Amplified Bible (AMP)

Parable of the Good Shepherd

1 “I assure youandmost solemnly say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up from some other place[on the stone wall],that one is a thief and a robber.

2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep[the protector and provider].

3 Thedoorkeeper opens[the gate]for this man, and the sheep hear his voiceandpay attention to it. And[knowing that they listen]he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out[to pasture].

4 When he has brought all his ownsheepoutside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voiceandrecognize his call.

5 They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.

7 So Jesus said again,“I assure youandmost solemnly say to you, I amthe Door for the sheep[leading to life].

8 All who came before Me[as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders]are thieves and robbers, but the[true]sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved[and will live forever],and will go in and out[freely],and find pasture (spiritual security).

10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may haveandenjoy life, and have it in abundance[to the full, till it overflows].

11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherdlays down His[own]life for the sheep.

12 But the hired man[who merely serves for wages],who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away; and the wolf snatches the sheep and scattersthem.

13 Theman runsbecause he is a hired hand[who serves only for wages]and is not concerned about the[safety of the]sheep.

14 I am the Good Shepherd, and I know[without any doubt those who are]My own and My own know Me[and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]–

15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father–and I lay down My[very own]life[sacrificing it]forthe benefit ofthe sheep.

16 I haveother sheep[beside these]that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voiceandpay attention to My call, and they will becomeone flock with one Shepherd.

17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My[own]life so that I may take it back.

18 No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I am authorizedandhave power to lay it downandto give it up, and I am authorizedandhave power to take it back. This command I have received from My Father.”

19 A division [of opinion] occurred again among the Jews because of these words [of His].

20 Many of them said, “He has a demon and He is mad [insane–He raves and rambles]. Why listen to Him?”

21 Others were saying, “These are not the wordsandthoughts of one possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Jesus Asserts His Deity

22 At that time theFeast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem.

23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple [area] inSolomon’s portico.

24 So the Jews surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are [really] the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us so plainlyandopenly.”

25 Jesus answered them,“I have told you so, yet you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name testify concerning Me[they are My credentials and the evidence declaring who I am].

26 But you do not believe Me[so you do not trust and follow Me]because you are not My sheep.

27 The sheep that are My own hear My voiceandlisten to Me; I know them, and they follow Me.

28 And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever[by any means]perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand.

29 My Father, who has giventhemto Me, is greaterandmightier than all; and no one is able to snatchthemout of the Father’s hand.

30 I and the Father are One[in essence and nature].”

31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him.

32 Jesus answered them,“I showed you many good works[and many acts of mercy]from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”

33 The Jews answered Him, “We are not going to stone You for a good work, but for blasphemy, because You, amereman, make Yourself out to be God.”

34 Jesus answered them,“Is it not written in your Law, ‘Isaid,you are gods[human judges representing God, not divine beings]’?

35 If Hecalled them gods, men to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be undoneorannulledorbroken),

36 [if that is true]then do you say of Him whom the Father sanctifiedandset apartfor Himselfand sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?

37 If I do not do the works of My Father[that is, the miracles that only God could perform],then do not believe Me.

38 But if I am doing them, even if you do not believe Meorhave faith in Me,[at least]believe the works[that I do–admit that they are the works of God],so that you may know and keep on knowing[clearly–without any doubt]that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father[that is, I am One with Him].”

39 So they tried again to seize Him, but He eluded their grasp.

40 He went back again across the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there.

41 Many came to Him, and they were saying, “John did not perform a single sign (attesting miracle), but everything John said about this Man was trueandaccurate.”

42 And many there believedandconfidently trusted in Him [accepting Him as Savior, and following His teaching].

The Death and Resurrection of Lazarus

1 Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was fromBethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived.

2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.

3 So the sisters sentwordto Him, saying, “Lord, he [our brother and Your friend] whom You love is sick.”

4 When Jesus heard this, He said,“This sickness will not end in death; but[on the contrary it is]for the gloryandhonor of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

5 Now Jesus lovedandwas concerned about Martha and her sister and Lazarus [and considered them dear friends].

6 So [even] when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed in the same place two more days.

7 Then He said to His disciples,“Let us go back to Judea.”

8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), the Jews were only recently going to stone You, and You are [thinking of] going back there again?”

