Inspire Faith - Flipbook - Page 7
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JOHN 4
God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the
world through him.
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone
who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in
God’s one and only Son. 19 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. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near
it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come
to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.*”
17
John the Baptist Exalts Jesus
Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean
countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people.
23 At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Ae non, near Sa lim,
because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him
for baptism. 24 (This was before John was thrown into prison.) 25 A debate
broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew* over ceremonial
cleansing. 26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you
met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the
Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead
of coming to us.”
27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from
heaven. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah.
I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ 29 It is the bridegroom who mar
ries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him
and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. 30 He must
become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
31 “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the
earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is
greater than anyone else.* 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard,
but how few believe what he tells them! 33 Anyone who accepts his testimony
can affirm that God is true. 34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words,
for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has
put everything into his hands. 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has
eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal
life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”
22
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
Jesus* knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making
more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—
his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the
Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside
the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and
Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because
his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with
4
3:21 Or can see God at work in what he is doing. 3:25 Some manuscripts read some Jews.
3:31 Some manuscripts do not include and is greater than anyone else. 4:1 Some manuscripts
read The Lord.
“Anyone
who
BELIEVES
in God’s
Son has
ETERNAL
LIFE.
”
John
3: 36
