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Bible in 90 Days

An intensive Bible reading plan that walks through the entire Bible in 90 days.
Duration: 88 days
New International Version (NIV)
Version
Luke 20:20 - John 5:47

Paying Taxes to Caesar(A)

20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said,(B) so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.(C) 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.(D) 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(E) and to God what is God’s.”

26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

The Resurrection and Marriage(F)

27 Some of the Sadducees,(G) who say there is no resurrection,(H) came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.(I) 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come(J) and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children,(K) since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’[a](L) 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.(M)

Whose Son Is the Messiah?(N)

41 Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David?(O) 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
43 until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”’[b](P)

44 David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.(Q) 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

The Widow’s Offering(R)

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.(S) He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”(T)

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times(U)(V)

Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another;(W) every one of them will be thrown down.”

“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.(X) When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(Y) 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.(Z)

12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me.(AA) 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.(AB) 15 For I will give you(AC) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,(AD) and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me.(AE) 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.(AF) 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.(AG)

20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,(AH) you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.(AI) 22 For this is the time of punishment(AJ) in fulfillment(AK) of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled(AL) on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.(AM) 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.(AN) 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man(AO) coming in a cloud(AP) with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”(AQ)

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God(AR) is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation(AS) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(AT)

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,(AU) and that day will close on you suddenly(AV) like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray(AW) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple,(AX) and each evening he went out(AY) to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,(AZ) 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.(BA)

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus(BB)

22 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,(BC) and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus,(BD) for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan(BE) entered Judas, called Iscariot,(BF) one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard(BG) and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money.(BH) He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

The Last Supper(BI)(BJ)(BK)(BL)(BM)

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.(BN) Jesus sent Peter and John,(BO) saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them.(BP) So they prepared the Passover.

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles(BQ) reclined at the table.(BR) 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.(BS) 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”(BT)

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it,(BU) and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant(BV) in my blood, which is poured out for you.[c] 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.(BW) 22 The Son of Man(BX) will go as it has been decreed.(BY) But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.(BZ) 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,(CA) and the one who rules like the one who serves.(CB) 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.(CC) 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom,(CD) just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom(CE) and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.(CF)

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked(CG) to sift all of you as wheat.(CH) 32 But I have prayed for you,(CI) Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”(CJ)

33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”(CK)

34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals,(CL) did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’[d];(CM) and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That’s enough!” he replied.

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives(CN)

39 Jesus went out as usual(CO) to the Mount of Olives,(CP) and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”(CQ) 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down(CR) and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup(CS) from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”(CT) 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.(CU) 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[e]

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”(CV)

Jesus Arrested(CW)

47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”(CX) 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard,(CY) and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts,(CZ) and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour(DA)—when darkness reigns.”(DB)

Peter Disowns Jesus(DC)

54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.(DD) Peter followed at a distance.(DE) 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”(DF)

60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord(DG) turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”(DH) 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The Guards Mock Jesus(DI)

63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.(DJ)

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod(DK)(DL)(DM)

66 At daybreak the council(DN) of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together,(DO) and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer.(DP) 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”(DQ)

70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”(DR)

He replied, “You say that I am.”(DS)

71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.(DT) And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation.(DU) He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar(DV) and claims to be Messiah, a king.”(DW)

So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”(DX)

But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee(DY) and has come all the way here.”

On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.(DZ) When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,(EA) who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.(EB) From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.(EC) 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe,(ED) they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends(EE)—before this they had been enemies.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.(EF) 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him(EG) and then release him.” [17] [f]

18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”(EH) 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”(EI)

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

The Crucifixion of Jesus(EJ)

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,(EK) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.(EL) 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed(EM) for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.(EN) 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’(EO) 30 Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’[g](EP)

31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(EQ)

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.(ER) 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father,(ES) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[h](ET) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(EU)

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.(EV) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”(EW)

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him.(EX) They offered him wine vinegar(EY) 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,(EZ) save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.(FA)

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”(FB)

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”(FC)

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[i](FD)

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”(FE)

The Death of Jesus(FF)

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,(FG) 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple(FH) was torn in two.(FI) 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice,(FJ) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[j](FK) When he had said this, he breathed his last.(FL)

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God(FM) and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts(FN) and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,(FO) stood at a distance,(FP) watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus(FQ)

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.(FR) 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day,(FS) and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee(FT) followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes.(FU) But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.(FV)