9 Jesus answered,“Are there not twelve hours[of light]in the day? Anyone who walks in the daytime does not stumble, because he sees[by]the light of this world.

10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him.”

11 He said this, and after that said,“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am goingthereto wake him.”

12 The disciples answered, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”

13 However, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was referring to natural sleep.

14 So then Jesus told them plainly,“Lazarus is dead.

15 And for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

16 Then Thomas, who was called Didymus (the twin), said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go too, that we may die with Him.”

17 So when Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tombfour days.

18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away;

19 and many of the Jews had come to see Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning [the loss of] their brother.

20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the house.

21 Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.

22 Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give to You.”

23 Jesus told her,“Your brother will rise[from the dead].”

24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise [from the dead] in the resurrection on the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her,“I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me[as Savior]will live even if he dies;

26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me[as Savior]will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believedandcontinue to believe that You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of God,He who was [destined and promised] to come into the world [and it is for You that the world has waited].”

28 After she had said this, she left and called her sister Mary, privately whispering [to her], “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.”

29 And when she heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him.

30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him.

31 So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her, saw how quickly Mary got up and left, they followed her, assuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

32 When Mary came [to the place] where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who had come with her also sobbing, He wasdeeply moved in spirit [to the point of anger at the sorrow caused by death] and was troubled,

34 and said,“Where have you laid him?”They said, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Jesus wept.

36 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him [as a close friend]!”

37 But some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the blind man’s eyes, have kept this man from dying?”

38 So Jesus, again deeply moved within [to the point of anger], approached the tomb. It was a cave, and a boulder was lying against it [to cover the entrance].

39 Jesus said,“Take away the stone.”Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be an offensive odor, for he has beendeadfour days! [It is hopeless!]”

40 Jesus said to her,“Did I not say to you that if you believe[in Me],you will see the glory of God[the expression of His excellence]?”

41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes [toward heaven] and said,“Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

42 I knew that You always hear Meandlisten to Me; but I have said this because of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You have sent Me[and that You have made Me Your representative].”

43 When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice,“Lazarus, come out!”

44 Out came the man who had been dead, his hands and feettightlywrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them,“Unwrap him and release him.”

45 So then, many of the Jews who had come to [be with] Mary and who were eyewitnesses to what Jesus had done, believed in Him.

46 But some of them went back to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

Conspiracy to Kill Jesus

47 So the chief priests and Pharisees convened a council [of the leaders in Israel], and said, “What are we doing? For this man performs many signs (attesting miracles).

48 If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our [holy] place (the temple) and our nation.”

49 But one of them,Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year [the year of Christ’s crucifixion], said to them, “You know nothing at all!

50 Nor do you understand that it is expedientandpolitically advantageous for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”

51 Now he did not say this [simply] on his own initiative; but being the high priest that year, he [was unknowingly used by God and] prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,

52 and not only for the nation, but also for the purpose of gathering together into one body the children of God who have been scattered abroad.

53 So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.

54 For that reason Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but left thereandwent to the district that borders on the uninhabited wilderness, to a town called Ephraim; and He stayed there with the disciples.

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was approaching, and many from the country went up to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves [ceremonially, so that they would be able to participate in the feast].

56 So they were looking for Jesus as they stood in the temple [area], and saying among themselves, “What do you think? Will He not come to the feast at all?”

57 Now the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it so that they might arrest Him.

Mary Anoints Jesus

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom He had raised from the dead.

2 So they gave a supper for Him there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was one of those recliningat the tablewith Him.

3 ThenMary took a pound of very expensive perfume of purenard, and she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who was going to betray Him, said,

5 “Why was this perfume not sold forthree hundred denarii and [the money] given to the poor?”

