|
|
The Book of John
John was one of Jesus' 12 apostles. His father's name was Zebedee. In this book,
he never calls himself by his name. He calls himself "the disciple whom Jesus
loved". John wrote this book between the years AD 85 and AD 95. During
this time, he was serving in the church in the city of Ephesus (in the country
now called Turkey).
John's book is different than the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Those books
show Jesus as king, but John's book shows Jesus as the Son of God.
|
|
| Jesus is The Word. The Word was God. The Word created the
earth. This is very important, but is hard to understand clearly. The Word means God's communication or God's action. Jesus was God, and Jesus was God's action and communication. Jesus was God in human form. He was in heaven, and He was on earth. |
John 1
Jesus is the Word.
Before anything else, there was the Word. The Word was with God. The Word was
God.
[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.
[2] The same was in the beginning with God.
The Word made everything. Nothing was made without
Him.
[3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made
that was made.
Life was in Him.
The life was the light of men. The light shined in the darkness. The darkness
did not take over the light.
[4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
[5] And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it
not.
God sent a man named
John (John the Baptist).
[6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John the Baptist was the witness to tell people about the Light so that all men would
believe.
[7] The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all
men through him might believe.
John the Baptist was not the Light, but he was sent to tell others
about the Light.
[8] He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
This Light is the true Light. It lights every man who comes into the world.
[9] That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into
the world.
The Light was in the world. He made the world. But the world didn't know Him.
[10] He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world
knew him not.
He came to His own world, but the world did not welcome
Him.
[11] He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But some people welcomed Him and believed in Him.
He gave the people who believed in His name the power to become sons of Man.
They weren't born like babies are born. They were born by God.
[12] But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
[13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of God.
The Word became a person with skin and bones. He lived here on earth with us. We
saw His glory. He had the glory because He was the only begotten (born of a
woman, no human father) son of God the
Father. He was full of grace and truth.
[14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
truth.
John the Baptist told about the Word. He cried and
said, "This is the one I told you about. The one who comes after me is better
than me. He existed before me."
[15] John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I
spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
The Word was full of grace. We have received His grace.
[16] And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
The law was given by Moses. But grace and truth came
with Jesus Christ.
[17] For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ.
No man has ever seen God. God's only begotten Son came
from His father. He has told about Him.
[18] No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in
the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
More about John the Baptist
The Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem. They
asked John, "Who are you?" He told them that he was not the Christ or Messiah.
[19] And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and
Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
[20] And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the
Christ.
They asked John, "Well, then, are you Elijah?" John
said, "No, I'm not Elijah." They asked, "Are you a prophet?" He said, "No."
[21] And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am
not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
Then, they said, "Who are you? We need to tell the Jews who sent us."
[22] Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to
them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
John said, "I am the voice of one crying in the
wilderness. Get ready for the Lord to come like Elijah told us a long time ago."
[23] He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make
straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
Then, they asked John, "If you're not Elijah or Christ,
why do you baptize?"
[24] And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
[25] And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if
thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
John answered, "I baptize with water. But, there is
Someone else coming. He is with you now, but you don't know Him. He is better
than me. I am not even important enough to untie His shoe."
[26] John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth
one among you, whom ye know not;
[27] He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's
latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
John tells how the Holy Spirit came down and landed on Jesus.
This happened in the place named Bethabara. It was past
the Jordan River. John was baptizing people in the Jordan River.
[28] These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was
baptizing.
The next day, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward
him. He said, "There is the Lamb of God. He takes away the world's sin.
This is the one I've been telling you about. I told you someone was coming who
was better than me. He existed before I was born. I didn't know him before now,
but I've been baptizing people with water until He came to Israel."
[29] The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the
Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
[30] This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred
before me: for he was before me.
[31] And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel,
therefore am I come baptizing with water.
John continued, "I saw the Holy Spirit come down from
heaven. It was like a dove. It landed on Him. God had told me before that
when the One came, I would see God's spirit come down on Him and stay on Him.
He will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I saw this, and I say that He is the Son
of God."
[32] And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from
heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
[33] And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the
same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining
on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
[34] And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Jesus starts to call His disciples.
The next day, two of John the Baptist's disciples
were with him. They saw Jesus walking. They heard John say, "There is the Lamb
of God!" Then the two disciples followed Jesus.
[35] Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
[36] And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of
God!
[37] And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following Him. He said, "What
are you looking for?" They said, "Master, where do You live?"
[38] Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What
seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted,
Master,) where dwellest thou?
He answered them, "Come and see." They came and saw
where He lived. They stayed with Him that day because it was getting late.
