied, “I have known that when Messiah comes, the One who is called ‘The Christ’, He will tell us everything.” Jesus answered, “‘I AM’, the One speaking to you.” After He said this, His disciples returned, and were surprised that He was speaking with a woman; yet no one asked, “What are You asking?”, or “Why are You talking with her?” The woman then left her water jar, went into the city, and said to the people, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. He could not be the Christ, could He?” They were coming out of the city and were going to Him. In the mean-time, His disciples were urging Him, “Rabbi, you must eat.” He replied, “I have food to eat about which you do not know.” The disciples began to ask among themselves, “Has someone brought food to Him? Jesus answered, “My food is to do the Will of Him Who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘The harvest comes in four months’? Behold! I assure you, you all ought to lift up your eyes and ought to look on the fields: they are already white for the harvest. The reaper receives a reward, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper rejoice together. In this way the saying is true: ‘One sows, and another reaps.’ I have sent you to reap where you have not labored. Others have worked, and you have entered their labor.” Many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him because of the testimony of the woman who said, “He told me everything I have done.” When therefore the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, which He did for two days. Many more believed because of His Message, and they said to the woman, “No longer do we believe because of your report, for we ourselves have heard, and are certain that this man is truly the Savior of the world.” {4:42}

(8^th) After two days He departed for Galilee; yet Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans received Him, since they had seen all of the things He did during the Feast at Jerusalem (for they too had gone to the Feast). Therefore, He went again to Cana of Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And a certain officer of the king had a son who was sick in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and asked Him to come down and heal his son, for he was about to die. Jesus replied, “If you do not see ‘signs’ and wonders, you will not believe.” But the officer answered, “Sir, you must come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go! Your son lives.” The man believed the Word which Jesus had spoken and began his homeward journey. As he was on the way, his slaves met him, and said that his son was alive. He asked them the hour of the lad’s recovery. They replied, “The fever left him at seven o’clock yesterday.” The father knew that it was at that hour when Jesus told him, “Your son lives,” and he himself and his whole household believed. This was the second ‘sign’ which Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee. {4:54}

(9^th) After these things, at the time of the Jewish Feast, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool with five porches that is called in Hebrew, Bethzatha. In these a multitude was lying: the sick, blind, crippled, and paralyzed. A man was there who had an illness [for] thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him lying there, and knew how long he had been afflicted, and asked him, “Do you wish to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred; while I am coming, someone steps in before me.” Jesus said to him, “Arise! You must take your stretcher and walk!” The man immediately became well, picked up his stretcher, and started walking. That day was a Sabbath. The Jews were saying to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to take up your stretcher.” He replied, “The one who cured me said, ‘Take up your stretcher and walk.'” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your stretcher and walk’?” But the healed man did not know who he was, for Jesus had left unnoticed, since a crowd was there. {5:13}

After these things, Jesus found the man in the Temple and said to him, “See! You are well. You must sin no more, so that a worse thing does not happen to you.” Then the man went and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had cured him. On account of this, the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because he did these things on the Sabbath. Jesus said to them, “My Father works until now, and I work.” Because He said this, the Jews were seeking even more to kill Him, for not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was also saying that God was His own Father, making Himself equal to God. [A] Jesus replied to them, “Truly, truly, I assure you that the Son [1] can do nothing of Himself except what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, the Son also does. [2] The Father loves the Son and shows Him the things He does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. [3] As the Father raises the dead and makes them alive, so the Son makes alive whom He wills. [4] The Father judges no one, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. [B] Truly, truly, I assure you that he who hears My Teaching and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life; he does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life. [C] Truly, truly, I assure you that the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of God’s Son, and those who have heard will live. As the Father has life in Himself, so He has given to the Son, to have in Himself. He has given authority to Him to judge, because He is the ‘Son of man’. You all must not be surprised at this, because the hour comes in which all those in the graves will hear His voice and will come out: those who have done good things to a resurrection of life; but those who have done evil things to a resurrection of condemnation. {5:29}

[D] I can do nothing of Myself; I judge as I hear, and My judgment is right, because I do not seek my own will, but the Will of the Father Who has sent Me. If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not true; Another testifies about Me, and I know that His testimony is true. You sent to John, and he has testified about the Truth. However, I do not receive human testimony. I am saying these things that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John’s: the works which the Father has given Me to finish, the works themselves which I do, testify of Me, that the Father has sent Me. The Father who has sent Me has testified of Me. You have never heard His voice, neither have you seen His form. You do not have His Teaching abiding in you, for you do not believe in the One Whom He has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think that you have eternal life in them; instead, they testify of Me; but you are not willing to come to Me, that you might have life. I do not receive glory from men; but I understand you, that you do not have God’s love in you. I have come in My Father’s Name, but you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, since you receive glory from one another, but you cannot seek the glory from the only God? You must not think that I will accuse you before the Father. He who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have hoped. If you had believed Moses, you would also believe Me, for he wrote about Me. If you do not believe his Writings, how will you believe My words?” {5:47}

(10^th) After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, that is, of Tiberias. A large crowd was following Him, because they saw the ‘signs’ that He was performing for the sick. Jesus went up into the mountain and was sitting there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the Jewish feast, was drawing near. Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming to Him, and He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these people may eat?” (Now He was saying this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do.) Philip replied, “Forty dollars worth of bread would not be enough for each to receive a little.” One of the disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, “A boy here has five barley loaves and two little fish, but what are these among so many?” Jesus said, “You must have the people to sit down.” There was much grass in the place. The men – about five thousand in all – sat down. Jesus received the loaves and gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were sitting, and likewise also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, He said to the disciples, “You must gather the fragments, so that nothing be lost.” They gathered the broken pieces left over from the five loaves of the barley bread which the people had eaten and filled twelve baskets. The people who saw the ‘sign’ which He did were saying, “Indeed this is the Prophet who comes into the world.” Jesus saw that they were about to come and seize Him, to make Him a king, and He went again into a mountain alone. {6:15}

