Teen Life Application Study Bible - Gospel of John - Flipbook - Page 16
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there’s no room in your hearts for my message.
38
I am telling you what I saw when I was with
my Father. But you are following the advice of
your father.”
39
“Our father is Abraham!” they declared.
“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really
the children of Abraham, you would follow his
example.* 40Instead, you are trying to kill me
because I told you the truth, which I heard from
God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41No, you
are imitating your real father.”
They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children!
God himself is our true Father.”
42
Jesus told them, “If God were your Father,
you would love me, because I have come to
you from God. I am not here on my own, but
he sent me. 43Why can’t you understand what
I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear
me! 44For you are the children of your father
the devil, and you love to do the evil things he
does. He was a murderer from the beginning.
He has always hated the truth, because there
is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent
with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45So when I tell the truth, you just
naturally don’t believe me! 46Which of you can
truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?
47
Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to
the words of God. But you don’t listen because
you don’t belong to God.”
48
The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil!
Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed
by a demon?”
49
“No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me.
For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me.
50
And though I have no wish to glorify myself,
God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge.
51
I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my
teaching will never die!”
52
The people said, “Now we know you are
possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and
the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who
obeys my teaching will never die!’ 53 Are you
greater than our father Abraham? He died,
and so did the prophets. Who do you think
you are?”
54
Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who
will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’* 55but
you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said
8:39 Some manuscripts read if you are really the children of
Abraham, follow his example. 8:54 Some manuscripts read You
say he is your God. 8:57 Some manuscripts read How can you say
Abraham has seen you? 8:58 Or before Abraham was even born,
I have always been alive; Greek reads before Abraham was, I am.
See Exod 3:14. 9:4 Other manuscripts read I must quickly carry out
the tasks assigned me by the one who sent me; still others read We
must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me.
JOHN 9
otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you!
But I do know him and obey him. 56Your father
Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my
coming. He saw it and was glad.”
57
The people said, “You aren’t even fifty
years old. How can you say you have seen
Abraham?*”
58
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!*” 59At that
point they picked up stones to throw at him.
But Jesus was hidden from them and left the
Temple.
9
JESUS HEALS A MAN BORN BLIND As
Jesus was walking along, he saw a man
who had been blind from birth. 2“Rabbi,” his
disciples asked him, “why was this man born
blind? Was it because of his own sins or his
parents’ sins?”
3
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened
so the power of God could be seen in him. 4We
must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by
the one who sent us.* The night is coming, and
then no one can work. 5But while I am here in
the world, I am the light of the world.”
6
Then he spit on the ground, made mud with
the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind
man’s eyes. 7He told him, “Go wash yourself
in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”).
So the man went and washed and came back
seeing!
8
His neighbors and others who knew him as
a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the
man who used to sit and beg?” 9Some said he
was, and others said, “No, he just looks like
him!”
But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the
same one!”
10
They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?”
11
He told them, “The man they call Jesus
made mud and spread it over my eyes and
told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash
SUFFERING
(9:1-3) A common belief in Jewish culture was that hardships were punishments for sins. But through the healing
of the man born blind, Jesus revealed that some hardships were allowed as a means to glorify God.
We live in a world where good behavior is not always
rewarded and bad behavior is not always punished;
therefore, innocent people sometimes suffer. Regardless
of the reasons for our suffering, Jesus has the power to
help us deal with it. When hard times come, instead of
asking, “Why did this happen to me?” or, “What did I do
wrong?” consider asking God to strengthen you and offer
you a deeper perspective on what’s at stake.