[39] He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt,
and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
One of these men was Andrew. He was Simon Peter's brother. He first went and
found his brother. He told Simon Peter, "We have found the Messiah (the Christ).
Andrew took Simon Peter to Jesus. When Jesus saw Peter, He said, "You are Simon.
Your father is Jona. You will will be called Cephas which means 'rock'."
[40] One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother.
[41] He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have
found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
[42] And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said,
Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by
interpretation, A stone.
The next day, Jesus went to the area of Galilee. He
found Phillip. He said to Phillip, "Follow Me."
[43] The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth
Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
Phillip was from the area of Bethsaida, the same
area as
Andrew and Peter.
[44] Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael. He said to him, "We have found
the one that Moses and the prophets wrote about. He is Jesus of the city
of Nazareth. His father is Joseph."
[45] Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of
whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son
of Joseph.
Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said,
"Come and see."
[46] And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of
Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him. Jesus said, "There
is a very good and honest Israelite."
[47] Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an
Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
Nathanael said to Jesus, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under
the fig tree before Philip called you."
[48] Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and
said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig
tree, I saw thee.
Nathanael said, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God. You are
the King of Israel."
[49] Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of
God; thou art the King of Israel.
Jesus answered, "You believe because I said I saw you
under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that. You will see heaven
open. You will see God's angels coming down and going up on the Son of man."
[50] Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw
thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than
these.
[51] And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye
shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the
Son of man.
John 2
Jesus changes water into wine.
On the third day, there was a wedding in
the town of Cana in area of Galilee. Jesus' mother, Mary, went to the wedding.
Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding, too.
[1] And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the
mother of Jesus was there:
[2] And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
The people at the wedding wanted some wine. Mary
told Jesus about it. He said, "Woman, what does that have to do with Me? It's
not My time yet."
[3] And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They
have no wine.
[4] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour
is not yet come.
 |
|
Jesus changes
water into wine. |
Mary told the workers at the wedding to do whatever
Jesus told them to do.
[5] His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do
it.
There were 6 large stone pots. They held about 7
gallons each. They were used when people were cleaning themselves according to Jewish
law. Jesus told them to fill the pots with water. So, they filled them all the
way to the top.
[6] And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of
the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
[7] Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled
them up to the brim.
Jesus told them to to take the pots to the leader of
the feast. So, they took the pots to the leader. When the leader tasted it, it
wasn't water. It was wine. The leader didn't know where it came from, but the
workers who filled the pots knew. Then, the leader called the bridegroom.
He said to him, "Usually, people bring out the good wine first. Then, after
everyone has drunk the good wine, they bring out the wine that isn't as good.
But, you kept the good wine until now."
[8] And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of
the feast. And they bare it.
[9] When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine,
and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the
governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
[10] And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good
wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept
the good wine until now.
This was the beginning of the miracles that Jesus
did in Cana in Galilee. This was proof of His glory. His disciples
believed in Him.
[11] This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and
manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
Jesus goes to Jerusalem and is angry
at people who are selling things at the temple.
After the wedding, Jesus, His mother, His brothers,
and His disciples went to the area named Capernaum. They stayed there a
few days.
[12] After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his
brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
Then, it was time for the Jews' Passover. Jesus went up
to Jerusalem.
[13] And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
When Jesus arrived at the temple, He saw people selling
oxen, sheep, and doves. There were money changers -- people who exchanged the
local money for money from other areas.
[14] And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves,
and the changers of money sitting:
Jesus was angry that they were doing business at this holy place. He got
some small cords and made a whip. He made them all leave. He poured out
the moneychangers' money. He turned over the tables. He said, "Take these
things away. My Father's house is not a store."
[15] And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out
of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money,
and overthrew the tables;
[16] And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make
not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
The disciples remembered that the scriptures said,
"My love for Your house is very, very strong."
[17] And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine
house hath eaten me up.
The Jews said, "What sign will you give us to show
why you just did that?"
[18] Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou
unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Jesus answered, "If you destroy this temple, I will build it again in 3 days."
[19] Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three
days I will raise it up.
Then the Jews said, "It took 46 years to build this
temple. Can you build it again in 3 days?"
[20] Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building,
and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
But Jesus was talking about His body as the temple.
Later, after He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered this. They
believed the scripture and the words Jesus said.
[21] But he spake of the temple of his body.
[22] When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered
that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word
which Jesus had said.
While Jesus was at the passover in Jerusalem, many
people believed in Him when they saw the miracles He did.