6 Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor [for he had never cared about them], but because he was a thief; and since he had the money box [serving as treasurer for the twelve disciples], he used to pilfer what was put into it.

7 So Jesus said,“Let her alone, so that she may keep[the rest of]it for the day of My burial.

8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

9 A large crowd of Jews learned that He was there [at Bethany]; and they came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

10 So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus also,

11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away [from the teaching and traditions of the Jewish leaders] and believing in Jesus [following Him as Savior and Messiah].

The Triumphal Entry

12 The next day, when the large crowd who had come to thePassoverfeast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 they took branches of palm trees [in homage to Him as King] and went out to meet Him, and theybeganshoutingandkept shouting “Hosanna! Blessed(celebrated, praised)isHe who comes in the name of theLord, even the King of Israel!”

14 And Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; just as it is written [in Scripture],

15 “Do not fear, Daughter ofZion; Behold, YourKing is coming,seated on a donkey’s colt.”

16 His disciples did not understand [the meaning of] these things at first; but when Jesus was glorifiedandexalted, they remembered that these things had been written about Him and had been done to Him.

17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to tell othersabout Him.

18 For this reason the crowd went to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this [miraculous] sign.

19 Then the Pharisees [argued and] said to one another, “You see that your efforts are futile. Look! The whole world has gone [running] after Him!”

Greeks Seek Jesus

20 Now there were some Greeks (Gentiles) among those who were going up to worship at the feast;

21 these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

22 Philip came and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

23 And Jesus answered them,“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorifiedandexalted.

24 I assure youandmost solemnly say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone[just one grain, never more].But if it dies, it produces much grainandyields a harvest.

25 The one who loves his life[eventually]loses it[through death],but the one who hates his life in this world[and is concerned with pleasing God]will keep it for life eternal.

26 If anyone serves Me, he must[continue to faithfully]follow Me[without hesitation, holding steadfastly to Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me];and wherever I am[in heaven’s glory],there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Jesus Foretells His Death

27 “Now My soul is troubledanddeeply distressed; what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour[of trial and agony]’?But it is for this[very]purpose that I have come to this hour[this time and place].

28 [Rather, I will say,]‘Father, glorify (honor, extol) Your name!’”Then avoice came from heaven saying, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

29 The crowdof peoplewho stood nearby and heard the voice said that it had thundered; others said, “An angel has spoken to Him!”

30 Jesus answered,“This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.

31 Now judgment is upon this world[the sentence is being passed].Now the ruler of this world (Satan) will be cast out.

32 And I, ifandwhen I am lifted up from the earth[on the cross],will draw allpeopleto Myself[Gentiles, as well as Jews].”

33 He said this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.

34 At this the crowd answered Him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; how then can You say,‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

35 So Jesus said to them,“The Light is among you[only]a little while longer. Walk while you have the Light[keep on living by it],so that darkness will not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going[he is drifting aimlessly].

36 While you have the Light, believeandtrust in the Light[have faith in it, hold on to it, rely on it],so that you may become sons of Light[being filled with Light as followers of God].”

Jesus said these things, and then He left and hid Himself from them.

37 Even though He had done so many signs (attesting miracles) right before them, yet they still did not believeandfailed to trust Him–

38 This wasto fulfill what Isaiah the prophet said: “Lord,who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm(the power)of theLord been shown(unveiled, revealed)?”

39 Therefore they could not believe, for Isaiah said again,

40 “He has blinded their eyes andHehardened their heart,to keep them from seeing with their eyes and understanding with their heart and being converted;otherwise, I [their God]would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke about Him.

42 Nevertheless, even many of the leading men believed in Him [as Savior and Messiah], but because of the Pharisees they would not confess it, for fear that [if they acknowledged Him openly] they would be put out of the synagogue (excommunicated);

43 for they loved the approval of men more than the approval of God.

44 But Jesus loudly declared,“The one who believesandtrusts in Me does not believe[only]in Me but[also believes]in Him who sent Me.

45 And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me.

46 I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believesandtrusts in Me[as Savior–all those who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of My message]will not continue to live in darkness.