Evening came, and His disciples went down to the sea, entered a boat, and started going across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already come, but Jesus had not yet come to them. A strong wind was blowing, and the sea was growing rough. After they had rowed about three or three and one-half miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and He came near the boat, and they were afraid. He said to them, “I AM”! Do not be afraid.” They were wanting to receive Him into the boat, but immediately the boat was at the landing where they were going. On the next day the crowd that had stood on the other side of the sea noticed that there was only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone with His disciples in that boat, but that the disciples had gone away alone. However, other boats from Tiberias had come near the place where they had eaten the bread after Jesus had given thanks. The crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, and they themselves entered boats and sailed to Capernaum seeking Jesus. When they found Him across the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I assure you that you are seeking me, not because you saw the ‘signs’, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. You must not work for the food that perishes, but more so, for that which abides into eternal life, which the ‘Son of man’, Whom God the Father has certified, will give to you. They asked Him, “What shall we do to accomplish God’s works?” Jesus answered them, “God’s work is that you believe [completely trust] in the One Whom He has sent.” They asked Him, “What sign are you doing, that we may see and believe in you? What work are you doing? Our fathers ate manna in the desert, as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I assure you that Moses did not give you bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. God’s bread is the One Who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. They said, “Lord, give us this bread always!” Jesus replied, “I AM, the bread of life! He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. I have told you that you have seen Me, but do not believe. Everyone whom the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and I will never cast out the one who comes to Me. I have not come down from heaven to do My own will, but the Will of Him Who sent Me. This is the Will of Him Who sent Me: that I not lose anyone of all whom He has given Me, but that I raise him up in the last Day. This is My Father’s Will: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and that I raise him up in the last Day. {6:40}

The Jews were complaining about him, because He said, “I AM the bread which comes down from heaven”; and they were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered, “You must stop complaining among yourselves! No one can come to Me except the Father Who sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up in the last Day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘Everyone shall be taught of God.’ [Is.54:13] Everyone who has heard and has learned from the Father comes to Me. No one has seen the Father except the One who is from God. Truly, truly, I assure you that he who believes in Me has eternal life. I AM, the bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the desert and died. This is the bread Who comes down from heaven, of Whom one may eat and not die. I AM, the living bread who has come down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he shall live forever. The bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews were quarreling among themselves, “How can he give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I assure you that if you do not eat the flesh of the ‘Son of man’ and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up in the last Day. My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father has sent Me and I live through the Father, so the one who eats Me shall live through Me. This is the bread which has come down from heaven, not as your fathers ate and died. He who eats this bread shall live forever.” {6:58}

He spoke these things in the synagogue while He was teaching in Capernaum. Many of his disciples heard this, and said, “This is a hard saying. Who can listen to it?” Jesus knew within Himself that His disciples were grumbling, and He asked them, “Does this shock you? What then if you were to see the ^Son of man^ ascending to where He always was before? The spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But more so, some of you do not believe. (Jesus knew from the beginning who would not believe, and who would betray Him.) And He was saying, “Because of this, I have told you that no one can come to Me except it be given to him of the Father.” Therefore, many of his disciples turned back, and did not walk with him anymore. Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed and have understood that You are God’s Holy One.” Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” Now He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he was the one of the twelve who was about to betray Him.

(11^th) After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee; He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. Now the time for the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles [A.D. 29] was near. His brothers said to him, “You must leave this place and go to Judea, that your disciples may see the works you are doing, for no one does anything secretly if he wants to be known publicly. If you are doing these things, you must show yourself to the world!” His brothers were not persuaded about Him. Jesus replied, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I am testifying that its works are evil. You ought to go to the Feast. I am not yet going, for My appointed time is not fulfilled.” He said these things, and He Himself stayed in Galilee. After his brothers had gone to the Feast, then He Himself went up, not openly, but secretly. At the Feast the Jews were hunting Him, saying, “Where is he?” There was extensive discussion among the multitudes about Him. Some were saying, “He is good”; but more so, others said, “No! He deceives the people.” However, no one was speaking openly of Him, because they were afraid of the Jews. In the middle of the Feast Jesus went up into the Temple and was teaching. The Jews were astonished, saying, “How does one, who has never learned, know letters?” Jesus answered, “My Teaching is not mine, but more so, His Who sent Me. If anyone wishes to do His Will, he will understand of the Teaching, whether it is from God, or if I speak from myself. The one who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the Glory of the One Who sent Him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Did not Moses give you the Law? But none of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill me? The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?” Jesus continued, “I did one work, and all of you marvel. Moses gave you circumcision, though it is not from Moses, but from the fathers, and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that Moses’ Law not be broken, why are you angry with Me when I heal a man on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but you ought to judge righteous judgment.” {7:24}

Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem were saying, “Is not this the man they are trying to kill? But look! He is speaking openly, and they are not saying anything to Him. Is it possible that the rulers indeed understand that this is the Christ?” “We know where this man is from, but when the Christ comes, no one understands from where.” Jesus was teaching in the Temple, and called out, saying, “You both know Me, and from where I have come. I have not come from myself, but more so, He Who sent Me is true, Whom you do not know. I know Him because I am from Him and He sent Me.” They were seeking to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him, for His hour had not yet come. Many people of the crowd believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than this man has done?” The Pharisees heard that there was much secret discussion about Him, and they and the Chief Priests sent officers to seize Him. Jesus said, “I am with you for yet a little while before I go to Him Who sent Me. You will look for Me, but will not find Me; and you cannot come where I am.” The Jews said among themselves, “Where is he about to go that we will not find him? Will he go to the dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying, ‘You will look for Me, but will not find Me; and you cannot come where I am’?”

