One Year Bible New Testament Sampler, Lakeside Haven - Flipbook - Page 21
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JOHN 7:3 1-53
Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him [Jesus]. “After all,” they said, “would you
expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?”
32
When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. 33But Jesus told them, “I will be with you only a
little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me. 34You will search for me but not find me.
And you cannot go where I am going.”
35
The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. “Where is he planning to go?” they asked.
“Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even
teach the Greeks! 36What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’
and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?”
37
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone
who is thirsty may come to me! 38Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 39(When he said “living water,” he
was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had
not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
40
When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet
we’ve been expecting.” 41Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will
the Messiah come from Galilee? 42For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born
of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.” 43So the crowd
was divided about him. 44Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.
45
When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and
Pharisees demanded, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
46
“We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded.
47
“Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked. 48“Is there a single one of us rulers or
Pharisees who believes in him? 49This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the
law. God’s curse is on them!”
50
Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. 51“Is it legal to convict
a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked.
52
They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no
prophet ever comes from Galilee!”
[The most ancient Greek manuscripts
do not include John 7:53–8:11.]
53
Then the meeting broke up, and everybody went home.
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