47 If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judgeandcondemn the world[that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world],but to save the world.

48 Whoever rejects Me and refuses to accept My teachings, has one who judges him; theveryword that I spoke will judgeandcondemn him on the last day.

49 For I have never spoken on My own initiativeorauthority, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandmentregardingwhat to say and what to speak.

50 I know that His commandment is eternal life. So the things I speak, I speak[in accordance with His exact instruction,]just as the Father has told Me.”

The Lord’s Supper

1 Now before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that His hour had come [and it was time] for Him to leave this worldandreturn to the Father. Having [greatly] loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [and continuously loves them with His perfect love] to the end (eternally).

2 It was during supper, when the devil had already put [the thought of] betraying Jesus into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son,

3 that Jesus, knowing that the Father had put everything into His hands, and that He had come from God and was [now] returning to God,

4 got up from supper, took off His [outer] robe, and taking a [servant’s] towel, He tied it around His waist.

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

5 Then He poured water into the basin and began washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them with the towel which was tied around His waist.

6 When He came to Simon Peter, he said to Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied to him,“You do not realize now what I am doing, but you will[fully]understand it later.”

8 Peter said to Him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered,“Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me[we can have nothing to do with each other].”

9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, [in that case, wash] not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!”

10 Jesus said to him,“Anyone who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, and is completely clean. And you[My disciples]are clean, but not allof you.”

11 For He knew who was going to betray Him; for that reason He said,“Not all of you are clean.”

12 So when He had washed their feet and put on His [outer] robe and reclinedat the tableagain, He said to them,“Do you understand what I have done for you?

13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you are right in doing so, forthat is whoI am.

14 So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet as well.

15 For I gave you[this as]an example, so that you should do[in turn]as I did to you.

16 I assure youandmost solemnly say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.

17 If you know these things, you are blessed[happy and favored by God]if you put them into practice[and faithfully do them].

18 I am not speaking of all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but[this has happened]in order that the Scripture may be fulfilled: ‘He who eatsMy bread has raised up his heel againstMe[as My enemy].’

19 From now on I am telling you[what will happen]before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may believe that I amHe[who I say I am–the Christ, the Anointed, the Messiah].

20 I assure youandmost solemnly say to you, the one who receivesandwelcomes whomever I send receives Me; and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me[in that same way].”

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

21 After Jesus had said these things, He wastroubled in spirit, and testified and said,“I assure youandmost solemnly say to you, one of you will betray Meandhand Me over.”

22 The disciplesbeganlooking at one another, puzzledanddisturbed as to whom He could mean.

23 One of His disciples, whom Jesus loved (esteemed), wasleaning against Jesus’ chest.

24 So Simon Peter motioned to him (John) and [quietly] asked [him to ask Jesus] of whom He was speaking.

25 Then leaning back against Jesus’ chest, he (John) asked Him [privately], “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered,“It is the one to whom I am going to give this piece[of bread]after I have dipped it.”So when He had dipped the piece of bread [into the dish], He gave it to Judas,sonof Simon Iscariot.

27 After [Judas had taken] the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him,“What you are going to do, do quickly[without delay].”

28 But no one recliningat the tableknew why He saidthisto him.

29 Some thought that, since Judas [as the treasurer of the group] had the money box, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he was togive something to the poor.

30 After taking the piece of bread, he went out immediately; and it was night.

31 So when Judas had left, Jesus said,“Now is[the time for]the Son of Man[to be]glorified, and God is glorified in Him;

32 [if God is glorified in Him,] God will also glorify Him (the Son) in Himself, and will glorify Him at once.

33 Little children, I am with you[only]a little longer. You will look for Me and, as I told the Jews, so I tell you now, ‘Where I am going, you are not able to come.’

34 I am giving you a new commandment, that youlove one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.

35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have loveandunselfish concern for one another.”

36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered,“Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now; but you will be able to follow later.”

37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why cannot I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You!”

38 Jesus answered,“Will you[really]lay down your life for Me? I assure youandmost solemnly say to you, before a rooster crows you will denyandcompletely disown Me three times.