On the last day of the Feast, the Great Day, Jesus called out, “If anyone thirsts, he must come to Me and must drink. Whoever believes unto Me, as the Scripture says, ‘rivers of living water shall flow from within Him.’ {Isaiah 55:1,12:3-6}” (He said this about the Spirit {Isaiah 44:3}, Whom those who believed in Him were going to receive; for the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus had not yet been Glorified.) Therefore, some of the members of the crowd who had heard these words were saying, “Indeed, this man is the Prophet;” but others were saying, “This is the Christ.” However, others asked, “Does the Christ come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Christ is David’s offspring, and comes from Bethlehem, David’s hometown?” There was therefore a division in the crowd because of Him. Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid hands on Him. The officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers replied, “A man has never spoken this way!” The Pharisees asked them, “Are you also deceived? Has any ruler or any Pharisee been persuaded unto Him? But more so, this mob, which is ignorant of the Law, is accursed!” Then one of them, Nicodemus, who had come to Him earlier, asked them, “Does our Law judge a man before it hears from him and understands what he is doing?” They replied, “Are you also of Galilee? Go search and see! The Prophet does not come from Galilee.” {7:52}

Jesus spoke again to them, saying, “I AM”, ‘the Light of the world’: the one who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life.” The Pharisees responded, “You testify about yourself; your witness is not true!” Jesus answered, “Though I testify of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you know neither from where I come, nor where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. But if I judge, My judgment is true, for I am not alone: the Father Who sent Me is with Me. It is written in your Law that the testimony of two men is true. “I AM”, the one Who testifies of Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies of Me. They were asking him, “Where is your father?” He answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would also have known My Father.” He said these things in the treasury as He was teaching in the Temple. No one seized Him, for His hour had not yet come.

He said to them again, “I am leaving, and you will look for Me, and you shall die in your sin. You cannot come where I go.” Because He said, “You cannot come where I go,” the Jews were asking, “Is he going to kill himself?” He replied, “You are of the nature of the things of this world, but I am of the nature of things above; you are from this world, but I am not from this world. I said to you, ‘You shall die in your sins’, for if you do not believe that “I AM”, you shall die in your sins. They asked Him, “Who are you?” Jesus answered, “Even what I told you at the beginning. I have many things to speak and to judge about you. He Who sent Me is true, and I speak to the world the things I hear from Him.” They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. Jesus continued, “When you lift up the ^Son of man^, then you will understand that I AM, and I do nothing of Myself; but as the Father teaches Me, I speak these things. He Who sent Me is with Me. The Father does not leave Me alone, for I always do the things pleasing to Him.”

He said these things, and many believed in Him. Jesus said to the Jews who believed in Him, “If you abide in My Teaching, then you are truly My disciples, and you will understand the Truth, and the Truth shall free you.” They replied to him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been enslaved by anyone. Why do you say, ‘You shall be free’?” Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave does not abide in the household forever, but the son does. If the Son frees you, you will be truly free. I know that you are Abraham’s offspring, but you are trying to kill Me, because My Teaching has no place in you. I speak the things that I have seen in My Father’s presence, and you practice the things that you have heard from your father. They answered, “Our father is Abraham!” Jesus said, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But you are now trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the Truth, which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do your father’s works.” They replied, “We were not born of fornication. We have one father, God.” Jesus said, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come and am here from God. I have not come from myself. He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are unable to hear My Teaching. You are of your father, the devil, and you wish to do the lusts of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has not stood in the Truth, because Truth is not in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks of his own, because he is a liar and its father. You do not believe Me because I speak the Truth. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak the Truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s Words; you do not hear because you are not of God.” The Jews asked, “Do we not speak correctly that you are a Samaritan and have a demon!” Jesus replied, “I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. I do not seek My own glory, but there is ONE Who seeks and judges. Truly, truly, I assure you that if a man keeps My Teaching, he shall never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham and the prophets died, yet you say, ‘If a man keeps my Teaching, he shall never taste of death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died. Who do you claim to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself My glory is nothing; My Father glorifies Me, of Whom you say, ‘He is our God!’ You do not understand Him, but I know Him. If I should say that I do not know Him, then I would be like you: a liar. But I know Him and keep His instruction. Abraham your father rejoiced greatly to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” The Jews said, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said, “Truly, truly I assure you, before Abraham was born, “I AM!” They picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the Temple. {8:59}

(12^th) As He passed by, He saw a person blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?” Jesus replied, “Neither did this man sin, nor his parents, but more so, that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must do the works of Him Who sent Me while it is day; night comes when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the world’s Light.” After He said these things, He spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, rubbed the mud on the man’s eyes, and said, “You must go and wash in the pool of Siloam” (meaning “Sent”). He went, washed, and came seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar asked, “Is this not the one who sat and begged?” Some said, “Yes”; but others said, “No, he is like him.” However, he said, “I am he.” They asked him, “How were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and put it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘You must go to Siloam and wash.’ So, I went and washed, and I could see.” They asked him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now it was on a Sabbath when Jesus prepared the mud and opened his eyes. The Pharisees were asking him how he could see. He answered, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a sinner do such signs?” So, they were divided. They asked him again, “What do you say about the man, since he opened your eyes?” He replied, “He is a Prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and then saw, until they called his parents, and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” His parents replied, “We know that he is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how he now sees, or who opened his eyes. He is a grown man; you ought to ask him, and he will speak for himself.” His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that anyone who confessed Christ would be banished from the synagogue. This is why his parents had said, “He is a grown man; you must ask him.” They called a second time the man who had been blind, and said to him, “You must give God glory. We know that this man is a sinner.” He replied, “I do not know if he is a sinner; but I do know one thing: I was blind and now I see!” They asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have already told you, but you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” They reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God has spoken by Moses, but we do not know from where this man comes.” The man replied, “Here is what is startling! You do not know from where He comes, yet He opened my eyes. We all know that God does not hear ‘sinners’, but if anyone reveres God and does His Will, He hears him. It has never been reported that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind. If this ‘man’ were not from God He could not have done anything like this!” They said to him, “You were born completely in sin, and do you teach us?” Then they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and found him, and asked, “Do you believe unto the ^Son of man^?” He replied, “Who is He, Lord, that I might believe unto Him?” Jesus said, “You have seen Him, and He is the One talking with you.” He confessed, “I believe, Lord,” and he fell at His feet. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who do not see may see, and that the ones who see may become blind.” The ones with Him of the Pharisees heard these things, and asked Him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus answered, “If you were blind, you would have no sin. But since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains. Truly, truly I assure you, he who does not enter the sheepfold through the door, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. He who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The doorkeeper opens to him, and he calls his own sheep by name. They hear his voice and he leads them out. When all of his sheep are outside, he walks in front of them, and they follow him, because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but will run from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they did not understand what He said to them. {10:6}

