Jesus said, If a man keeps my word he will never see death.

Jesus said to them again, I am going away and you will be looking for me, but death will overtake you in your sins. It is not possible for you to come where I am going. 22 So the Jews said, Will he take his life? Is that why he says, Where I go it is not possible for you to come? 23 And he said to them, You are of the earth; I am from heaven: you are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 For this reason I said to you that death will overtake you in your sins: for if you have not faith that I am he, death will come to you while you are in your sins. 25 Then they said to him, Who are you? Jesus said, What I said to you from the first. 26 I have much to say about you and against you: but he who sent me is true and what he has said to me I say to the world. 27 They did not see that his words were about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, When the Son of man has been lifted up by you, then it will be clear to you who I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but say as the Father gave me teaching. 29 He who sent me is with me; he has not gone from me, because at all times I do the things which are pleasing to him. 30 When he said this a number came to have faith in him.

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had faith in him, If you keep my word, then you are truly my disciples; 32 And you will have knowledge of what is true, and that will make you free. 33 They said to him in answer, We are Abraham's seed and have never been any man's servant: why do you say, You will become free?

34 And this was the answer Jesus gave them: Truly I say to you, Everyone who does evil is the servant of sin. 35 Now the servant does not go on living in the house for ever, but the son does. 36 If then the son makes you free, you will be truly free. 37 I am conscious that you are Abraham's seed; but you have a desire to put me to death because my word has no place in you. 38 I say the things which I have seen in my Father's house: and you do the things which come to you from your father's house.

39 In answer they said to him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children you would do what Abraham did. 40 But now you have a desire to put me to death, a man who has said to you what is true, as I had it from God: Abraham did not do that. 41 You are doing the works of your father. They said to him, We are true sons of Abraham; we have one Father, who is God. 42 Jesus said to them, If God was your Father you would have love for me, because it was from God I came and am here. I did not come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why are my words not clear to you? It is because your ears are shut to my teaching. 44 You are the children of your father the Evil One and it is your pleasure to do his desires. From the first he was a taker of life; and he did not go in the true way because there is no true thing in him. When he says what is false, it is natural to him, for he is false and the father of what is false. 45 But because I say what is true, you have no belief in me. 46 Which of you is able truly to say that I am a sinner? If I say what is true, why have you no belief in me? 47 He who is a child of God gives ear to the words of God: your ears are not open to them because you are not from God.

48 The Jews said to him in answer, Are we not right in saying that you are of Samaria and have an evil spirit? 49 And this was the answer of Jesus: I have not an evil spirit; but I give honour to my Father and you do not give honour to me. 50 I, however, am not in search of glory for myself: there is One who is searching for it and he is judge. 51 Truly I say to you, If a man keeps my word he will never see death. 52 The Jews said to him, Now we are certain that you have an evil spirit. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead; and you say, If a man keeps my word he will never see death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets are dead: who do you say that you are? 54 Jesus said in answer, If I take glory for myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father who gives me glory, of whom you say that he is your God. 55 You have no knowledge of him, but I have knowledge of him; and if I said I have no knowledge of him I would be talking falsely like you: but I have full knowledge of him, and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham was full of joy at the hope of seeing my day: he saw it and was glad. 57 Then the Jews said to him, You are not fifty years old; have you seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, Before Abraham came into being, I am. 59 So they took up stones to send at him: but Jesus got secretly out of their way and went out of the Temple.

Jesus said, I am the light of the world he who comes with me will not be walking in the dark but will have the light of life.

Jesus went to the Mountain of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the Temple and all the people came to him and he was seated teaching them. 3 Now the scribes and Pharisees came, with a woman who had been taken in the act of sinning against the married relation; 4 And putting her forward, they said to him, Master, this woman has been taken in the very act of sinning against the married relation. 5 Now in the law Moses gave directions that such women were to be stoned; what do you say about it? 6 They said this, testing him, so that they might have something against him. But Jesus, with his head bent down, made letters on the floor with his finger. 7 But when they went on with their questions, he got up and said to them, Let him among you who is without sin be the first to send a stone at her. 8 And again, with bent head, he made letters on the floor. 9 And when his words came to their ears, they went out one by one, starting with the oldest even to the last, because they were conscious of what was in their hearts: and Jesus was there by himself with the woman before him. 10 Then Jesus got up, and seeing nobody but the woman, he said to her, Where are the men who said things against you? did no one give a decision against you? 11 And she said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said, And I do not give a decision against you: go, and never do wrong again.

12 Then again Jesus said to them, I am the light of the world; he who comes with me will not be walking in the dark but will have the light of life. 13 So the Pharisees said to him, The witness you give is about yourself: your witness is not true. 14 Jesus said in answer, Even if I give witness about myself, my witness is true, because I have knowledge of where I came from and where I am going; but you have no knowledge of where I come from or of where I am going. 15 You are judging from what you see; I am judging no man. 16 Even if I am judging, my decision is right, because I am not by myself--with me is the Father who sent me. 17 Even in your law it is said that the witness of two men is true. 18 I give witness about myself and the Father who sent me gives witness about me. 19 Then they said to him, Where is your Father? Jesus said in answer, You have no knowledge of me or of my Father: if you had knowledge of me you would have knowledge of my Father. 20 Jesus said these words in the place where the offerings were stored, while he was teaching in the Temple: but no man took him because his time was still to come.

Jesus answer, If any man is ready to do God's pleasure he will have knowledge of the teaching and of where it comes from God or from myself.

Jesus went from place to place in Galilee. He did not go about in Judaea, because the Jews were looking for a chance to put him to death. 2 But the feast of the Jews, the feast of tents, was near. 3 So his brothers said to him, Go away from here into Judaea so that your disciples may see the works which you do. 4 Because no man does things secretly if he has a desire that men may have knowledge of him. If you do these things, let yourself be seen by all men. 5 For even his brothers had no belief in him. 6 Jesus said to them, My time is still to come, but any time is good for you. 7 It is not possible for you to be hated by the world; but I am hated by it, because I give witness that what it does is evil. 8 Go you up to the feast: I am not going up now to the feast because my time has not fully come. 9 Having said these things to them, he still kept in Galilee.

10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he went up, not publicly, but in secret. 11 At the feast the Jews were looking for him and saying, Where is he? 12 And there was much discussion about him among the mass of the people. Some said, He is a good man; but others said, No, he is giving people false ideas. 13 But no man said anything about him openly for fear of the Jews.