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

1 “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe[confidently]in Godandtrust in Him,[have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and]believe also in Me.

2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.

4 And[to the place]where I am going, you know the way.”

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him,“I am the[only]Way[to God]and the[real]Truth and the[real]Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Jesus’ Oneness with the Father

7 If you had[really]known Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father and then we will be satisfied.”

9 Jesus said to him,“Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip,norrecognize clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’

10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not say on My own initiativeorauthority, but the Father, abidingcontinuallyin Me, does His works[His attesting miracles and acts of power].

11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe[Me]because of the[very]works themselves[which you have witnessed].

12 I assure youandmost solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me[as Savior]will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these[in extent and outreach],because I am going to the Father.

13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name[as My representative],this I will do, so that the Father may be glorifiedandcelebrated in the Son.

14 If you ask Me anything in My name[as My representative],I will do it.

15 “If you[really]love Me, you will keepandobey My commandments.

Role of the Spirit

16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you anotherHelper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor–Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever–

17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive[and take to its heart]because it does not see Him or know Him,butyou know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with youcontinuallyand will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans[comfortless, bereaved, and helpless];I will come[back]to you.

19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.

20 On that day[when that time comes]you will know for yourselves that I am in My Father, and youarein Me, and Iamin you.

21 The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who[really]loves Me; and whoever[really]loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him[I will make Myself real to him].”

22 Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered,“If anyone[really]loves Me, he will keep My word (teaching); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him.

24 One who does not[really]love Me does not keep My words. And the word (teaching) which you hear is not Mine, but is the Father’s who sent Me.

25 “I have told you these things while I am still with you.

26 But theHelper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor–Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name[in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf],He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.

27 Peace I leave with you; My[perfect]peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.[Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

28 You heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away, and I am comingbackto you.’ If you[really]loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going[back]to the Father, forthe Father is greater than I.

29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does take place, you may believeandhave faith[in Me].

30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of the world (Satan) is coming. And he has no claim on Me[no power over Me nor anything that he can use against Me];

31 but so that the world may know[without any doubt]that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father has commanded Me[and act in full agreement with Him].Get up, let us go from here.

Jesus Is the Vine–Followers Are Branches

1 “I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and everybranchthat continues to bear fruit, He[repeatedly]prunes, so that it will bear more fruit[even richer and finer fruit].

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have given you[the teachings which I have discussed with you].

4 Remain in Me, and I[will remain]in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you[bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith]unless you remain in Me.

5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for[otherwise]apart from Me[that is, cut off from vital union with Me]you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a[broken off]branch, and withersanddies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you[that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart],ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.

8 My Father is glorifiedandhonored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My[true]disciples.

9 I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love[and do not doubt My love for you].

10 If you keep My commandmentsandobey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.

11 I have told you these things so that My joyanddelight may be in you, and that your joy may be made fullandcompleteandoverflowing.

Disciples’ Relation to Each Other

12 “This is My commandment, that youloveandunselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you.

13 No one has greater love[nor stronger commitment]than to lay down his own life for his friends.

14 You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you.

15 I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you[My]friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father.

16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointedandplacedandpurposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruitandkeep on bearing, and that your fruit will remainandbe lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name[as My representative]He may give to you.

17 This[is what]I command you: that you loveandunselfishly seek the best for one another.

Disciples’ Relation to the World

18 “If the world hates you[and it does],know that it has hated Me beforeit hatedyou.

19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love[you as]its ownandwould treat you with affection. But you are not of the world[you no longer belong to it],but I have chosen you out of the world. And because of this the world hates you.

20 Remember[and continue to remember]that I told you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

21 But they will do all these[hurtful]things to you for My name’s sake[because you bear My name and are identified with Me],for they do not know the One who sent Me.

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have[the guilt of their]sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

23 The one who hates Me also hates My Father.

24 If I had not done among them the works (attesting miracles) which no one else[ever]did, they would not have[the guilt of their]sin; but now[the fact is that]they have both seen[these works]and have hated Me[and continue to hate Me]and My Father as well.

