Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study Table of Contents

About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand.  In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form. 



Timeline of the Bible


God creates the world. --- God destroys the world with the flood, but saves  Noah and his family.---
 God chooses Abraham and his descendants to His people. ---Abraham's grandson, Jacob, has 12 sons who lead the 12 tribes of Israel.--- The Israelites become slaves in Egypt.--- God helps the Israelites escape and leads them to Canaan. ---The Israelites fight in wars and take control of Canaan.---Judges lead the Israelites, but the Israelites want to have kings instead of judges. ----  David is Israel's greatest king. -- Israel divides into 2 parts: Israel and Judah.--- This book of the Bible covers this timeThe people of Israel and Judah continue to sin and worship false gods.--- God allows the Assyrians and the Babylonians to take the Israelites out of Israel and Judah.---   The Israelites (Jews) live in Babylonia and then Persia.
--- When Persia defeats the Babylonians, the Jews go back to Judah.--- The Jews build God's Temple in Jerusalem again.--- Greece defeats Persia, and the Greeks control Judah (also now called Israel).--- The Jews become independent for 100 years.-- The Romans take control of Israel.---  Jesus is born. At age 30, Jesus begins his ministry. ---Jesus is crucified and then is resurrected. --- A Roman named Saul is converted to Christianity and becomes Paul.--- Christianity spreads. --- Paul write letters to Christians in other places. In the year, 70 A.D., God's Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed again.

 

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.

 


John 13 - 15

Jesus and His disciples have a Passover feast.
Jesus gives a new commandment.
Jesus tells His disciples He is going to prepare a place for them.
Jesus says that the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will come after He is gone.

 

John 13


Jesus and His disciples have a Passover feast.


The passover feast was coming. Jesus knew that His time was also coming. He would leave the world and go back to the Father. He loved His followers in the world. He loved them until the end.
[1] Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
 

When supper was ending, the devil put it into Judas Iscariot's heart (his father's name was Simon) to betray Jesus.
[2] And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;


Jesus knew that the Father had given everything to Him. He knew He had come from God. He knew He would go back to God.
[3] Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;


Jesus washes His disciples' feet.

Picture from LaVista Church of Christ

Jesus got up after supper. He took His outer clothing off and put a towel around His waist. He poured water into a bowl. He started to wash His disciples' feet. Then, He wiped their feet off with the towel that was around Him.
[4] He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
[5] After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.


When Jesus got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Lord, are you washing my feet?"
[6] Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?


Jesus answered. He said, "You don't know what I'm doing now, but you will know after this."

[7] Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

Peter said, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus said, "If I don't wash your feet, you will not belong to Me."
[8] Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.


Peter said, "Lord, not just my feet, but also wash my hands and my head."

[9] Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.


Jesus said to Peter, "If a person is clean all over, he only needs his feet washed. All of you are clean except one." Jesus knew who was going to betray Him. That's why He said that they were not all clean.

[10] Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
[11] For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.


After He washed their feet and put His robe back on, He sat down. He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord. That's true. I am. So, if I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should also wash each other's feet."

[12] So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
[13] Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
[14] If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.


Jesus continued, "I have shown you what to do. You should do the same. I say to you truly that the servant is not greater than his master. The person who has been sent is not greater than the person who sent Him.  If you know these things, you will be happy to do them.

[15] For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
[16] Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
[17] If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.


Jesus tells that one of His disciples will betray Him.


I'm not talking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen. The scripture will be made true: 'The one who eats bread with Me has betrayed Me.'
[18] I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.


I am telling you this before it happens, so that when it happens, you will believe that I am He.

[19] Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.

 

Picture from LaVista Church of Christ

I say to you truly that anyone who accepts the One I send is accepting Me. Anyone who accepts Me accepts the One who sent Me.
[20] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.


When Jesus said this, He was troubled inside. He said, "Truly, I am telling you that one of you will betray Me."  The disciples looked at one another wondering who He was talking about.
[21] When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
[22] Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.