14 Now in the middle of the feast Jesus went up to the Temple and was teaching. 15 Then the Jews were surprised and said, How has this man got knowledge of books? He has never been to school. 16 Jesus gave them this answer: It is not my teaching, but his who sent me. 17 If any man is ready to do God's pleasure he will have knowledge of the teaching and of where it comes from--from God or from myself. 18 The man whose words come from himself is looking for glory for himself, but he who is looking for the glory of him who sent him--that man is true and there is no evil in him.

19 Did not Moses give you the law? Even so, not one of you keeps the law. Why have you a desire to put me to death? 20 The people said in answer, You have an evil spirit: who has any desire to put you to death? 21 This was the answer of Jesus: I have done one work and you are all surprised at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision--not that it comes from Moses, but from the fathers--and even on the Sabbath you give a child circumcision. 23 If a child is given circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Let not your decisions be based on what you see, but on righteousness.

25 Then some of the people of Jerusalem said, Is not this the man whose death is desired? 26 And here he is talking openly and they say nothing to him! Is it possible that the rulers have knowledge that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, it is clear to us where this man comes from: but when the Christ comes no one will have knowledge where he comes from. 28 Then, when he was teaching in the Temple, Jesus said with a loud voice, You have knowledge of me and you have knowledge of where I come from; and I have not come of myself; but there is One who has sent me; he is true, but you have no knowledge of him. 29 I have knowledge of him because I came from him and he sent me. 30 Then they had a desire to take him: but no man put hands on him because his hour was still to come. 31 And numbers of the people had belief in him, and they said, When the Christ comes will he do more signs than this man has done?

32 This discussion of the people came to the ears of the Pharisees; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent servants to take him. 33 Then Jesus said, I will be with you a little longer and then I go to him who sent me. 34 You will be looking for me, and you will not see me: and where I am you may not come. 35 So the Jews said among themselves, To what place is he going where we will not see him? will he go to the Jews living among the Greeks and become the teacher of the Greeks? 36 What is this saying of his, You will be looking for me and will not see me, and where I am you may not come?

37 On the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus got up and said in a loud voice, If any man is in need of drink let him come to me and I will give it to him. 38 He who has faith in me, out of his body, as the Writings have said, will come rivers of living water. 39 This he said of the Spirit which would be given to those who had faith in him: the Spirit had not been given then, because the glory of Jesus was still to come.

40 When these words came to their ears, some of the people said, This is certainly the prophet. 41 Others said, This is the Christ. But others said, Not so; will the Christ come from Galilee? 42 Do not the Writings say that the Christ comes of the seed of David and from Beth-lehem, the little town where David was? 43 So there was a division among the people because of him. 44 And some of them had a desire to take him; but no man put hands on him.

45 Then the servants went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, Why have you not got him with you? 46 The servants made answer, No man ever said things like this man. 47 Then the Pharisees said to them, Have you, like the others, been given false ideas? 48 Have any of the rulers belief in him, or any one of the Pharisees? 49 But these people who have no knowledge of the law are cursed. 50 Nicodemus--he who had come to Jesus before, being himself one of them--said to them, 51 Is a man judged by our law before it has given him a hearing and has knowledge of what he has done? 52 This was their answer: And do you come from Galilee? Make search and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee. 53 And every man went to his house;

Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, If you do not take the flesh of the Son of man for food, and if you do not take his blood for drink, you have no life in you.

when Jesus saw that the people were about to come and take him by force to make him a king, he went away again up the mountain by himself.

16 When evening came the disciples went down to the sea; 17 And they took a boat and went across the sea in the direction of Capernaum. By then it was dark and still Jesus had not come to them. 18 The sea was getting rough because of a strong wind which was blowing. 19 After they had gone three or four miles they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near to the boat; and they had great fear. 20 But he said to them, It is I, have no fear. 21 Then they readily took him into the boat: and straight away the boat was at the land to which they were going.

22 The day after, the people who were on the other side of the sea saw that only one small boat had been there, that Jesus had not gone in that boat with the disciples, but that the disciples had gone away by themselves. 23 Some other boats, however, came from Tiberias near to the place where they had taken the bread after the Lord had given praise. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, or his disciples, they got into those boats and went over to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 And when they came across him on the other side of the sea they said, Rabbi, when did you come here?

26 Jesus, answering them, said, Truly I say to you, You come after me, not because you saw signs, but because you were given the bread and had enough. 27 Let your work not be for the food which comes to an end, but for the food which goes on for eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you, for on him has God the Father put his mark. 28 Then they said to him, How may we do the works of God? 29 Jesus, answering, said to them, This is to do the work of God: to have faith in him whom God has sent. 30 So they said, What sign do you give us, so that we may see and have faith in you? What do you do? 31 Our fathers had the manna in the waste land, as the Writings say, He gave them bread from heaven. 32 Jesus then said to them, Truly I say to you, What Moses gave you was not the bread from heaven; it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 The bread of God is the bread which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world. 34 Ah, Lord, they said, give us that bread for ever!

35 And this was the answer of Jesus: I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be in need of food, and he who has faith in me will never be in need of drink. 36 But it is as I said to you: you have seen me, and still you have no faith. 37 Whatever the Father gives to me will come to me; and I will not send away anyone who comes to me. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my pleasure, but the pleasure of him who sent me. 39 And this is the pleasure of him who sent me, that I am not to let out of my hands anything which he has given me, but I am to give it new life on the last day. 40 This, I say, is my Father's pleasure, that everyone who sees the Son and has faith in him may have eternal life: and I will take him up on the last day.

41 Now the Jews said bitter things about Jesus because of his words, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we have seen? How is it then that he now says, I have come down from heaven? 43 Jesus made answer and said, Do not say things against me, one to another. 44 No man is able to come to me if the Father who sent me does not give him the desire to come: and I will take him up from the dead on the last day. 45 The writings of the prophets say, And they will all have teaching from God. Everyone whose ears have been open to the teaching of the Father comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only he who is from God, he has seen the Father. 47 Truly I say to you, He who has faith in me has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers took the manna in the waste land--and they are dead. 50 The bread which comes from heaven is such bread that a man may take it for food and never see death. 51 I am the living bread which has come from heaven: if any man takes this bread for food he will have life for ever: and more than this, the bread which I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world.