25 But[this is so]that the word which has been written in their Law would be fulfilled, ‘They hatedMe without a cause.’

26 “But when theHelper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor–Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father,that isthe Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, He will testifyandbear witness about Me.

27 But you will testify alsoandbe My witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Jesus’ Warning

1 “I have told you these things so that you will not stumbleorbe caught off guardandfall away.

2 They will put you out of the synagoguesandmake you outcasts. And a time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God.

3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.

4 I have told you these things[now],so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not say these things to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

The Holy Spirit Promised

5 “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’

6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts[and taken complete possession of them].

7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, theHelper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor–Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you[to be in close fellowship with you].

8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world about[the guilt of]sin[and the need for a Savior],and about righteousness, and about judgment:

9 about sin[and the true nature of it],because they do not believe in Me[and My message];

10 about righteousness[personal integrity and godly character],because I am going to My Father and you will no longer see Me;

11 about judgment[the certainty of it],because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judgedandcondemned.

12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear[to hear]them now.

13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth[full and complete truth].For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears[from the Father–the message regarding the Son],and He will disclose to you what is to come[in the future].

14 He will glorifyandhonor Me, because He (the Holy Spirit) will take from what is Mine and will disclose it to you.

15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Because of this I said that He[the Spirit]will take from what is Mine and will reveal it to you.

Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Foretold

16 “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

17 Some of His disciples said to one another, “What does He mean when He tells us,‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and,‘because I am going to My Father’?”

18 So they were saying, “What does He mean when He says,‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.”

19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask Him, so He said to them,“Are you wondering among yourselves about what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’?

20 I assure youandmost solemnly say to you, that you will weep and grieve[in great mourning],but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

21 A woman, when she is in labor, has pain because her time[to give birth]has come; but when she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of her joy that a child has come into the world.

22 So for now you are in grief; but I will see you again, and[then]your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away from you your[great]joy.

Prayer Promises

23 In that day you will not[need to]ask Me about anything. I assure youandmost solemnly say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name[as My representative],He will give you.

24 Until now you have not asked[the Father]for anything in My name; but now askandkeep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be fullandcomplete.

25 “I have told you these things in figurative language (veiled language, proverbs); the hour is now coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.

26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf[because it will be unnecessary];

27 for the Father Himself[tenderly]loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from the Father.

28 I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now You are speaking plainly to us and not in figures of speech!

30 Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; because of this we believe [without any doubt] that you came from God.”

31 Jesus answered them,“Do you now[at last]believe?

32 Take careful notice: an hour is coming, and has arrived, when you will all be scattered, each to his ownhome,leaving Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have[perfect]peace. In the world you have tribulationanddistressandsuffering, but be courageous[be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy];I have overcome the world.”[My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

The High Priestly Prayer

1 When Jesus had spoken these things, He raised His eyes to heaven [in prayer] and said,“Father, thehour has come. Glorify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify You.

2 Just as You have given Him powerandauthority over all mankind,[now glorify Him]so that He may give eternal lifeto all whom You have given Him[to be His–permanently and forever].

3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true[supreme and sovereign]God, and[in the same manner know]Jesus[as the]Christ whom You have sent.

4 I have glorified You[down here]on the earth bycompleting the work that You gave Me to do.

5 Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the gloryandmajesty that I had with You before the world existed.

6 “I have manifested Your name[and revealed Your very self, Your real self]to the people whom You have given Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have keptandobeyed Your word.

7 Now[at last]they know[with confident assurance]that all You have given Me is from You[it is really and truly Yours].

8 For the words which You gave Me I have given them; and they receivedandaccepted them and truly understood[with confident assurance]that I came from You[from Your presence],and they believed[without any doubt]that You sent Me.

9 I pray for them; I do not pray for the world, but for those You have given Me, because they belong to You;

10 and all things that are Mine are Yours, and[all things that are]Yours are Mine; and I am glorified in them.

