John 7

1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: and He would not walk in Judea because the Jews there were seeking to kill Him.

 

2 The Jewish feast of Tabernacles had begun.

 

3 Therefore, His brothers said to Him, let us leave here and go to Judaea, so that your disciples (there) may also see the works that you do.

 

4 For no man does anything in secret, when he wants to be known openly. If you do these things (to show men that you are who you claim to be) then show yourself openly to the world.

 

5 For His brothers also did not believe in Him.

 

6 Then Jesus said to them, My time (to be revealed to the world) has not yet come: but your time is already.

 

7 The world does not hate you; but it hates Me, because I testify about it, that the works of the world are grievous (filled with labors and hardships to preserve one’s life but contain no ability to father you unto life but will only serve men with death).

 

8 Go yourselves up to this feast: I will not go up yet to the feast (publicly); for My time (to be revealed as the light of the world) is not yet fully come.

 

9 After He said these words to them, He remained in Galilee.

 

10 But after His brothers had gone up to the feast, He also went, however, not openly but in secret.

 

11 Then the Jews looked for Him at the feast, and said, where is He?

 

12 And there was much grumbling (and debate) among the people concerning Him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, no; but He deceives the people.

 

13 However, no man spoke openly of Him because they feared the Jews (would throw them out of the temple).

 

14 Now about halfway through the feast Jesus went into the temple and taught.

 

15 And the Jews were amazed and said, how does this man know with such great detail all that has been written in the law and the prophets and has never been formally taught?

 

16 Jesus answered and said My doctrine (My word and My teaching) is not My own but it is the Father’s that sent Me (to testify of it).

 

17 If any man desires to do His will, he should learn His doctrine (of Me, and then they will know) whether My teaching is of God or whether I speak of Myself.

 

18 He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but the One that seeks the glory and honor from Him who sent Him, the same is (the One whose witness is faithful and) true, there is no unjust judgment in Him.

 

19 Did not Moses deliver to you (the oracles of God contained in) the law, yet not one of you observe it. So why then do you seek to kill Me (who has only sought His glory and done His will)?

 

20 The people answered and said, you have a devil: who wants to kill you?

 

21 Jesus answered and said to them, I have done a good work, and you are all amazed (that I have done it on the Sabbath).

 

22 Moses gave you circumcision, {not because it was of Moses but from the father’s} and you on the sabbath day will circumcise a man.

 

23 If a man can receive circumcision on the sabbath day (which only serves as a token of a man being made whole) so that the law of Moses is not broken, why are you angry at Me for actually having made a man completely whole on the sabbath day?

 

24 Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge according to the righteous judgment of God, (according to His will, which is His just judgment that leads to an endless life).

 

25 Then some of them from Jerusalem said, Is not this He, who they seek to kill?

 

26 But look, He speaks boldly, and they say or do nothing to Him. Do even the rulers of the Jews now acknowledge that this is truly the Christ?

 

27 How is it that we know this man and who He is: but when the Christ comes no man knows who He is?

 

28 Then Jesus (lifted His voice and) cried loudly in the temple as He taught, saying, you might know Me (superficially) as to (my earthly origin) where I am from: but I have not come of Myself, but the One who sent Me, has sent Me, the (faithful and) true (witness, the express image of the Father), who you do not know.

 

29 But I know Him: for I AM from Him and He sent Me (to reveal Himself to the world, so that all might know Him as Father).

 

30 Then (because of this) they sought to take Him: but no man laid a hand on Him, because His hour was not yet come.

 

31 And many of the people believed on Him, and said surely this is the Christ, for who can do more (signs, wonders and) miracles than what this man has done?

 

32 When the Pharisees heard that the people said such things among themselves concerning Him; the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.

 

33 Then said Jesus to them, for yet a little while I am with you, and then I will go to the One that sent Me.

 

34 You will seek Me and will not find Me: and where I am, there you cannot come.

 

35 Then said the Jews among themselves, where will He go, that we will not find Him? will He go to distribute His message among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?

 

36 What type of saying is this that He said, “You shall seek Me, and shall not find Me: and where I am, there you cannot come?”

 

37 And on the last day, which is considered the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst (for the life the Father longs to give you which life satisfies because it is without end), let him come to Me, and (I will give Him to) drink (living water so that he never thirsts again).

 

38 He that believes on Me (and the word I have spoken that is full of power to father one unto that life), as the scripture has said, out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water (an endless supply springing up unto eternal life).

 

39 {But in this spoke He of the Spirit, which they who believe on Him would later receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified}.

 

40 Many of the people, when they heard this saying, said, of a truth, this is the Prophet (that Moses said would come from our midst, and that we should listen intently to Him).

 

41 Others said, this is truly the Christ. But some said, (questioning) will Christ come out of Galilee?

 

42 Does not the scripture say that Christ will come from the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was from? (They said this not knowing that both were true).

 

43 So there rose a division among the people because of Him.

 

44 And some of them would have taken Him to kill Him, but no man laid a hand on Him.

 

45 When the officers who were sent returned to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they asked the officers, why haven’t you brought Him back?

 

46 The officers answered, never has a man spoken like this man.

 

47 Then the Pharisees answered them, are you also deceived?

 

48 Have any of the rulers of the Jews or the Pharisees who know the law believed on Him (openly)?

 

49 But these people who follow after Him do not know the law and are cursed.

 

50 Nicodemus {he that came to Jesus by night, being one of their own} (who teaches and expounds on the law), saith unto them,

 

51 Does our law judge any man, before it hears him, and knows what it is that He does?

 

52 They answered him this way saying, Are you also like these from Galilee? Search the law yourself and look: because out of Galilee there arises no prophet.

 

53 And every man returned to his own house.