Jesus Has Risen(FW)

24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared(FX) and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.(FY) While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning(FZ) stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:(GA) ‘The Son of Man(GB) must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’(GC) Then they remembered his words.(GD)

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them(GE) who told this to the apostles.(GF) 11 But they did not believe(GG) the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves,(GH) and he went away,(GI) wondering to himself what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[k] from Jerusalem.(GJ) 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;(GK) 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.(GL)

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas,(GM) asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,”(GN) they replied. “He was a prophet,(GO) powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers(GP) handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.(GQ) And what is more, it is the third day(GR) since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us.(GS) They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”(GT)

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”(GU) 27 And beginning with Moses(GV) and all the Prophets,(GW) he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.(GX)

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it(GY) and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him,(GZ) and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us(HA) while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures(HB) to us?”

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord(HC) has risen and has appeared to Simon.”(HD) 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.(HE)

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”(HF)

37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.(HG) 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see;(HH) a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.(HI)

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you:(HJ) Everything must be fulfilled(HK) that is written about me in the Law of Moses,(HL) the Prophets(HM) and the Psalms.”(HN)

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer(HO) and rise from the dead on the third day,(HP) 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name(HQ) to all nations,(HR) beginning at Jerusalem.(HS) 48 You are witnesses(HT) of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised;(HU) but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany,(HV) he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.(HW) 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple,(HX) praising God.

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word,(HY) and the Word was with God,(HZ) and the Word was God.(IA) He was with God in the beginning.(IB) Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.(IC) In him was life,(ID) and that life was the light(IE) of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness,(IF) and the darkness has not overcome[l] it.(IG)

There was a man sent from God whose name was John.(IH) He came as a witness to testify(II) concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.(IJ) He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light(IK) that gives light to everyone(IL) was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,(IM) the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.(IN) 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed(IO) in his name,(IP) he gave the right to become children of God(IQ) 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.(IR)

14 The Word became flesh(IS) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,(IT) the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace(IU) and truth.(IV)

15 (John testified(IW) concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)(IX) 16 Out of his fullness(IY) we have all received grace(IZ) in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses;(JA) grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.(JB) 18 No one has ever seen God,(JC) but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[m](JD) is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

19 Now this was John’s(JE) testimony when the Jewish leaders[n](JF) in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”(JG)

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”(JH)

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”(JI)

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness,(JJ) ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[o](JK)

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 “I baptize with[p] water,”(JL) John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me,(JM) the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”(JN)

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan,(JO) where John was baptizing.

John Testifies About Jesus

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,(JP) who takes away the sin of the world!(JQ) 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’(JR) 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.(JS) 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water(JT) told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’(JU) 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”[q](JV)

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus(JW)

35 The next day John(JX) was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”(JY)

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi”(JZ) (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).(KA) 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called(KB) Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter[r]).(KC)

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip,(KD) he said to him, “Follow me.”(KE)

44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.(KF) 45 Philip found Nathanael(KG) and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law,(KH) and about whom the prophets also wrote(KI)—Jesus of Nazareth,(KJ) the son of Joseph.”(KK)

46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”(KL) Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite(KM) in whom there is no deceit.”(KN)

48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi,(KO) you are the Son of God;(KP) you are the king of Israel.”(KQ)

50 Jesus said, “You believe[s] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[t] you[u] will see ‘heaven open,(KR) and the angels of God ascending and descending(KS) on’[v] the Son of Man.”(KT)

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.(KU) Jesus’ mother(KV) was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

“Woman,[w](KW) why do you involve me?”(KX) Jesus replied. “My hour(KY) has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”(KZ)

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing,(LA) each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[x]

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.(LB) He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs(LC) through which he revealed his glory;(LD) and his disciples believed in him.(LE)

12 After this he went down to Capernaum(LF) with his mother(LG) and brothers(LH) and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts(LI)

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover,(LJ) Jesus went up to Jerusalem.(LK) 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves,(LL) and others sitting at tables exchanging money.(LM) 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house(LN) into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[y](LO)

18 The Jews(LP) then responded to him, “What sign(LQ) can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”(LR)

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”(LS)

20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.(LT) 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said.(LU) Then they believed the scripture(LV) and the words that Jesus had spoken.