The disciple who Jesus loved was leaning on Jesus' chest. Simon Peter motioned to the disciple so he would ask Jesus who He was talking about.
[23] Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
[24] Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
 

The disciple leaning on Jesus' chest asked, "Lord, who is it?"
[25] He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?


Jesus answered, "It is the person I will give the bread that is dipped in wine."  After He dipped the bread in the wine, He gave it to Judas Iscariot (Judas' father was named Simon). After this, Satan entered into Judas.  Jesus said to Judas, "Go and do what you have to do fast."

[26] Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
[27] And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

 

No one at the table knew why He said this.  Some thought Jesus said that to him because he had the money bag. They thought Jesus told him to buy what they needed for the feast or to give the money to the poor people.
[28] Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
[29] For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.


As soon as Judas took the bread, he left fast. It was night outside.  After Judas left, Jesus said, " Now the Son of Man will have glory, When He has glory, God has glory.  This will happen fast.  
[30] He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
[31] Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
[32] If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.


Jesus gives a new commandment.



Little children, I will be here just a little longer. You will look for Me. It will be like I told the Jews, "I am going, but you can't come with Me." So, now I will give you a new commandment (rule). The new commandment is, "Love one another the same as I have loved you. That is how you should love one another. When other people see that you love one another, they will know that you follow Me."

[33] Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
[34] A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
[35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.


Simon Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?"  Jesus said, "I am going someplace where you can't follow Me now. But later, you will follow Me."
[36] Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.


Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him.


Peter said, "Lord, why can't I follow You now? I would die for You." Jesus answered, "Would you die for Me? Tonight, you will say that you don't know Me. This will happen three times tonight.  Then, you will hear the rooster crow to show that it is morning. "
[37] Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
[38] Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
 


 

John 14


Jesus tells His disciples He is going to prepare a place for them.


Jesus said, "Don't worry about anything. You believe in God, so believe in Me, too. My Father's house has many mansions in it. I would have told you if it wasn't true. I am going first to get a place ready for you.
[1] Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
[2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.


If I go and get a place ready for you, I will come back. I will take you with Me. You will be with Me in that place. You know where I'm going and how to get there."
[3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
[4] And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.


Thomas said to Jesus, "Lord, we don't know where you're going. How can we know how to get there?"
[5] Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?


Jesus tells His disciples that no one comes to the Father except by Him.


Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by Me. If you had known Me, you would know my Father. So, from now on, you know Him and have seen Him."
[6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
[7] If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
 

Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father. That will be enough for us."
[8] Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.


Jesus said to Him, "Philip, haven't I been here a long time with you? But you don't know Me. Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.  How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? When I say things to you, the words don't come from Me. The words come from the Father who lives in Me. He does these things.

[9] Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
[10] Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.


Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me. Or believe Me because of the things you have seen Me do.

[11] Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Truly I say to you that anyone who believes in Me can do the same things that I do. He will do greater things than Me because I am going to My Father."
[12] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.


Jesus says He will do anything we ask for in His name.


Jesus said, "I will do whatever You ask in My name. That way, the Father will be glorified in the Son.
[13] And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.


I will do anything you ask in My name.

[14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
 

If you love Me, do what I have told you to do. Keep My commandments."
[15] If ye love me, keep my commandments.


Jesus says that the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will come after He is gone.

 

Jesus said, "I will pray to the Father, and He will send you someone to help you feel better. He will live with you forever.
[16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;


He will be the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him because it does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him because He lives in you and will be in you.
[17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I will not leave you without help. I will come to you. But in a little while, the world won't see me anymore. But you will see Me. I live, so you will also live.
[18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
[19] Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.


On that day, you will know that I am in My Father and you are in Me, and I am in You.

[20] At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.


The people who love Me are the ones who know and obey My rules. My Father will love anyone who loves Me. I will love him. He will see Me.

[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.


Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "How will we be able to see You, but the rest of world won't?"
[22] Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?