He again said to them, “Truly, truly, I assure you, I AM, the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but more so, the sheep did not listen to them. I AM, the door! If anyone enters through Me, he will be safe, and go in and out and find pasture. The thief only comes to kill and to destroy; I have come that they may have life more abundantly. I AM, the good shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd, and who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and runs away. The wolf seizes the sheep and scatters them. He does not care for the sheep, because he is a hired hand. I AM, the good shepherd. I understand My sheep and they understand Me. I understand the Father as the Father understands Me, and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must also bring them in, and they will hear My voice. There will be one flock, and one Shepherd. The Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I might receive it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down by Myself. I have authority both to lay it down, and to take it again. I received this commandment from My Father.” {10:18}

A division again arose among the Jews because of these words. Many were saying, “He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why do you listen to him?” Others answered, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of blind people?” {10:21}

(13^th) In the winter, during the Feast of Dedication [A.D. 29], Jesus was walking in the Temple on Solomon’s porch. The Jews surrounded Him and asked Him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, you must tell us plainly.” He replied, “I have told you, but you do not believe [are not persuaded]. The works I am doing in my Father’s Name testify of Me. But you do not believe [are not persuaded], because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. Neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. The Father Who gave them to Me is greater than all: no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father, One We are!” The Jews again picked up rocks to stone him. Jesus said, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?” The Jews answered Him, “We do not stone you for a good work, but more so, for blasphemy! You, a man, you make Yourself God!” Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law, “I said, ‘you are gods’”? (Psalms 82) If He called them ‘gods’ to whom God’s Word, the unbreakable Scripture came, how can you say, of Him Whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme!’, because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I am not doing My Father’s works, do not believe Me. But if I am doing My Father’s works, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may come to understand and continue to understand that the Father [is] in Me, and I [am] in the Father.” They again tried to seize him, but He escaped out of their hand.

Jesus went again to the other side of the Jordan, where John was first immersing, and He stayed there. Many people came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything he said of this man was true.” And many there believed in Him. There was a man who was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was Mary who had anointed the Lord with perfume and dried His feet with her hair), whose brother Lazarus was ill. The sisters therefore sent word to Jesus, “He whom You love is sick.” Jesus heard this, and said, “This illness is not fatal, but for God’s glory, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. After He heard that he was sick, He stayed for two days where He was. Then He said to the disciples, “Let us return to Judea.” The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were trying to stone You, and are You going there again?” He answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If a person walks in the day, he does not stumble, for he sees the Light of the world. But if he walks in the night, he stumbles, for the Light is not in him.” He spoke these things, and then said, “Lazarus our friend has fallen asleep. I am going to awake him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has been sleeping, he will be safe.” But Jesus had spoken about his death, while they thought He meant natural sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and I rejoice for your sake that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.” Thomas (who was called the Twin) said to his fellow-disciples, “Let us also go and die with Him!” Jesus arrived, and found that Lazarus had already been in the grave four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles. Now many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. Martha heard that Jesus had come, and went to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that God will give You whatever you ask Him.” Jesus answered, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha replied, “I know he will rise in the resurrection at the last Day.” Jesus said, “I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes unto Me, though he dies, will yet live! He who lives and believes unto Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She replied, “Yes, Lord, I have believed that You are the Christ, God’s Son, who comes into the world.” She said this, and went and secretly called Mary, saying, “The Teacher is here, and He is asking for you.” As soon as she heard this, she immediately arose and went to Him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village but was still where Martha had met Him. The Jews who were consoling Mary in the house saw that she arose immediately and went out, and they followed her, thinking that she was going to the grave to mourn. Mary arrived where Jesus was and saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying, “Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died.” Jesus saw her weeping, and also the Jews who were with her, and He was deeply moved in His spirit and troubled. He asked, “Where have you placed him?” They answered, “Lord, come and see!” Jesus wept. The Jews were saying, “Look! How he loved him!” But some of them asked, “This man, who opened the eyes of a blind man, could He not have prevented Lazarus’ death?” As Jesus came to the tomb, He was again deeply moved within Himself. Now the tomb was a cave with a stone lying against it. Jesus said, “You must take the stone away!” Martha said, “Lord, the odor would be strong, for it has been four days.” Jesus said, “Did I not tell you if you believe, you will see God’s glory?” They removed the stone, and Jesus looked up and prayed, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I have always known that You listen to Me; but more so, I have spoken because of the crowd standing around, that they may believe that You sent Me.” He said these things, and then cried loudly, “Lazarus, come out!” He who had been dead came out, with his feet and hands bound, and a handkerchief around his face. Jesus said, “Untie him and let him go!” Many Jews who came with Mary, and saw what Jesus did, believed unto Him; but some of them went to the Pharisees and told what Jesus had done. {11:46}

Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Council, and said, “What are we doing? This man is doing many signs. If we leave him alone, all the people will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our country and our nation.” But more so, one of them, Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, said, “You do not know anything, neither do you consider that it is good for us that one man should die for the people, so that the whole nation will not be destroyed.” Now he did not say this from himself, but since he was High Priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but more so, also that he might bring together all of God’s scattered children. They planned to kill Jesus from that day. So, Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews; but more so, He went to the village of Ephraim, near the desert, and stayed with the disciples.

(14^th) Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many people from the country went up to Jerusalem for the Passover, to sanctify themselves. They were therefore looking for Jesus, and were asking among themselves, “What do you think? Surely, He will not come to the Feast, will He?” Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had commanded that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him. Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom He had raised from the dead. They prepared a dinner for Him, and Martha was serving, while Lazarus was among those at the table with Jesus. Mary poured about twelve ounces of very expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet, and dried them with her hair; the fragrance filled the house. One of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was about to betray Him, asked, “Why was not this perfume sold for sixty dollars and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but more so, because he was a thief, and carried the money-box, and stole from it. Jesus replied, “Leave her alone! She has done this for My burial. You have the poor with you always, but you do not always have Me.” {12:8}

Therefore, a large crowd of the Jews knew that Jesus was there, and came not on account of Jesus only, but also that they might see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. The Chief Priests planned to kill Lazarus, because on account of him many Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.