11 I am no longer in the world; yet they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name,the namewhich You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are.

12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded themandprotected them, and not one of them was lost exceptthe son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

The Disciples in the World

13 But now I am coming to You; and I say these things[while I am still]in the world so that they may experience My joy made fullandcompleteandperfect within them[filling their hearts with My delight].

14 I have given to them Your word[the message You gave Me];and the world has hated them because they are not of the worldanddo not belong to the world, just as I am not of the worldanddo not belong to it.

15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep themandprotect them from the evil one.

16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them in the truth[set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy];Your word is truth.

18 Just as You commissionedandsent Me into the world, I also have commissionedandsent them (believers) into the world.

19 For their sakeI sanctify Myself[to do Your will],so that they also may be sanctified[set apart, dedicated, made holy]in[Your]truth.

20 “I do not pray for these alone[it is not for their sake only that I make this request],but also for[all]those who[will ever]believeandtrust in Me through their message,

21 that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe[without any doubt]that You sent Me.

Their Future Glory

22 I have given to them the gloryandhonor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one;

23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfectedandcompleted into one, so that the world may know[without any doubt]that You sent Me, and[that You]have loved them, just as You have loved Me.

24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given to Me[as Your gift to Me],may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

25 “O justandrighteous Father, although the world has not known Youandhas never acknowledged You[and the revelation of Your mercy],yet I havealwaysknown You; and these[believers]know[without any doubt]that You sent Me;

26 and I have made Your name known to them, and willcontinue tomake it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them[overwhelming their heart],and I[may be]in them.”

Judas Betrays Jesus

1 Having said these things, Jesus left with His disciples and went across theravine of the Kidron. There was a garden there, which He and His disciples entered.

2 Now Judas, who was betraying Him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.

3 So Judas, having obtained theRomancohort and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

4 Then Jesus, knowing all that was about to happen to Him, went to them and asked,“Whom do you want?”

5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus said,“I amHe.”And Judas, who was betraying Him, was also standing with them.

6 When Jesus said,“I amHe,”they drew back and fell to the ground.

7 Again He asked them,“Whom do you want?”And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

8 Jesus answered,“I told you that I amHe;so if you want Me, let these men go on their way.”

9 This wasto fulfillandverify the words He had spoken,“Of those whom You have given Me, I have not lost even one.”

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

11 So Jesus said to Peter,“Put the sword[back]in its sheath! Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

Jesus before Annas and Caiaphas

12 So the cohort and their commander and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him,

13 and led Him toAnnas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.

15 Simon Peter andanother disciple were following Jesus. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, so he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the [residence of the] high priest;

16 but Peter was standing outside at the door. So the other disciple (John), who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter inside.

17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”

18 Now the servants and the officers had made a fire of coals, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. And Peter was with them, standing and warming himself.

19 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.

20 Jesus answered him,“I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple[area],where all the Jewshabituallycongregate; and I said nothing in secret.

21 Why question Me? Question those who have heard what I said to them. They know what I said.”

22 But when He said this, one of the officers who was standing nearbystruck Jesus [in the face], saying, “Is that how You answer the high priest?”

23 Jesus replied,“If I have saidanythingwrong, make a formal statement about the wrong; but if[I spoke]properly, why did you strike Me?”

24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter’s Denial of Jesus

25 Now Simon Peter was [still] standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”

26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you with Him in the garden?”

27 So Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.

Jesus before Pilate

28 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium (governor’s palace). Now it was early and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium so that they would not be [ceremonially] unclean, but might [be able to] eat [and participate in the Feast of Unleavened Bread which began after] thePassover [supper].

29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

30 They answered, “If He were not a criminal, we would not have handed Him over to you [for judgment].”

31 Then Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your own law.” The Jews said, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.”

32 This wasto fulfill the word which Jesus had spoken to indicate by what manner of death He was going to die.

33 So Pilate went into the Praetorium again, and called Jesus and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

34 Jesus replied,“Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”

35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and their chief priests have handed You over to me. What have You done [that is worthy of death]?”