52 Then the Jews had an angry discussion among themselves, saying, How is it possible for this man to give us his flesh for food? 53 Then Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, If you do not take the flesh of the Son of man for food, and if you do not take his blood for drink, you have no life in you. 54 He who takes my flesh for food and my blood for drink has eternal life: and I will take him up from the dead at the last day. 55 My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 He who takes my flesh for food and my blood for drink is in me and I in him. 57 As the living Father has sent me, and I have life because of the Father, even so he who takes me for his food will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread which has come down from heaven. It is not like the food which your fathers had: they took of the manna, and are dead; but he who takes this bread for food will have life for ever.

59 Jesus said these things in the Synagogue while he was teaching at Capernaum.

60 Then, hearing this, a number of his disciples said, This is a hard saying; who is able to take in such teaching? 61 When Jesus became conscious that his disciples were protesting about what he said, he said to them, Does this give you trouble? 62 What then will you say if you see the Son of man going up to where he was before? 63 The spirit is the life giver; the flesh is of no value: the words which I have said to you are spirit and they are life. 64 But still some of you have no faith. For it was clear to Jesus from the first who they were who had no faith, and who it was who would be false to him. 65 And he said, This is why I said to you, No man is able to come to me if he is not given the power to do so by the Father.

66 Because of what he said, a number of the disciples went back and would no longer go with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, Have you a desire to go away? 68 Then Simon Peter gave this answer: Lord, to whom are we to go? you have the words of eternal life; 69 And we have faith and are certain that you are the Holy One of God. 70 Then Jesus said, Did I not make a selection of you, the twelve, and one of you is a son of the Evil One? 71 He was talking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. It was he who was to be false to Jesus--one of the twelve.

Jesus give food to people come to him.

Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee--that is, the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great number of people went after him because they saw the signs which he did on those who were ill. 3 Then Jesus went up the mountain and was seated there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Lifting up his eyes, Jesus saw a great number of people coming to where he was, and he said to Philip, Where may we get bread for all these people? 6 This he said, testing him: for he had no doubt what he himself would do. 7 Philip made answer, Bread to the value of two hundred pence would not be enough even to give everyone a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to Jesus, 9 There is a boy here with five barley cakes and two fishes: but what is that among such a number? 10 Jesus said, Let the people be seated. Now there was much grass in that place. And those seated on the grass were about five thousand. 11 Then Jesus took the cakes and having given praise to God, he gave them to the people who were seated, and the fishes in the same way, as much as they had need of. 12 And when they had had enough, Jesus said to his disciples, Take up the broken bits which are over, so that nothing may be wasted. 13 So they took them up: twelve baskets full of broken bits of the five cakes which were over after the people had had enough. 14 And when the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, Truly, this is the prophet who is to come into the world.

15 Now when Jesus saw that the people were about to come and take him by force to make him a king, he went away again up the mountain by himself.

Jesus said, The man whose ears are open to my word and who has faith in him who sent me, has eternal life; he will not be judged, but has come from death into life.

there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now in Jerusalem near the sheep-market there is a public bath which in Hebrew is named Beth-zatha. It has five doorways. 3 In these doorways there were a great number of people with different diseases: some unable to see, some without the power of walking, some with wasted bodies. 4 5 One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him there on the floor it was clear to him that he had been now a long time in that condition, and so he said to the man, Is it your desire to get well? 7 The ill man said in answer, Sir, I have nobody to put me into the bath when the water is moving; and while I am on the way down some other person gets in before me. 8 Jesus said to him, Get up, take your bed and go. 9 And the man became well straight away, and took up his bed and went. Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been made well, It is the Sabbath; and it is against the law for you to take up your bed. 11 He said to them, But he who made me well, said to me, Take up your bed and go. 12 Then they put to him the question: Who is the man who said to you, Take it up and go? 13 Now he who had been made well had no knowledge who it was, Jesus having gone away because of the number of people who were in that place. 14 After a time Jesus came across him in the Temple and said to him, See, you are well and strong; do no more sin for fear a worse thing comes to you. 15 The man went away and said to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 And for this reason the Jews were turned against Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But his answer was: My Father is still working even now, and so I am working.

18 For this cause the Jews had an even greater desire to put Jesus to death, because not only did he not keep the Sabbath but he said God was his Father, so making himself equal with God.

19 So Jesus made answer and said, Truly I say to you, The Son is not able to do anything himself; he is able to do only what he sees the Father doing; whatever the Father does the Son does it in the same way. 20 For the Father has love for the Son and lets him see everything which he does: and he will let him see greater works than these so that you may be full of wonder. 21 In the same way, as the Father gives life to the dead, even so the Son gives life to those to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 The Father is not the judge of men, but he has given all decisions into the hands of the Son; 23 So that all men may give honour to the Son even as they give honour to the Father. He who gives no honour to the Son gives no honour to the Father who sent him.

24 Truly I say to you, The man whose ears are open to my word and who has faith in him who sent me, has eternal life; he will not be judged, but has come from death into life.

25 Truly I say to you, The time is coming, it has even now come, when the voice of the Son of God will come to the ears of the dead, and those hearing it will have life. 26 For even as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to be judge because he is the Son of man. 28 Do not be surprised at this: for the time is coming when his voice will come to all who are in the place of the dead, 29 And they will come out; those who have done good, into the new life; and those who have done evil, to be judged.

30 Of myself I am unable to do anything: as the voice comes to me so I give a decision: and my decision is right because I have no desire to do what is pleasing to myself, but only what is pleasing to him who sent me.

31 If I gave witness about myself, my witness would not be true. 32 There is another who gives witness about me and I am certain that the witness he gives about me is true.

33 You sent to John and he gave true witness. 34 But I have no need of a man's witness: I only say these things so that you may have salvation. 35 He was a burning and shining light, and for a time you were ready to be happy in his light.

36 But the witness which I have is greater than that of John: the work which the Father has given me to do, the very work which I am now doing, is a witness that the Father has sent me.

37 And the Father himself who sent me has given witness about me. Not one of you has ever given ear to his voice; his form you have not seen. 38 And you have not kept his word in your hearts, because you have not faith in him whom he has sent.

39 You make search in the holy Writings, in the belief that through them you get eternal life; and it is those Writings which give witness about me. 40 And still you have no desire to come to me so that you may have life. 41 I do not take honour from men; 42 But I have knowledge of you that you have no love for God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and your hearts are not open to me. If another comes with no other authority but himself, you will give him your approval. 44 How is it possible for you to have faith while you take honour one from another and have no desire for the honour which comes from the only God? 45 Put out of your minds the thought that I will say things against you to the Father: the one who says things against you is Moses, on whom you put your hopes. 46 If you had belief in Moses you would have belief in me; for his writings are about me. 47 If you have no belief in his writings, how will you have belief in my words?