The next day the large crowd present for the Feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, and they took branches from palm trees and went to meet Him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the Lord’s Name, even Israel’s King!” (Ps. 118:25) Jesus found a young donkey, and sat on it, as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold! Your King is coming, sitting on a young donkey.” (Zech. 9:9) His disciples did not understand these things at first, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things were written about Him, and that they did these things to Him. The crowd that was with Him when He called Lazarus from the tomb, and raised him from the dead, gave testimony, and met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. However, the Pharisees talked among themselves, “You are not making any progress. Look! The world has followed him!” {12:19}

Some of the Greeks who had come to worship at the Feast came to Philip (of Bethsaida in Galilee), and asked him, saying, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip told Andrew, and they reported it to Jesus. Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the ‘Son of man’ to be glorified. Truly, truly, I assure you that if a grain of wheat that falls on the ground does not die, it remains by itself; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. The one who has strong affection for his life will lose it; but he who hates his life in this world will keep it unto life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. My servant will be where I am. If anyone serves Me, my Father will honor him. Now my soul is troubled! What shall I say?” “Father, You must save Me from this hour”? But more so, I came to this hour for this reason. Father, You must glorify your Name.” Then a Voice came out of heaven, “I have glorified It, and I will glorify It again.” The crowd standing around heard the Voice and said that it had thundered. Others were saying, “An angel spoke to Him.” Jesus answered, “This Voice was not for Me, but for you. The world’s judgment has come. Now the world’s ruler will be cast out. When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to Me.” He said this to signify what kind of death He was about to die. The crowd replied, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ abides forever. [Ps. 89:4, 110:4; Is. 9:7; Ez. 37:25] Why do You say the ^Son of man^ must be lifted up? Who is this ^Son of man^?” Jesus said, “The Light is among you for yet a little while. As you have the Light, you all must walk in It, so that darkness does not overtake you. He who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. As you have the Light, believe in the Light, that you may become children of light.” [Is. 9:1-2] Jesus said these things and went away and hid from them. Though He had done so many ‘signs’ before them, they did not believe unto Him, with the result that the word of Isaiah the prophet is fulfilled, “Lord, who has believed Our report? To whom has the Lord’s arm been revealed?” {Is.53:1} On account of this, they could not believe, because again Isaiah had said, “He blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, that I might heal them.” [Is.6:10] Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke about Him. Nevertheless, many among the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, because they would be expelled from the synagogue. They loved praise from men rather than praise from God. Jesus called out and said, “He who believes unto Me, does not believe unto Me but more so, unto the One Who sent Me; and he who sees Me sees the One Who sent Me. I am a light that has come into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me might not stay in the darkness. If anyone hears My Sayings, but does not keep them, I do not judge him, for I did not come to judge the world, but more so, to save it. He who rejects Me and does not receive My Sayings has one who judges him: the Message which I have spoken shall judge him in the last Day. I have not spoken from Myself, but more so, the One who sent Me, the Father Himself, has commanded Me what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life. The things that I speak are the things that I have heard the Father speak.” {12:50}

(15^th) Before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to be with the Father. He loved His own in the world, and He loved them to the end [of His work upon the Earth]. During Supper (since the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him) Jesus, knowing that the Father had put all things in His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God, arose from the Supper, set His garments aside, took a towel and wrapped it around Himself. Then He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to dry them with the towel. He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not now know what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter asserted, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter responded, “Lord, not only my feet, but more so, my hands and head also!” Jesus replied, “Since he who is bathed is completely clean, he only needs to wash his feet. You all are clean, but not everyone.” (He knew who was betraying Him, causing Him to say, “Not all of you are clean.”) After He washed their feet and took His garments, He sat again at the table and asked, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call Me “Teacher” and “Lord”, and you speak correctly, for I am. Therefore, if I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought also to wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I assure you, a slave is not greater than his lord, and neither is one who is sent greater than he who sends him. If you know these things, you are happy if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you: I know whom I have chosen (resulting in the Scripture being fulfilled, “He who eats with Me has lifted his heel against Me.”). [Ps. 41:9] I tell you this beforehand, that when it happens, you may believe that I AM. Truly, truly, I assure you, he who receives whom I send receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” Jesus spoke these things, and was troubled in spirit and testified, saying, “I assure you that one of you will betray Me.” The disciples looked at one another and were puzzled about whom He was speaking. The disciple whom Jesus loved was reclining on His breast. Simon Peter therefore nodded to him to ask Jesus about whom He was speaking. Then the one reclining on Jesus’ breast asked, “Lord, who is he?” Jesus replied, “He for whom I will dip a bit of bread and give it to him.” He dipped a bit of bread, and handed it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. After he dipped the bit of bread, then Satan entered Judas, and Jesus said to him, “What you do, you must do immediately!” No one at the table understood why Jesus had spoken to him. Some thought, since Judas carried the money-box, that Jesus had said to him, “You must buy what we need for the Feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. He who received the bit of bread left immediately. And it was night.

