Part 4

Jesus said to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. They answered Him, We are Abraham's seed and were never in bondage to any man. How sayest Thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. The servant abideth not in the house forever, but the Son doth abide forever. If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father; and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto Him, Abraham is our father.

Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth which I have heard of God. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to Him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father ye would love me for I proceeded forth and came from God. I came not of myself, but of Him who sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? Is it because ye cannot hear my word?

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning. He dealt not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own because he is a liar, and the father of all lies. Yet, I tell you the truth and ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words. Ye, therefore, hear them not because ye are not of God.

The Jews said, Are we not right that Thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil. I honour my Father and ye dishonour me. I seek not my own glory. There is One that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying he shall never see death. Then said the Jews, Now we know that Thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and so are the prophets. Thou sayest, If a man keep my saying he shall never taste of death. Art Thou greater than our father Abraham and the prophets who are dead? Who makest Thou Thyself?

Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing. It is my Father, whom you say is your God, that honoureth me. Yet ye have not known Him. But I know Him and, if I should say I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you. But I know Him and keep His saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw and was glad for it. Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old and hast Thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then they took up stones to cast at Him. But Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

9. Jesus passed by a man who was blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day. The night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which means Sent).

He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. The neighbours and they who before had seen he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he. Others said, He is like him. But he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam and wash. I went and washed and I received my sight. Then they said to him, Where is He? And he said, I know not. They brought him to the Pharisees. It was also the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then, once again, the Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed and do see.

Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God because He keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. Then they said to the blind man again, what sayest thou of He that hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and received his sight until they called his parents. And they asked them, Is this your son who ye say was born blind? How then doth he see? His parents answered them, We know that this is our son and that he was born blind, but by what means he now seeth, we know not. Or who hath opened his eyes, we know not. He is of age. Ask him. He shall speak for himself. These words spoke his parents because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed that, if any man said that He was the Christ, that man should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, Our son is of age; ask him.

They called the man that was blind once again, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether He be a sinner I know not. One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did He do to thee? How opened He thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already and ye did not hear. Wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be His disciples? Then they reviled him and said, Thou art His disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses. As for this one, we know not from whence He comes.

The man answered and said unto them, Why here is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence He is come, and yet He hath opened my eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners. But if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth. Since the world began was it ever heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind? If this man were not of God He could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast born in sin. Dost thou dare teach us? And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out. When He found him He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him and it is He that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him. Then Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world that they which see not might see; and they which see might be made blind. Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words and said unto Him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

10. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth. The sheep hear his voice. He calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them and the sheep follow because they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow. Instead, they will flee because they know not the voice of strangers.

This parable spoke Jesus unto them. Yet they understood not what things He spoke about. Then Jesus said again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If any man enter in by me he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief cometh not except to steal and kill and destroy. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.

I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling and not the shepherd, whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. The wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and careth not for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and am known by my sheep. The Father knoweth me, even as I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. Other sheep I have also who are not of this fold. Them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice. There shall be One Fold and One Shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life that I might take it up again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received of my Father. There was a division therefore among the Jews for these sayings. Many of them said, He hath a devil and is mad; why hear ye Him? Others said, These are not the words of Him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

In Jerusalem it was winter and the feast of the dedication. Jesus walked in the temple upon Solomon's porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said, How long dost Thou make us doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you and ye believed me not. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness of me. But ye believe not because ye are not of my sheep. As I said to you, My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. And I give them eternal life. They shall never perish, nor shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all. No man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones to stone Him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we stone Thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said Ye are gods? If He called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of Him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world, thou blasphemest because I said I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in Him.

Therefore they sought again to take Him but He escaped out of their hand and went away again beyond Jordan to the place where John at first baptized. There He abode. And many resorted unto Him, and said, John did no miracle but all things that John spoke of this man were true. And many believed on Him there.

11. Now a certain man was sick. His name was Lazarus of Bethany. His sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard this, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might thereby be glorified. Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. However, He remained two more days in the same place where He was. Then saith He to His disciples, Let us go into Judaea. His disciples say unto Him, Master, the Jews have sought to stone Thee. Goest Thou there again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth because there is no light in him.

After that He saith to them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said His disciples, Lord, if he sleeps, he shall do well. However, Jesus spoke of death but they thought that He had spoken of taking rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the extent ye may believe. Let us go unto him. Then Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go that we may die with Him.

When Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had already lain in the grave four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off, and many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their brother. Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him but Mary remained in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst been here my brother would not have died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto Him, Yes, Lord. I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went and called Mary, her sister, saying, The Master is come and calleth for thee.

As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came unto Him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town but was in that place where Martha met Him. Some Jews that were with her in the house to comfort her, saw Mary hastily rise up and go out. They followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then, when Mary came where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell down at His feet saying unto Him, Lord, if Thou hadst been here my brother had not died. When Jesus saw her weeping, and those who came with her also weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. He said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto Him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept.

Then said the Jews, Behold how He loved him! And some of them said, Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in Himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto Him, Lord, by this time he stinketh for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.

And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me. And I know that Thou hearest me always. Because of these standing by I say it that they may believe that Thou hast sent me. And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. Now he that was dead came forth bound hand and foot with graveclothes and his face was wound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what things Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we for this man doeth many miracles? If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people so the whole nation perish not. And this spoke he not of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation, and not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together to put Him to death.

Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews but went unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with His disciples. Now the Jews' passover was near at hand. Many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover in order to purify themselves. Then sought they for Jesus, and spoke among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that He will not come to the feast? The chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where He was, he should show it, that they might take Him.

12. Six days before the passover, Jesus came to Bethany where He had raised Lazarus from the dead. There they made Him a supper. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly ointment of spikenard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, Why was not this ointment sold for its great worth and given to the poor? This he said not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and held the bag, and minded what was put therein. Jesus said, Let her alone. Against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

Many of the Jews knew that He was there. But they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus whom He had raised from the dead. The chief priests consulted that they might also put Lazarus to death because he was the reason many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus.

On the next day many people who had come for the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. They took branches of palm trees, went forth to meet Him, and cried, Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when He had found a young colt, sat thereon; for it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion. Behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. These things His disciples did not at first understand. But when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things unto Him. The people that were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bore record. For this reason also the people met Him because they heard He had done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail not? Behold, the world is gone after Him.