Jesus said to him, You will not have faith if you do not see signs and wonders.

Jesus went into Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself said that a prophet has no honour in the country of his birth. 45 So when he came into Galilee, the Galilaeans took him to their hearts because of the things which they had seen him do in Jerusalem at the feast--they themselves having been there at the feast.

46 So he came to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And there was a certain man of high position whose son was ill at Capernaum. 47 When it came to his ears that Jesus had come from Judaea into Galilee, he went to him and made a request that he would come down to his son, who was near to death, and make him well. 48 Then Jesus said to him, You will not have faith if you do not see signs and wonders. 49 The man said, Sir, come down before my boy is dead. 50 And Jesus said, Go in peace; your son is living. The man had faith in the word which Jesus said to him and went away. 51 And while he was going down, his servants came to him and said, Your boy is living. 52 So he put a question to them as to the hour when he became better; and they said to him, The disease went from him yesterday at the seventh hour. 53 It was clear then to the father that this was the very time at which Jesus said to him, Your son is living. And he had faith in Jesus, he and all his family. 54 Now this is the second sign which Jesus did after he had come out of Judaea into Galilee.

whoever takes water from Jesus will become a fountain of eternal life.

when it was clear to the Lord that word had come to the ears of the Pharisees that Jesus was making more disciples than John and was giving them baptism 2 (Though, in fact, it was his disciples who gave baptism, not Jesus himself), 3 He went out of Judaea into Galilee again. 4 And it was necessary for him to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria which was named Sychar, near to the bit of land which Jacob gave to his son Joseph: 6 Now Jacob's fountain was there. Jesus, being tired after his journey, was resting by the fountain. It was about the sixth hour.

7 A woman of Samaria came to get water, and Jesus said to her, Give me some water. 8 For his disciples had gone to the town to get food. 9 The woman of Samaria said to him, Why do you, a Jew, make a request for water to me, a woman of Samaria? She said this because Jews have nothing to do with the people of Samaria. 10 In answer Jesus said, If you had knowledge of what God gives freely and who it is who says to you, Give me water, you would make your prayer to him, and he would give you living water. 11 The woman said to him, Sir, you have no vessel and the fountain is deep; from where will you get the living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us the fountain and took the water of it himself, with his children and his cattle? 13 Jesus said to her, Everyone who takes this water will be in need of it again: 14 But whoever takes the water I give him will never be in need of drink again; for the water I give him will become in him a fountain of eternal life.

15 The woman said to him, Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be in need again of drink and will not have to come all this way for it. 16 Jesus said to her, Go, get your husband and come back here with him. 17 In answer, the woman said, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, You have said rightly, I have no husband: 18 You have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband: that was truly said. 19 The woman said to him, Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers gave worship on this mountain, but you Jews say that the right place for worship is in Jerusalem. 21 Jesus said to her, Woman, take my word for this; the time is coming when you will not give worship to the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You give worship, but without knowledge of what you are worshipping: we give worship to what we have knowledge of: for salvation comes from the Jews. 23 But the time is coming, and is even now here, when the true worshippers will give worship to the Father in the true way of the spirit, for these are the worshippers desired by the Father. 24 God is Spirit: then let his worshippers give him worship in the true way of the spirit. 25 The woman said to him, I am certain that the Messiah, who is named Christ, is coming; when he comes he will make all things clear to us. 26 Jesus said to her, I, who am talking to you, am he.

27 At that point the disciples came back, and they were surprised to see him talking to a woman; but not one of them said to him, What is your purpose? or, Why are you talking to her? 28 Then the woman put down her water-pot and went into the town, and said to the people, 29 Come and see a man who has been talking to me of everything I ever did! Is it possible that this is the Christ? 30 So they went out of the town and came to him.

31 While this was taking place, the disciples were saying to Jesus, Master, take some food. 32 But he said to them, I have food of which you have no knowledge. 33 So the disciples said one to another, Did anyone give him food? 34 Jesus said, My food is to do the pleasure of him who sent me and to make his work complete. 35 You would say, Four months from now is the time of the grain-cutting. Take a look, I say to you, at the fields; they are even now white for cutting. 36 He who does the cutting now has his reward; he is getting together fruit for eternal life, so that he who did the planting and he who gets in the grain may have joy together. 37 In this the saying is a true one, One does the planting, and another gets in the grain. 38 I sent you to get in grain which you had no hand in planting: other men did that work, and you take the reward.

39 Now a number of the people of that town had faith in him because of the woman's witness: He has been talking to me of everything I ever did. 40 So when the people came to him they made request to him to be among them for a time, and he was there two days. 41 And a great number more of them came to have faith in him because of what he himself said. 42 And they said to the woman, Now we have faith, but not because of your story: we ourselves have given ear to his words, and we are certain that he is truly the Saviour of the world.

Jesus said to them, Send destruction on this Temple and I will put it up again in three days.

Jesus went down to Capernaum, with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples, and they were there not more than two or three days.

13 The time of the Passover of the Jews was near and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And there in the Temple he saw men trading in oxen and sheep and doves, and he saw the changers of money in their seats: 15 And he made a whip of small cords and put them all out of the Temple, with the sheep and the oxen, sending in all directions the small money of the changers and overturning their tables; 16 And to those who were trading in doves he said, Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a market. 17 And it came to the minds of the disciples that the Writings say, I am on fire with passion for your house. 18 Then the Jews put this question to him: What sign of authority have you to give us, seeing that you do these things? 19 And Jesus said to them, Send destruction on this Temple and I will put it up again in three days. 20 The Jews said, The building of this Temple took forty-six years; and you will put it up in three days! 21 But his words were about that holy building which was his body. 22 So when he had come back again from the dead, the memory of these words came back to the disciples, and they had faith in the holy Writings and in the word which Jesus had said.

the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee

two people were going to be married at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there: 2 And Jesus with his disciples came as guests. 3 When they had not enough wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus said to her, Woman, this is not your business; my time is still to come. 5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever he says to you, do it. 6 Now six pots of stone, every one taking two or three firkins of water, were placed there for the purpose of washing, as is the way of the Jews. 7 Jesus said to the servants, Make the pots full of water. And they made them full to the top. 8 Then he said to them, Now take some, and give it to the master of the feast. So they took it to him. 9 After tasting the water which had now become wine, the master of the feast (having no idea where it came from, though it was clear to the servants who took the water out) sent for the newly-married man, 10 And said to him, Every man first puts out his best wine and when all have had enough he puts out what is not so good; but you have kept the good wine till now. 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee and let his glory be seen openly; and his disciples put their faith in him.

Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.

Giving your life to Jesus is an act of faith that you can express through prayer.

Praying is simply talking to God. He knows you. What matters is the attitude of your heart, your honesty. We suggest you pray the following prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ,
I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. I ask your forgiveness and now turn from everything which I know is wrong. Thank you for dying on the cross for me to set me free from my sins. Please come into my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen."
Is this prayer the desire of your heart?
If yes, then we invite you to pray it out loud (if you can),
and according to the promises of Jesus,
He will come into your life.

We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

The Days of His Flesh: The Early Life of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ1. God LOVES you and offers a wonderful PLAN for your life
God LOVES you and offers a wonderful PLAN for your life

God's Love

'God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life' (John 3:16 NIV).

God's Plan

[Christ speaking] "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" [that it might be full and meaningful] (John 10:10).

Why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life? Because...


2. Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God. He cannot experience God's love.
Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God. He cannot experience God's love.

Man Is Sinful
'All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23).

Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterised by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

Man Is Separated
'The wages of sin is death' [spiritual separation from God] (Romans 6:23)
dieu et vousThis diagram illustrates that God is holy and man is sinful. A great gulf separates the two. The arrows illustrate that man is continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through his own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion - but he inevitably fails.

The third law explains the only way to bridge this gulf...


3. Jesus Christ is God's ONLY provision for man's sin.
Jesus Christ is God's ONLY provision for man's sin.

He Died in Our Place
'God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us' (Romans 5:8).

He Rose From the Dead
'Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures...He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred...' (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

He Is the Only Way to God
'Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me"' (John 14:6).
dieu et vousThis diagram illustrates that God has bridged the gulf which separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.

It is not enough just to know these three laws.


4. We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

We Must Receive Christ
'As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name' (John 1:12).

We Receive Christ Through Faith
'By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast' (Ephesians 2:8,9).

When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth
'Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."' (John 3:3).
We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation

[Christ speaking] "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him" (Revelation 3:20).

If you believe these things to be true of yourself, then we would urge you to come to Him and give your life to Him.

Who is Jesus of Nazareth to you?

Who is the most outstanding personality of all time?
• Who is the greatest leader?
• Who is the greatest teacher?
• Who has done the most good for mankind?
• Who lived the holiest life anyone has ever lived?

Visit any part of the world today. Talk to people of any religion. They will have to admit that there has never been a man like Jesus of Nazareth. He is the most unique personality of all time.

Jesus changed the direction of history. Even the date on your morning newspaper testifies to the fact that Jesus of Nazareth lived on earth nearly 2,000 years ago. B.C. means "before Christ"; A.D. Anno Domini, "the year of our Lord".

His coming foretold

Hundreds of years before Jesus' birth, Scripture records the words of the prophets of Israel predicting His coming. The Old Testament, written by many people over a period of 1,500 years, contains more than 300 prophecies describing His coming. All of these details came true, including his miraculous birth, His sinless life, His many miracles, His death and His resurrection.

The life Jesus led, the miracles He did, the words He spoke, His death on the cross, His resurrection, His ascent to heaven - all point to the fact that He was not merely man, but more than a man. Jesus claimed, "I and the Father are One", "He who has seen Me has seen the Father", and "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me."
His life and message bring changes

Look at the life and influence of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, throughout history and you will see that He and His message always produce great changes in the lives of men and of nations. Wherever His teachings and influence have gone, the holiness of marriage, women's rights and voice in society have been acknowledged; schools and universities of higher learning have been established; laws to protect children have been made; slavery has been abolished; and a multitude of other changes have been made for the good of mankind.

Who is Jesus of Nazareth to you?

Your life on this earth and for all of eternity is affected by your answer to this question.

Take Jesus Christ out of Christianity, and there would be nothing left. Biblical Christianity is not just a philosophy of life, nor an ethical standard or obedience to religious ritual. True Christianity is based on a vital, personal relationship with a risen, living Saviour and Lord.

A risen founder

Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on a cross, buried in a borrowed grave, and three days later was raised from the dead; Christianity is unique in this regard.

Reasons for belief
The resurrection is central to the Christian faith. There are several reasons why those who study the resurrection believe it is true:

Foretold

First, Jesus Himself foretold His death and resurrection and His death and resurrection came about exactly as He had predicted.

The empty grave

Second, the resurrection is the only plausible explanation for His empty grave. A careful reading of the biblical story shows that the grave where they laid the body of Jesus was closely guarded by Roman soldiers and sealed with an enormous boulder.

Personal encounters

Third, after His resurrection, Jesus appeared at least ten times to those who had known Him. The Lord proved that these appearances were not hallucinations: He ate and talked with them and they touched Him.

Birth of the Church

Fourth, the resurrection is the only reasonable explanation for the beginning of the Christian Church. The Christian Church is by far the largest institution that exists or has ever existed in the history of the world.

Transformed lives

Fifth, the resurrection is the only logical explanation for the transformed lives of the disciples. They deserted Him before His resurrection; after His death they were discouraged and fearful. They did not expect Jesus to rise from the dead.

Yet after His resurrection and their experience at Pentecost, these same discouraged, disappointed men and women were transformed by the mighty power of the risen Christ. In His name, they turned the world upside down.

No-one who has honestly considered the overwhelming evidence proving the Deity and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth can deny that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah.

A living Lord

Jesus Christ lives today and faithfully blesses and enriches the lives of all those who trust and obey Him, including many who have greatly influenced the world.

French physicist and philosopher Blaise Pascal spoke of man's need for Jesus when he said, "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man, which only God can fill through His Son Jesus Christ."

john not the Christ, but john sent ahead of jesus.

Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judaea, and there he was with them for some time, giving baptism

John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People kept coming and were being baptized,
(This was before John was thrown into prison.)

Then a question came up between John's disciples and a Jew about washing.

so they went to John and told him, "Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, the one about whom you testified-look, he's baptizing, and everyone is going to him!"

John replied, "No one can receive anything unless it has been given to them from heaven.

You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.'