Jesus answered. He said, "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My words. My Father will love Him.  We will come to him. We will live with him. But anyone who does not love Me will not obey Me.  These are not My words. These are My Father's words, and My Father sent Me.
[23] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
[24] He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

 

I have said these things to you while I am here with you. Later, the Holy Ghost (called the Comforter) will come. The Father will send the Holy Spirit in My name.  He will teach you all things.  He will help you remember the things that I have said to You.
[25] These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
[26] But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.


I am leaving you My peace. I don't give peace the same way the world gives peace. Don't be worried or afraid.
[27] Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.


You have heard Me say that I will go away and come back to you again.  If you loved Me, you would be happy because I said I am going to the Father because the Father is greater than Me.

[28] Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.


I have told you this now before it happens so that later when it happens, you might believe.

[29] And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.


After this, I won't talk to you much.  The prince of this world is coming.  He has no power over Me. But the world will know that I love the Father. The Father has told me what to do, and that's what I do. Get up, let's go.
[30] Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
[31] But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
 


John 15


Jesus says that He is the vine.


Jesus said, "I am the vine. My Father is the farmer who grows the grapes.  He takes away the branches in Me that are not making grapes. He prunes (cuts) the branches where grapes are growing so that even more grapes will grow there."

[1] I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
[2] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.


Now, you are clean through the word that I spoke to you.  Stay in Me, and I will stay in you.  A branch cannot make fruit by itself.  It can only make fruit if it is part of the vine.   You can't make fruit either unless you are in Me."

[3] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
[4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

 

Picture from WorldArtsMe

I am the vine.  You are the branches. If a person stays in Me and I stay in Him, he will make much fruit.  You can't do anything without Me."
[5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.


If a man does not stay in Me, he is thrown away like a tree branch.  The branches wither. Men pick them up and throw them into fire, and they are burned. If you stay in Me, and My words stay in you, anything you ask will be done.
[6] If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
[7] If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.


My Father is glorified when you make much fruit. This shows you are My disciples.
[8] Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.


I have loved you the same as the Father has loved Me.  Continue in My love.

[9] As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.


I have obeyed My Father's commandments so I stay in His love.  It is the same for you. If you obey my commandments, you will stay in My love.
[10] If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

I have told you these things so that My joy stays in you. If My joy stays in you, your joy will be full.
[11] These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.


This is My commandment: you should love one another the same as I have loved you.

[12] This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.


The greatest love a man can have is for him to die for one of his friends.

[13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.


You are My friends if you do what I have told you to do.

[14] Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

From now on, I will not call you servants. I won't call you that because the servant doesn't know what his master is doing.  I have called you friends. I have called you friends because I have told you everything I have heard from My father.
[15] Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you. I set you apart special to work for Me. I made you special so that you can go and bring fruit. Your fruit will stay. Whatever you ask the Father for in My name, He will give it to you.

[16] Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

I am commanding you:  love one another.
[17] These things I command you, that ye love one another.

If the world hates you, you know that the world hated Me before it hated you.
[18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
 


If you were part of the world, the world would love one of its own. But you are not part of the world. I have chosen you out of the world. So, the world hates you.
[19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

 

Remember what I said to you: The worker is not greater than his boss. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they have obeyed what I said, they will obey you, too. They will do all these things to you because of My name. That is because they don't know the One who sent Me.
[20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
[21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.


If I hadn't come and talked to them, they wouldn't have know they were sinning.  But now they can't hide from their sin.  
[22] If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
 

Anyone who hates Me also hates my Father.
[23] He that hateth me hateth my Father also.


No other man has done things like I have done. People have seen Me do miracles, but they don't believe Me. In the past, they didn't know Me, but now they know. They have seen Me, but they hate Me and my Father. Now they are sinning. 
[24] If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.


This happened so that the Scripture would be shown as true. The scripture said, "They hated Me without a cause." 
[25] But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.


I will send the Comforter to you from the Father. He is the Spirit of truth from the Father. He will tell you about Me. 
[26] But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

And you will also tell about Me because you have been with Me since the beginning.
[27] And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.