36 Jesus replied,“My kingdom is not of this world[nor does it have its origin in this world].If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting[hard]to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this world.”

37 So Pilate said to Him, “Then You are a King?” Jesus answered,“You say[correctly]that I am a King. This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth[who is a friend of the truth and belongs to the truth]hearsandlistens carefully to My voice.”

38 Pilate said to Him [scornfully], “What is truth?”

And when he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no guilt in Him [no crime, no cause for an accusation].

39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. So shall I release for you the King of the Jews?”

40 Then they all shouted back again, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was arobber.

The Crown of Thorns

1 So then Pilate took Jesus and had Himscourged (flogged, whipped).

2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe around Him;

3 and they kept coming up to Him, saying [mockingly], “Hail, King of the Jews [Good health! Peace! Long life to you, King of the Jews]!” And they slapped Himin the face.

4 Then Pilate came out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him [no crime, no cause for an accusation].”

5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, andPilatesaid to them, “Look! The Man!”

6 When the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify [Him]! Crucify [Him]!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him [no crime, no cause for an accusation].”

7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law [regarding blasphemy], and according to that law He should die, because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”

8 So when Pilate heard this said, he was [even] morealarmedandafraid.

9 He went into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus did not answer him.

10 So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”

11 Jesus answered,“You would have no authority over Me at all if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the sinandguilt of theone who handed Me over to you is greater[than your own].”

12 As a result of this, Pilate kept making efforts to release Him, but the Jews kept screaming, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar! Anyone who makes himself out [to be] a king opposes Caesar [and rebels against the emperor]!”

13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place calledThe Pavement, but inHebrew, Gabbatha.

14 Now it was the day of Preparation for thePassover [week], and it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Look, your King!”

15 But they shouted, “Away withHim,away withHim,crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

The Crucifixion

16 Then he handed Him over to them to be crucified.

17 So they took Jesus, and He went out,bearing His own cross, to the place calledthe Place of the Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.

18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.

19 Pilate also wrote an inscription [on a placard] and put it on the cross. And it was written: “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

20 And many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.

21 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but, ‘He said, “I am King of the Jews.”’”

22 Pilate replied, “What I have written I have written [and it remains written].”

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer clothes and made four parts, a part for each soldier, and also the tunic. But thetunic was seamless, woven [in one piece] from the top throughout.

24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it,to decidewhose it will be.”This wasto fulfill the Scripture, “TheydividedMy outer clothing among them,and forMy clothing they cast lots.”

25 So the soldiers did these things.

But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother’s sister [Salome],Mary thewifeof Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 So Jesus, seeing His mother, and thedisciple whom He loved (esteemed) standing near, said to His mother, “[Dear]woman, look,[here is]your son!”

27 Then He said to the disciple (John),“Look![here is]your mother[protect and provide for her]!” From that hour the disciple took her into his ownhome.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said in fulfillment of the Scripture,“I am thirsty.”

29 A jar full ofsour wine was placed there; so they put a sponge soaked in the sour wine on [a branch of] hyssop and held it to His mouth.

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said,“It is finished!”And He bowed His head and [voluntarily]gave up His spirit.

Care of the Body of Jesus

31 Since it was the day of Preparation [for the Sabbath], in order to prevent the bodies from hanging on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high holy day) the Jews asked Pilate to have their legsbroken [to hasten death] and the bodies taken away.

32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other who had been crucified with Him.

33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came [flowing] out.

35 And he (John, the eyewitness) who has seen it has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also [who read this] may believe.

36 For these things took place to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone ofHis shall be broken.”

37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look atHim whom they have pierced.”

38 And after this, Joseph of Arimathea–a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews–asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away His body.

39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, [weighing] about a hundred [Roman]pounds.

40 So they took Jesus’ body and bound it in linen wrappings with the fragrant spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.

41 Now there was a garden at the place where He was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb [cut out of solid rock] in which no one had yet been laid.

42 Therefore, because of the Jewish day of Preparation, and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.