The groom is the person to whom the bride belongs. The best man, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed when the groom speaks. This is the joy that I feel.

He must become more important, but I must become less important.

He who comes from heaven is greater than all others: he who comes from earth is of the earth, and of the earth are his words: he who comes from heaven is over all.

He gives witness of what he has seen and of what has come to his ears; and no man takes his witness as true.

The person who has accepted his testimony has acknowledged that God is truthful.

For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

God sent jesus the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through jesus.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

because God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

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

For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.

But he whose life is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his acts have been done by the help of God.

Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

SPACE TO PRAY

Luke 5:15-16 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (NIV)



Most busy people have little time away from the job. The pressure of 'things to get done', opportunities 'not to be missed' and 'disasters to avert' is constant. Jesus knew what that was like. With so many ministry opportunities and obvious popularity He made the right decision. Stop and pray!

Jesus often went away from the crowds, out of the towns and even away from His disciples, so that He could spend time alone with His Heavenly Father in prayer. Of course He cared about people's needs, but would not let them control His agenda. Jesus knew His primary mission was the salvation of souls through His self-sacrifice on the cross and knew that nothing must deflect Him from arriving at the cross on time. Meanwhile, His teaching ministry explained the Saviour's role; and His healing and exorcism ministry demonstrated that He had full authority over sin's curse and Satan's terror. But every day He only wanted to do what was agreed with Father God (John 14:31). That is why He prayed.

Those isolated prayer-times were not for Jesus to de-stress after a busy time, but to pre-stress His soul by loading Himself with the Father's love and wisdom. The same is true for every Christian. Without the Father's love we will shrivel inside; without His wisdom we will be foolish outside; and without prayer we will have no confidence that God is alongside. Too busy to pray ... that is far too busy. So whatever your schedule, don't just break into activity; break out with your Father to receive His love, wisdom and the confidence that you are working together with Him. Pray too for your friends, and the business of your workplace, that God may be glorified.

Prayer: Father God. If Jesus needed to spend time alone with You, how much more do I! Please forgive me when I think that I can rush through the day without committing it all to You, and receiving Your love and wisdom. Help me to place today into Your hands, to ask for Your advice and learn how to accept what You say. Most of all, I do need to know that You love me, and I need to learn to love You best of all: so please help me to make the time to pray and find a place where we will not be disturbed. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Jesus said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God

The New Birth

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11 “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12 “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. 14 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

John’s Last Testimony

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized— 24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 “You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 “What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 “He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.

they watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath

Luke 6:6-7 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shrivelled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. (NIV)


Jesus went to 'church' (synagogue) to teach, but religious leaders came to criticise Him. They did not have open minds to receive the message from God, to help them understand why the Old Testament prophets wrote about Him. Instead, their hearts were hard; they had already decided that Jesus was an intolerable threat to their authority and power structure: He needed to be removed ... legally, of course, and that was why they scrutinised all His words and actions.

We do not know if they 'planted' the disabled man in the congregation, but they certainly thought that he might attract Jesus' compassion. If so, and Jesus healed him, then they would be able to report Him to the religious court for breaking the Sabbath law by 'working'. How perverse! They came to church to find fault with the preacher and use His compassion as a means of accusing Him. They did not care about the man with a paralysed hand.

Christless religion (that is, religion which is not devoted to worshipping and serving the Lord Jesus), will always behave in the same way. Jesus is a threat to those who do not love Him; He is an obstacle to their pride and power. It should never happen in the church of Jesus Christ: but it does, if people forget that Jesus really is the Lord. Helpful structures for serving Christ, become power-bases for personal politics. Ministry then becomes submerged under non-Jesus agendas. In the extreme His Word is dismissed by 'wise thinkers' who invent 'modern ways' which He will never own. Meanwhile, those who speak out for truth are criticised, or worse, as it was for Jesus.

Every believer needs to be alert to the danger of pretending to be on God's side while disagreeing with God's Word about Jesus. Christian leaders are especially vulnerable. And if that is true for them, pray for those who think they speak for God but have no hope in Christ. It is sobering to read that Jesus was more generous to His executioners (Luke 23:34) than to the religious leaders (Luke 11:37-53).

Prayer: Sovereign Lord. Thank You for sending Jesus to tell the truth and to open the way to life for all who will believe in Him. Please forgive me when I harden my heart against Your Word and push Jesus away from His throne in my heart. Forgiven me when I criticise Your love and compassion, and fail to rejoice when Your blessings come to others. Give me a heart which is eager to hear You and swift to obey You, and may I delight in your wonderful works and daily submit myself to Your authority. I also pray for those whose hearts are hard against Jesus: please open their eyes to see Him. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

FIT FOR PURPOSE

Luke 6:1-5 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the cornfields, and his disciples began to pick some ears of corn, rub them in their hands and eat the grain. Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" Jesus answered them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions." Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." (NIV)


Christless religion always reduces relationship with God to rules. Of course, before Christ, apart from a few people who God filled with His Spirit, it was not possible to know Him personally. The Old Testament Law was clear about what God loved and hated, and how sacrifices could atone for unintentional sins; but there was no dynamic relationship with Father God. Without that personal fellowship, religious people compile rules for life; assuming that by keeping them, God's wrath will be appeased - the more intense that belief, the more rigorous the rules. It happened in Jesus' day with Pharisees adding many regulations to God's law ... and it still happens today.

Jesus brought a breath of fresh air. He said that God designed the Sabbath; a law which protected and provided for people. Nobody is designed to be a perpetual motion machine! We are also designed to worship God (and not our work or ourselves). So the Sabbath was one day away from work in order to be refreshed in body and in spirit - hearing God's Word and worshipping Him. But that relational purpose was obscured by legal definitions of what 'work' meant; to the point that rubbing grain in the hands to remove the husk and have a snack while on a country walk was declared illegal! Jesus pointed to (1 Samuel 21:1-9) where David's men were very hungry. Although the only bread available was specially consecrated and reserved for the priests, it was given to the group of bodyguards.

Of course, it was God who first defined the Sabbath (Genesis 2:2-3). So Jesus asserted His Deity by saying that He had the right to define what is acceptable to God on His special day. Because He is the Creator, He knows what is 'fit for purpose'. He knows when we are personally fulfilling the reason He placed us here; when we are in real relationship with Him and working with Him for the sake of His glory. Every day at work or at home is a divine assignment to work with God; so we must be careful that we do not constrict His plan for our daily lives by little rules which He has not given. At the same time, we must not be so arrogant as to ignore what the Bible clearly commands. God wants us to be 'fit for purpose': His Word and His Spirit will guide us securely and show us how to interact with our Maker.