[23] Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many
believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
But Jesus did not trust them. He knew human nature. No
one had to tell Him. He already knew.
[24] But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
[25] And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was
in man.
John 3
Jesus tells Nicodemus how to see God's kingdom.
|
|
|
Jesus and
Nicodemus |
One of the Pharisees was a man named Nicodemus.
He was a leader of the Jews.
[1] There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the
Jews:
One night, Nicodemus came to see Jesus. He said,
"Rabbi, we know you are from God. We have seen you do miracles. No one can do
miracles like You do unless God is helping Him."
[2] The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know
that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that
thou doest, except God be with him.
Jesus answered, "I am telling you the truth. The only way a man can see God's
kingdom is to be born again."
[3] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus asked, "How can a man be born when he is
already old? He can't go back into his mother's womb and be born again."
[4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can
he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, "I am telling you the truth. A man must be born by water and the
Spirit or he cannot go into God's kingdom."
[5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
People are born from other humans. Bodies are flesh. But the Spirit inside
people comes from God.
[6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit.
Don't be surprised that I said, "You must be born
again."
[7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Jesus said, "The wind blows where it wants. You can
hear the wind, but you can't tell where it comes from or where it goes. That is
how it is for everyone born of the Spirit."
[8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every
one that is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus said to Jesus, "How can these things be possible?"
[9] Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Jesus answered, "Aren't you a leader of Israel? And
you don't know these things? I say to you truly that We talk about what We know.
We testify about what We have seen. But you don't believe Us.
[10] Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and
knowest not these things?
[11] Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and
testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
I have told you things about earth, and you
haven't believed Me. Why would you believe Me if I told you about things in
heaven?
[12] If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye
believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
The only one who has come down from heaven is the
Son of man.
[13] And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from
heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Moses lifted up a snake when he was in the
wilderness. So, the Son of man should also be lifted up. Anyone who believes in
Him will not die. They will live forever.
[14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of man be lifted up:
[15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal
life.
God loved the world very much. So He gave His only
begotten Son. Anyone who believes in Him will not
die. They will live forever.
[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God did not send His son into the world to punish the world. He sent His son to
the world to save the world. Anyone who believes in Him will be saved.
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but
that the world through him might be saved.
Anyone who believes in Jesus will not be condemned.
Anyone who doesn't believe in Jesus is already condemned. They are condemned
because they do not believe in the name of God's only begotten Son.
[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not
is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God.
Light came
into the world. Men loved darkness more than the light because they were doing
evil things. Everyone who does evil things hates the light because they
can't hide what they're doing. This condemns them.
[19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and
men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
[20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to
the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
But people who are doing good and true things come
to the light so that others can see. Other people can see that they are doing
things from God.
[21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be
made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John discusses Jesus with the Jews.
After these things happened, Jesus and His disciples
went to the area of Judaea. He stayed there with them and baptized people.
[22] After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of
Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
John the Baptist was also baptizing people in the area of Aenon. This was near
Salim. There was a lot of water in this area. People came to John, and he
baptized them.
[23] And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there
was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
John had not been put into prison yet.
[24] For John was not yet cast into prison.
Some of John's followers were arguing with the Jews. They were arguing about
purifying or cleaning people who are not clean according to Jewish law.
[25] Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the
Jews about purifying.
The Jews came to John. They said, "Rabbi, the man
who was with you over the Jordan, you were telling about Him. That same
man is baptizing everyone who comes to Him."
[26] And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with
thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and
all men come to him.
John answered and said, "A man receives nothing
unless it comes from heaven. You know that I said that I am not the Christ. I
was sent ahead of Him.
[27] John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be
given him from heaven.
[28] Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but
that I am sent before him.
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. But the
bridegroom's friend stands and hears him. He is very happy when he hears the
bridegroom's voice. That is how I am now. I am happy. He (Jesus) must become
greater, but now I must become less.
[29] He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the
bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the
bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
[30] He must increase, but I must decrease.
The one who comes from above is over everyone. The one who comes from earth
talks about things of the earth. But the One who comes from
heaven is over everyone else.
[31] He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is
earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
He tells what He has seen and heard. But no one
accepts what He says.
[32] And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man
receiveth his testimony.
If someone accepts what He says, they show that God
is true. The One Who God sent speaks God's words. God gives His spirit to Him.
[33] He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is
true.
[34] For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth
not the Spirit by measure unto him.
The Father loves the Son. He has given Him
everything. Anyone who believes in the Son will live forever. But people who
don't believe in God's Son will not live after they die. God will punish them.
[35] The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
[36] He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
To the next chapters