After he departed, Jesus said, “The ‘Son of man’ is now glorified, and God is glorified in Him. God will glorify Him in Himself, and He will glorify Him right away. Little children, I am with you for yet a little while. You will look for Me, but I tell you now even as I told the Jews: “You cannot come where I am going. I give you a new commandment, that it is imperative that you all love one another, even as I have loved you, that you must love one another. By this all people will understand that you are My disciples, if you practice love one for another.” Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “You cannot follow Me now to where I am going, but you shall follow later.” Peter continued, “Why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for You!” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I tell you, a rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three time! {13:38} You must not let your hearts be disturbed: you all must continue to trust unto God; you must believe unto Me also. There are many rooms in My Father’s house. If this were not true, I would have told you all, because I go to make a place ready for you, and if I go and make a place ready for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that you all also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, since we do not know where You are going, how can we know the way?” Jesus replied, “I AM, the Way and the Truth and the Life! No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you have understood Me, you all also would have understood My Father. From now on, you understand Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied!” Jesus answered him, “Philip, have I been with you all this long, and you [sing.] have not understood Me? He who has seen Me has seen the Father! Why then do you [sing.] say, “Show us the Father”? Do you [sing.] not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? I do not speak from Myself the Sayings that I speak to you all, but the Father who abides in Me does His works. Believe [pl.] Me, that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe Me because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I assure you, the one who believes in Me will do the works I do, and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you [pl.] ask in My Name, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. I will do anything you ask Me in My Name. If you [pl.] love Me, you will keep My commandments. I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another ‘Helper’ to be with you always, even the ‘Spirit of Truth’, Whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees nor understands Him; but you understand Him, because He stays with you, and shall be in you. I will not abandon you but will come to you. Yet a little while and the world sees Me no more, but you see Me. Because I live, you will also live. In that day, you will understand that I am in the Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. The one who loves Me is the one who has My commands and keeps them. My Father loves the one who loves Me, and I will love him, and will reveal Myself to him.” {14:21}

Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, how will You reveal yourself to us, but not to the world?” Jesus answered, “If anyone [Apostles] loves Me, he will keep my Message, and my Father will love him, and We will come to him, and We will dwell with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words. The Message which you hear is not mine, but more so, the Father’s, Who sent Me. I have spoken these things while I am yet with you; but the ‘Helper’, the ‘Holy Spirit’, Whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you ALL things, and will cause you to remember EVERYTHING I have told you. I leave peace with you. I give you My peace, not the world’s. You all must not let your heart be disturbed or afraid. You heard what I said to you: ‘I go, and I come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you before it occurs, so that when it does, you may believe. I will not talk with you much longer, for the world’s ruler, who has nothing over Me, is coming. I am doing what the Father commanded Me, that the world may understand that I love the Father. Get up! Let us leave this place.” {14:31}

(16^th) “I AM, the true Vine, and My Father is the Vine-dresser. He removes every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, and He prunes every branch that bears fruit, that it may produce more fruit. You are already pruned through the Word which I have spoken to you. You all must abide [continue] in Me and I, too, in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, so you cannot, unless you abide [continue] in Me. I AM, the Vine. You are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit, because you cannot do anything without Me. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and becomes withered. They are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide [continue] in you, you must ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified when you bear much fruit, and when you will be as My disciples. I have loved you as the Father has loved Me. You must continue [abide] in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will continue in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and I continue in His love. I have spoken these things that My joy may be in you all, and that your joy may be full. My command is that you all love one another as I have loved you. No one has a greater love than this: that one lay down his life for his friends. If you do the things that I command, you are My friends. I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not know what his lord is doing. I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you all EVERYTHING I heard from My Father. You did not choose Me, but more so, I chose you, and appointed you to bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide [continue], so that the Father would give to you all whatever you ask in My Name. I command you these things, that you may love one another. If the world hates you, then you understand that it has hated Me before you. If you were of the world, the world would have strong affection for its own; but because you are not of the world – I have chosen you out of the world – the world hates you. Remember what I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they keep My Teaching, they will also keep yours. They will do all these things to you because of My Name, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and had not spoken to them, they would have no sin; but they now have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me also hates My Father. If I had not done among them works which no one else has done, they would have no sin; but now, since they have seen, they have hated both Me and my Father. So, the prediction written in their Law is fulfilled, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ [Psalms 69:4] When the ‘Helper’ comes, Whom I shall send from the Father to you, even the ‘Spirit of Truth’ Who comes from the Father, He will testify of Me. You also will testify, because you were with Me from the beginning. [15:27] I have spoken these things so that you might not be caused to stumble. You will be put out of the synagogues, and the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think that he is serving God. They will do these things because they have understood neither the Father nor Me. I have spoken these things that, when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you. I told you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. I am now going to the One Who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are you going?’ However, because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is best for you that I leave. If I do not leave, the ‘Helper’ will not come; but if I leave, I will send ‘Him’ to you. When ‘He’ comes, ‘He’ will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you will see me no more; of judgment, because the world’s ruler has been judged. I still have many things to say to you, but more so, you cannot bear them now. When the ‘Spirit of Truth’ comes, He will guide you into ALL the Truth: for ‘He’ will not speak from ‘Himself’, but more so, ‘He’ will speak what ‘He’ hears, and ‘He’ will evangelize to you the things that are coming. ‘He’ will glorify Me, because ‘He’ will evangelize to you the things ‘He’ will receive from Me. Everything the Father has is Mine. That is why I said ‘He’ receives from Me and will evangelize them to you. Yet a little while, and you will no longer see Me, and again a little while and you will see Me.” The disciples talked among themselves, “What is He saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see Me, and again after a little while and you will see Me’? And, ‘Because I go to the Father’?” They were saying, “What is this, ‘A little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.” Jesus understood that they wanted to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you discussing with one another why I said, ‘A little while and you will not see Me, and again a little while and you will see Me’? Truly, truly, I assure you that you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall become joy. When a woman gives birth, she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when the child is born, she no longer remembers the distress, because of the joy that a baby has been born into the world. You have sorrow now, but I will see you again; and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. You will not ask Me anything in that day. Truly, truly, I assure you, the Father will give to you whatever you ask in My Name. Until now, you have not asked anything in My Name. You must ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full. I have spoken these things in parables, but the hour is coming when I will no longer speak in parables, but more so, will talk to you openly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My Name. I do not say that I will pray to the Father for you, for the Father Himself has strong affection for you, because you have strong affection for Me, and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father, and I have come into the world; again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” His disciples said, “Behold! Now You openly speak without a parable. Now we know that You know all things, and that You do not need anyone to question You. By this we believe You came from God. Jesus answered, “Do you now believe? Behold! The hour is coming – indeed, has come, – that you all will be scattered, each one to his own home, and you will leave Me alone; but I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. I have spoken these things, that you may have peace in Me. You have distress in the world, but more so, you must be cheerful! I have overcome the world! {16:33}