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival,(LW) many people saw the signs(LX) he was performing and believed(LY) in his name.[z] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind,(LZ) for he knew what was in each person.(MA)

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus(MB) who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.(MC) He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi,(MD) we know(ME) that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs(MF) you are doing if God were not with him.”(MG)

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[aa](MH)

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.(MI) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[ab] gives birth to spirit.(MJ) You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[ac] must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[ad](MK)

“How can this be?”(ML) Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,”(MM) said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know,(MN) and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.(MO) 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven(MP) except the one who came from heaven(MQ)—the Son of Man.[ae](MR) 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,(MS) so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[af](MT) 15 that everyone who believes(MU) may have eternal life in him.”[ag](MV)

16 For God so loved(MW) the world that he gave(MX) his one and only Son,(MY) that whoever believes(MZ) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(NA) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world(NB) to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(NC) 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,(ND) but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.(NE) 19 This is the verdict: Light(NF) has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.(NG) 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.(NH) 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John Testifies Again About Jesus

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.(NI) 23 Now John(NJ) also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.)(NK) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.(NL) 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,(NM) that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified(NN) about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’(NO) 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom.(NP) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.(NQ) 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[ah]

31 The one who comes from above(NR) is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.(NS) The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard,(NT) but no one accepts his testimony.(NU) 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent(NV) speaks the words of God, for God[ai] gives the Spirit(NW) without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.(NX) 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,(NY) but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John(NZ) although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea(OA) and went back once more to Galilee.

Now he had to go through Samaria.(OB) So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.(OC) Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”(OD) (His disciples had gone into the town(OE) to buy food.)

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan(OF) woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[aj])

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”(OG)

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well(OH) and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.(OI) Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water(OJ) welling up to eternal life.”(OK)

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty(OL) and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

17 “I have no husband,” she replied.

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.(OM) 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain,(ON) but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”(OO)

21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming(OP) when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.(OQ) 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know;(OR) we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.(OS) 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come(OT) when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit(OU) and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit,(OV) and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ)(OW) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”(OX)

The Disciples Rejoin Jesus

27 Just then his disciples returned(OY) and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.(OZ) Could this be the Messiah?”(PA) 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi,(PB) eat something.”

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat(PC) that you know nothing about.”

33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will(PD) of him who sent me and to finish his work.(PE) 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.(PF) 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests(PG) a crop for eternal life,(PH) so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’(PI) is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Many Samaritans Believe

39 Many of the Samaritans from that town(PJ) believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”(PK) 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.

42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”(PL)

Jesus Heals an Official’s Son

43 After the two days(PM) he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)(PN) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival,(PO) for they also had been there.

46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine.(PP) And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,(PQ) he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,”(PR) Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”

53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household(PS) believed.

54 This was the second sign(PT) Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

The Healing at the Pool

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate(PU) a pool, which in Aramaic(PV) is called Bethesda[ak] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [al] One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”(PW) At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,(PX) 10 and so the Jewish leaders(PY) said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”(PZ)

11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’

12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning(QA) or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders(QB) that it was Jesus who had made him well.

The Authority of the Son

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father(QC) is always at his work(QD) to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him;(QE) not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.(QF)

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;(QG) he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son(QH) and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these,(QI) so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,(QJ) even so the Son gives life(QK) to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,(QL) 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.(QM)

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me(QN) has eternal life(QO) and will not be judged(QP) but has crossed over from death to life.(QQ) 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come(QR) when the dead will hear(QS) the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life(QT) in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge(QU) because he is the Son of Man.

28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming(QV) when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.(QW) 30 By myself I can do nothing;(QX) I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just,(QY) for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.(QZ)

Testimonies About Jesus

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.(RA) 32 There is another who testifies in my favor,(RB) and I know that his testimony about me is true.

33 “You have sent to John and he has testified(RC) to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony;(RD) but I mention it that you may be saved.(RE) 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light,(RF) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John.(RG) For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing(RH)—testify that the Father has sent me.(RI) 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.(RJ) You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,(RK) 38 nor does his word dwell in you,(RL) for you do not believe(RM) the one he sent.(RN) 39 You study[am] the Scriptures(RO) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.(RP) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,(RQ) 40 yet you refuse to come to me(RR) to have life.

41 “I do not accept glory from human beings,(RS) 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God[an]?(RT)

45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses,(RU) on whom your hopes are set.(RV) 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.(RW) 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”(RX)

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