Prayer: Holy God. Thank You for showing me, in the Bible, what pleases and displeases You. Forgive my small-mindedness, trying to keep myself 'spiritually safe' with my religious or personal rules when You have not commanded them. Forgive my 'spiritual shortcuts' to holiness when at the same time I am out of order with You and not living the life You have planned for me. Forgive me also for making up what I think will please You, while ignoring what You have clearly written in the Bible. Please help me to grow in a proper dynamic relationship with You so that my life will be fit for the purpose You have intended for me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

New Living Translation (©2007)
so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

English Standard Version (©2001)
that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

International Standard Version (©2008)
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

cross references:

John 20:31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

1 John 5:11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.


Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:1-8 Nicodemus was afraid, or ashamed to be seen with Christ, therefore came in the night. When religion is out of fashion, there are many Nicodemites. But though he came by night, Jesus bid him welcome, and hereby taught us to encourage good beginnings, although weak. And though now he came by night, yet afterward he owned Christ publicly. He did not talk with Christ about state affairs, though he was a ruler, but about the concerns of his own soul and its salvation, and went at once to them. Our Saviour spoke of the necessity and nature of regeneration or the new birth, and at once directed Nicodemus to the source of holiness of the heart. Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again, is to begin to live anew, as those who have lived much amiss, or to little purpose. We must have a new nature, new principles, new affections, new aims. By our first birth we were corrupt, shapen in sin; therefore we must be made new creatures. No stronger expression could have been chosen to signify a great and most remarkable change of state and character. We must be entirely different from what we were before, as that which begins to be at any time, is not, and cannot be the same with that which was before. This new birth is from heaven, ch. 1:13, and its tendency is to heaven. It is a great change made in the heart of a sinner, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It means that something is done in us, and for us, which we cannot do for ourselves. Something is wrong, whereby such a life begins as shall last for ever. We cannot otherwise expect any benefit by Christ; it is necessary to our happiness here and hereafter. What Christ speak, Nicodemus misunderstood, as if there had been no other way of regenerating and new-moulding an immortal soul, than by new-framing the body. But he acknowledged his ignorance, which shows a desire to be better informed. It is then further explained by the Lord Jesus. He shows the Author of this blessed change. It is not wrought by any wisdom or power of our own, but by the power of the blessed Spirit. We are shapen in iniquity, which makes it necessary that our nature be changed. We are not to marvel at this; for, when we consider the holiness of God, the depravity of our nature, and the happiness set before us, we shall not think it strange that so much stress is laid upon this. The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit is compared to water. It is also probable that Christ had reference to the ordinance of baptism. Not that all those, and those only, that are baptized, are saved; but without that new birth which is wrought by the Spirit, and signified by baptism, none shall be subjects of the kingdom of heaven. The same word signifies both the wind and the Spirit. The wind bloweth where it listeth for us; God directs it. The Spirit sends his influences where, and when, on whom, and in what measure and degree, he pleases. Though the causes are hidden, the effects are plain, when the soul is brought to mourn for sin, and to breathe after Christ. Christ's stating of the doctrine and the necessity of regeneration, it should seem, made it not clearer to Nicodemus. Thus the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to the natural man. Many think that cannot be proved, which they cannot believe. Christ's discourse of gospel truths, ver. 11-13, shows the folly of those who make these things strange unto them; and it recommends us to search them out. Jesus Christ is every way able to reveal the will of God to us; for he came down from heaven, and yet is in heaven. We have here a notice of Christ's two distinct natures in one person, so that while he is the Son of man, yet he is in heaven. God is the HE THAT IS, and heaven is the dwelling-place of his holiness. The knowledge of this must be from above, and can be received by faith alone. Jesus Christ came to save us by healing us, as the children of Israel, stung with fiery serpents, were cured and lived by looking up to the brazen serpent, Nu 21:6-9. In this observe the deadly and destructive nature of sin. Ask awakened consciences, ask damned sinners, they will tell you, that how charming soever the allurements of sin may be, at the last it bites like a serpent. See the powerful remedy against this fatal malady. Christ is plainly set forth to us in the gospel. He whom we offended is our Peace, and the way of applying for a cure is by believing. If any so far slight either their disease by sin, or the method of cure by Christ, as not to receive Christ upon his own terms, their ruin is upon their own heads. He has said, Look and be saved, look and live; lift up the eyes of your faith to Christ crucified. And until we have grace to do this, we shall not be cured, but still are wounded with the stings of Satan, and in a dying state. Jesus Christ came to save us by pardoning us, that we might not die by the sentence of the law. Here is gospel, good news indeed. Here is God's love in giving his Son for the world. God so loved the world; so really, so richly. Behold and wonder, that the great God should love such a worthless world! Here, also, is the great gospel duty, to believe in Jesus Christ. God having given him to be our Prophet, Priest, and King, we must give up ourselves to be ruled, and taught, and saved by him. And here is the great gospel benefit, that whoever believes in Christ, shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and so saving it. It could not be saved, but through him; there is no salvation in any other. From all this is shown the happiness of true believers; he that believeth in Christ is not condemned. Though he has been a great sinner, yet he is not dealt with according to what his sins deserve. How great is the sin of unbelievers! God sent One to save us, that was dearest to himself; and shall he not be dearest to us? How great is the misery of unbelievers! they are condemned already; which speaks a certain condemnation; a present condemnation. The wrath of God now fastens upon them; and their own hearts condemn them. There is also a condemnation grounded on their former guilt; they are open to the law for all their sins; because they are not by faith interested in the gospel pardon. Unbelief is a sin against the remedy. It springs from the enmity of the heart of man to God, from love of sin in some form. Read also the doom of those that would not know Christ. Sinful works are works of darkness. The wicked world keep as far from this light as they can, lest their deeds should be reproved. Christ is hated, because sin is loved. If they had not hated saving knowledge, they would not sit down contentedly in condemning ignorance. On the other hand, renewed hearts bid this light welcome. A good man acts truly and sincerely in all he does. He desires to know what the will of God is, and to do it, though against his own worldly interest. A change in his whole character and conduct has taken place. The love of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost, and is become the commanding principle of his actions. So long as he continues under a load of unforgiven guilt, there can be little else than slavish fear of God; but when his doubts are done away, when he sees the righteous ground whereon this forgiveness is built, he rests on it as his own, and is united to God by unfeigned love. Our works are good when the will of God is the rule of them, and the glory of God the end of them; when they are done in his strength, and for his sake; to him, and not to men. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a subject to which the world is very averse; it is, however, the grand concern, in comparison with which every thing else is but trifling. What does it signify though we have food to eat in plenty, and variety of raiment to put on, if we are not born again? if after a few mornings and evenings spent in unthinking mirth, carnal pleasure, and riot, we die in our sins, and lie down in sorrow? What does it signify though we are well able to act our parts in life, in every other respect, if at last we hear from the Supreme Judge, Depart from me, I know you not, ye workers of iniquity?