(17^th) After Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted His eyes toward heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. You must glorify your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He may give eternal life to everyone whom You have given to Him. This is eternal life: to understand You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You sent. I have glorified You on the Earth: I have finished the work which You gave Me to do. Now, Father, You must glorify Me with Your own glory, which I had always with You before the world existed. I have manifested Your Name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your instruction. Now they understand that all things which You gave Me are from You. I have given to them the Sayings which You gave to Me, and they have received them; and they truly understand that I came from You, and they believe that You sent Me. I pray for them, not for the world, but for the ones You have given to Me, because they are Yours. All my things are Yours, and Yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. I am no longer in the world, but they are, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, You must keep in Your Name those whom You gave Me, that they may be united, even as We are. When I was with them, I kept in Your Name those whom You had given Me. I guarded them, and not one is lost, except the son of destruction, with the result that the Scripture is fulfilled. I am now coming to You, and I speak these things in the world, that My joy may be made full in them. I have given them Your instruction, and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You remove them from the world, but more so, that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. You must set them apart in the Truth; Your Teaching is Truth. I have sent them into the world, even as You sent Me into the world. I set Myself apart for their sake, that they also may be set apart in the Truth. I am not only praying for them, but more so, also for those who believe unto Me through their Teaching, that they may all be united, as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they may be [united] in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. I have given to them the glory which You gave to Me, that they may be united, even as We are united: I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfectly united, that the world may understand that You sent Me, and that You loved them as You loved Me. Father, I want those whom You have given Me to be where I am, that they may see My glory, which You have given Me, because You loved Me before the world’s creation. Righteous Father, the world does not understand You; but I understand You, and these understand that You sent Me. I made your Name understood to them, and will make it understood, that the love You had for Me may be in them, and I in them.” {17:26}

(18^th) Jesus said these things and went out with His disciples beyond the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. Judas, the betrayer, knew the place, for Jesus often went there with His disciples. Judas took a regiment of soldiers and officers of the chief priests and of the Pharisees and came there with torches and lanterns and weapons. Since Jesus knew all things that were coming upon Him, He went out and said to them, “For whom are you looking?” They replied, “Jesus, the Nazarene.” He answered, “I AM!” (Judas the betrayer was standing with them.) After Jesus said, “I AM!” they backed up and fell to the ground. He again asked them, “For whom are you looking?” They said, “Jesus, the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM! If you are looking for Me, then you must let these go.” (In this way His word which He had spoken was fulfilled, “Of those You gave Me, I have lost none”. Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear. (The slave’s name was Malchus.) Jesus therefore said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?” Then the soldiers and the chief captain and the officers arrested Jesus and tied him. First, they took Him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas (that year’s High Priest, who had advised the Jews that it would be profitable for one man to die for the people). Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Now that disciple was well-known to the High Priest and went on with Jesus into the High Priest’s courtyard. But Peter stood outside by the door. The other disciple (personally known by the High Priest) went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter inside. The servant-girl who kept the door asked Peter, “Are you not one of this man’s disciples?” He answered, “No!” Now the slaves and the officers who were standing there had made a charcoal fire (because it was cold) and were warming themselves; and Peter was also standing with them, warming himself. The high priest asked Jesus about His disciples and His Teaching. Jesus replied, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue and in the Temple, where all the Jews come together, and I have taught nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? You ought to ask those who have heard what I said to them. Look! These know what I have said.” After He said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus, and asked, “Do you talk that way to the High Priest?” Jesus replied, “If I have spoken wrongly, you must bear witness of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the High Priest. Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “Are you not one of His disciples?” He denied this, saying, “No!” One of the high priest’s slaves (a kinsman of the man whose ear Peter had cut off) asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter again denied, and a rooster immediately crowed. {18:27}

They then took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s residence. It was early. The Jews did not enter the residence, so that they would not be defiled, and that they might eat the Passover. Pilate went outside to them, and asked, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have brought him to you.” Pilate responded, “Take him and judge him according to your Law!” The Jews replied, “It is not lawful for us to kill anyone!” (Their statement fulfilled Jesus’ word signifying what sort of death he would die). Pilate again entered the residence and summoned Jesus, and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you asking Me this yourself, or have others told you about Me?” Pilate replied, “Am I a Jew? Your nation and the chief priests brought you to me. What have you done?” Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but My Kingdom is not of this world.” Pilate asked him, “Are you then not a king?” Jesus answered, “What you say is correct. I was born to be King, and I have come into the world for this purpose: that I might testify to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth listens to My voice.” Pilate asked, “What is truth?” After he asked this, he went out again to the Jews, and announced, “I find no fault in him. You have a custom that I release a prisoner to you at the Passover. Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” Again, they cried out, saying, “Not this man, but more so, Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a thief. Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged [scourged] Him. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and clothed Him with a purple robe. They were approaching Him, and saying, “Hail, king of the Jews,” and were striking Him. Again, Pilate went outside and said to them, “Behold! I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no fault in him.” Jesus went outside, wearing the thorny crown and purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold! The man!” The chief priests and the officers saw Him, and cried out, saying, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said, “You take Him, and you crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” The Jews answered, “We have a law by which He ought to die, because He made Himself God’s Son.” When Pilate heard that accusation, he was more afraid, and entered the residence again, and said to Jesus, “From where are You?” Jesus gave no answer. Pilate continued, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know I have power to release you, or to crucify you?” Jesus replied, “You would have no power over Me, if it had not been given to you from above. Because of this, the one who delivered Me to you has greater sin.” At this reply, Pilate continued to try to release Jesus, but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not Caesar’s friend! Anyone who makes Himself a king speaks against Caesar.” After Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside, and sat on the judgment seat called “The Stone Pavement” (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was Preparation day for the Passover, about six o’clock [in the morning]. He said to the Jews, “Behold! Your King!” They cried, “Away, away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate responded, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. They took Jesus, and He went out carrying His own cross to a place called “The Skull” (in Hebrew, Golgotha), where they crucified Him between two others. Pilate wrote a notice and put it on the cross, JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read the notice, because the place of the city where Jesus was crucified was near. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews pleaded with Pilate, “You must not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that ‘he said, I am King of the Jews.'” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” The soldiers crucified Jesus and took His clothes and divided them into four parts, one to each soldier, and the inner garment. The inner garment was seamless, woven throughout from the top. They said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but let us cast lots for it, to see who will get it.” In this way the Scripture was fulfilled, “They divided My clothes among themselves, and cast lots for My garment.” [Ps.22:18] The soldiers did these things. His mother, and her sister (Mary, the wife of Clopas), and Mary of Magdala stood by Jesus’ cross. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, and said to his mother, “Woman, behold! Your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold! Your mother!” The disciple took her to his own home from that hour. After this, since Jesus knew that everything was now finished, He said, “I thirst,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled [Ps.69:21]. A vessel full of sour wine was brought, and a sponge full of the sour wine, placed on a hyssop stalk, was lifted to His mouth. Jesus received the wine, and said, “IT IS FINISHED,” and bowed His head, and yielded His Spirit. {19:30}

Since it was the Preparation, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they be taken away, so that their bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (because that Sabbath was special). The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first one, and of the other one of those who had been crucified with Him; but when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was already dead, they did not break his legs. However, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with his spear, and blood and water immediately came out. He who has observed has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he speaks truly, so that you all also may be persuaded. The occurrence of these things had been foretold in the Scripture, “Not one of His bones will be broken.” {Ps.34:20} Again, another Scripture says, “They will look on Him Whom they have pierced.” {Zech.12:10} After these things Joseph of Arimathea (who was a disciple in secret for fear of the Jews) asked to take Jesus’ body. Pilate consented, and he went and took His body. Also, Nicodemus (who at the first came at night to Jesus) came and brought about eighty pounds of a mixture of myrrh and aloes. They took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in pieces of linen cloth with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. There was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had been laid. {Is.53:9} They placed Jesus there, because of the Preparation of the Jews, and because the tomb was near. {19:42}

(19^th) Early on Sunday, while it was still dark, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb, and noticed that the stone had been taken from the sepulcher. She ran to Peter and to the other disciple, the beloved of Jesus, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have put him.” Then Peter and the other disciple went out and were going toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb. He stooped down and saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he did not enter. Peter came following him, and entered the tomb, and saw the pieces of cloth lying there, and the handkerchief which had been on His head not lying with the pieces of cloth but folded and in a place by itself. Then also the other disciple who had arrived first at the tomb went in and saw and believed. They did not yet understand the Scripture that He must be raised from the dead. The disciples then returned to their homes. Mary stood outside the tomb weeping, and as she wept, she stooped down to look into the tomb, and saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet where Jesus’ body had lain. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She answered them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put him.” After she said these things, she turned around, and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus asked her, “Why are you crying? For whom are you looking?” She thought he was the gardener, and said to him, “Sir, if you have moved Him, you must tell me where you have put Him, and I will take Him away!” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and spoke to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (Teacher). Jesus said to her, “You must not be clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. You must go tell my brothers, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”, and that He had said these things to her.

At evening on that Sunday, when the doors where the disciples were had been shut because of fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace to you!” After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw Him. Again, Jesus said to them, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.” He said this, and breathed on them, and said to them, “You all must receive the Holy Spirit. The sins of the people you forgive have been forgiven; the sins you retain have been retained.” Thomas (called the Twin, one of the twelve) was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he replied to them, “Unless I see the print of the nails in His hands and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” After eight days the disciples again were inside, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, and Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “You must put your finger here. Look at My hands! You must reach out your hand and put it into My side. Never again act insincere, rather credible!” Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and My God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Oh, the incredible happiness of they who have not seen, and yet have become persuaded.”

(Jesus indeed performed in the presence of His disciples many ‘signs’ which have not been written in this Book, but these are written that you all may become persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you might have life in His Name.)

After these things, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He appeared in this manner: Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael (from Cana of Galilee), the two sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Peter said to them, “I am going to fish.” They replied, “We are going with you.” They left and entered the boat but did not catch anything that night. As day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus asked, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered. He said, “You ought to cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast their net, but they could not haul it in, because of the abundance of fish. The disciple beloved of Jesus said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he was wearing only an undergarment) and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the small boat, dragging the net of fish, for they were not far from the land, about three hundred feet. As they stepped on the land, they saw fish on a charcoal fire, and bread. Jesus said to them, “You must bring some of the fish you have now caught.” Simon Peter stepped up and hauled in the net to the shore. It was full of large fish (one hundred and fifty-three), but though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus invited them, “Come. You must have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are you?”, for they knew that it was the Lord. Jesus took the bread, gave it to them, and likewise gave them the fish. This now was the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He had been raised from the dead.

After they finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He replied to Him, “Yes, Lord, you know I have great affection for You.” Jesus said, “You must feed My lambs.” A second time He asked, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” Peter repeated to Him, “Yes, Lord, You know I have great affection for You.” Jesus said to him, “You must shepherd My sheep.” A third time Jesus asked him, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you really have great affection for Me?” Peter was grieved because a third time Jesus had asked, “Do you have great affection for Me?”, and replied, “Lord, you know all things. You understand I have great affection for You.” Jesus answered, “It is imperative that you feed My sheep. Truly, truly, I assure you that when you were young, you clothed yourself and went where you pleased; but when you become old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will tie you and carry you where you do not wish.” He said this to signify by what sort of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “You must always follow Me!” Peter turned around and saw Jesus’ beloved disciple following, who at the supper had leaned on Jesus’ chest, and had asked, “Lord, who will betray you?”, Peter looked at him, and asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus replied to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You must continually follow only Me!” So, the report went out to the brothers, “That disciple will not die.” However, Jesus had not said that he would not die, but “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

(20^th) This is the disciple who is testifying concerning these things, and who wrote these things, and we know that His testimony is true. Now there are also many other things Jesus did, which, if each one was written, I suppose the world itself would not have room for the books.

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