Jesus said in answer, Truly, I say to you, If a man's birth is not from water and from the Spirit, it is not possible for him to go into the kingdom of God.

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

International Standard Version (©2008)
Jesus answered, "Truly, I tell you with certainty, unless a person is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Jesus answered Nicodemus, "I can guarantee this truth: No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.


cross references:

Ezekiel 36:25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

Matthew 19:24 "Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

"Matthew 21:31 "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.

Mark 9:47 "If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,

Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.

"Ephesians 5:26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

commentaries:
People's New Testament

3:5 Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, etc. Jesus does not reply directly to the question of Nicodemus, but proceeds to give more explicit statement concerning the new birth. One must be born of water and of the Spirit. Whatever this may mean, it will be admitted by all (1) that no one is a member of the kingdom of God until he is born again; (2) that the Savior declares the impossibility of one entering who is not born of water and of the Spirit. All agree that the birth of the Spirit refers to the inward, or spiritual change that takes place, and all candid authorities agree that born of water refers to baptism.

you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

John 1:15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'"

John 1:19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

John 3:26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him."

John 5:33 "You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.

Acts 19:4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."

Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

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Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:6-14 John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus. Nothing more fully shows the darkness of men's minds, than that when the Light had appeared, there needed a witness to call attention to it. Christ was the true Light; that great Light which deserves to be called so. By his Spirit and grace he enlightens all that are enlightened to salvation; and those that are not enlightened by him, perish in darkness. Christ was in the world when he took our nature upon him, and dwelt among us. The Son of the Highest was here in this lower world. He was in the world, but not of it. He came to save a lost world, because it was a world of his own making. Yet the world knew him not. When he comes as a Judge, the world shall know him. Many say that they are Christ's own, yet do not receive him, because they will not part with their sins, nor have him to reign over them. All the children of God are born again. This new birth is through the word of God as the means, 1Pe 1:23, and by the Spirit of God as the Author. By his Divine presence Christ always was in the world. But now that the fulness of time was come, he was, after another manner, God manifested in the flesh. But observe the beams of his Divine glory, which darted through this veil of flesh. Men discover their weaknesses to those most familiar with them, but it was not so with Christ; those most intimate with him saw most of his glory. Although he was in the form of a servant, as to outward circumstances, yet, in respect of graces, his form was like the Son of God His Divine glory appeared in the holiness of his doctrine, and in his miracles. He was full of grace, fully acceptable to his Father, therefore qualified to plead for us; and full of truth, fully aware of the things he was to reveal.

Jesus is Light of the world

John 3:19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

English Standard Version (©2001)
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

International Standard Version (©2008)
And the light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary:
shineth in darkness, &c.-in this dark, fallen world, or in mankind "sitting in darkness and the shadow of death," with no ability to find the way either of truth or of holiness. In this thick darkness, and consequent intellectual and moral obliquity, "the light of the Word" shineth-by all the rays whether of natural or revealed teaching which men (apart from the Incarnation of the Word) are favored with.
the darkness comprehended it not-did not take it in, a brief summary of the effect of all the strivings of this unincarnate Word throughout this wide world from the beginning, and a hint of the necessity of His putting on flesh, if any recovery of men was to be effected (1Co 1:21)


Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
1:1-5 The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father's mind to the world. What the evangelist says of Christ proves that he is God. He asserts, His existence in the beginning; His coexistence with the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by him, and not as an instrument. Without him was not any thing made that was made, from the highest angel to the meanest worm. This shows how well qualified he was for the work of our redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well as the life of sense, is derived from him, and depends upon him. This eternal Word, this true Light shines, but the darkness comprehends it not. Let us pray without ceasing, that our eyes may be opened to behold this Light, that we may walk in it; and thus be made wise unto salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 5:26 "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.

"John 9:5 "While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.

"John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,

John 12:46 "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Jesus saw their faith, he said, Friend, your sins are forgiven.

Luke 5:20-23 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? (NIV)


Jesus does not play games. When the paralysed man was lowered through the roof by his friends, they were serious about getting the sick man to Jesus. They would not have taken all the trouble to remove a large piece of roofing, or risked the anger of the house owner, if they had not believed that Jesus would heal. Faith, as always, is not just a pious thought but a total confidence in God - not letting anything get in the way of coming to Jesus.

But the religious leaders were not pleased, especially when Jesus saw faith in action and pronounced forgiveness of sins. They did not even need to speak - Jesus knew their critical thoughts. Although they rightly believed that only God can forgive sins, they did not believe that Jesus was God in a human body. So He was about to demonstrate that He had God's power in making the man walk home, carrying his bed.

Every workplace and community is full of critical thinking. In one way it is right to question in order to find out the truth. However, there is a basic evil spirit of criticism waiting to arise in each of us which wants to disbelieve (and disobey) any authority; especially the authority of Jesus. We don't even have to say a word because the Lord knows if we really trust Him or not. He sees those who deliberately or negligently let things get in the way of trusting Him. He easily distinguishes those who want to score cheap religious points from those who are earnest in seeking Him. As 2 Timothy 2:19 says, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." Our faith must shape our lifestyle, or it is not faith at all. That is a primary contrast to the critical spirit of the age which roams through every workplace and community; those who trust Jesus submit to His authority.

Prayer: Powerful Lord. Thank You that You know everything, even the hidden things and words that have never been spoken. Please forgive me when I have joined the world's chorus against the authorities You have placed over me, or protested against Your divine wisdom in my life. Help me to learn how to follow Jesus, by submitting to His Word and making every effort to remove the obstacles that stop me from bringing my weakness to You for healing and forgiveness. And may my witness of trusting Jesus in the workplace encourage all those around me who are seeking after truth. In Jesus' Name. Amen.