New Testament Plan

¹But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

²Early in the morning He came back into the temple [court], and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began teaching them.

³Now the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They made her stand in the center of the court,

⁴and they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of adultery.

⁵Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women [to death]. So what do You say [to do with her—what is Your sentence]?"

⁶They said this to test Him, hoping that they would have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and began writing on the ground with His finger.

⁷However, when they persisted in questioning Him, He straightened up and said, "He who is without [any] sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

⁸Then He stooped down again and started writing on the ground.

⁹They listened [to His reply], and they began to go out one by one, starting with the oldest ones, until He was left alone, with the woman [standing there before Him] in the center of the court.

¹⁰Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?"

¹¹She answered, "No one, Lord!" And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more."]

¹²Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, " I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

¹³Then the Pharisees told Him, "You are testifying on Your own behalf; Your testimony is not valid."

¹⁴Jesus replied, "Even if I do testify on My own behalf, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.

¹⁵You judge according to human standards [just by what you see]. I do not judge anyone.

¹⁶But even if I do judge, My judgment is true and My decision is right; for I am not alone [in making it], but I and the Father who sent Me [make the same judgment].

¹⁷Even in your own law it is written that the testimony of two persons is true [valid and admissible].

¹⁸I am One [of the Two] who testifies about Myself, and My Father who sent Me testifies about Me."

¹⁹Then the Pharisees said to Him, "Where is this Father of Yours?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also."

²⁰Jesus said these things in the treasury, as He taught in the temple [courtyard]; and no one seized Him, because His time had not yet come.

²¹Then He said again to them, "I am going away, and you will look for Me, and you will die [unforgiven and condemned] in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come."

²²So the Jews were asking [among themselves], "Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?"

²³He said to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.

²⁴That is why I told you that you will die [unforgiven and condemned] in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am the One [I claim to be], you will die in your sins."

²⁵So they said to Him, "Who are You [anyway]?" Jesus replied, "What have I been saying to you from the beginning?

²⁶I have many things to say and judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I say to the world [only] the things that I have heard from Him."

²⁷They did not realize [or have the spiritual insight to understand] that He was speaking to them about the Father.

²⁸So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man [on the cross], you will know then [without any doubt] that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own authority, but I say these things just as My Father taught Me.

²⁹And He who sent Me is [always] with Me; He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him."

³⁰As He said these things, many believed in Him.

³¹So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.

³²And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin]."

³³They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone. What do You mean by saying, 'You will be set free'?"

³⁴Jesus answered, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, everyone who practices sin habitually is a slave of sin.

³⁵Now the slave does not remain in a household forever; the son [of the master] does remain forever.

³⁶So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.

³⁷I know that you are Abraham's descendants; yet you plan to kill Me, because My word has no place [to grow] in you [and it makes no change in your heart].

³⁸I tell the things that I have seen at My Father's side [in His very presence]; so you also do the things that you heard from your father."

³⁹They answered, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you are [truly] Abraham's children, then do the works of Abraham and follow his example.

⁴⁰But as it is, you want to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. This is not the way Abraham acted.

⁴¹You are doing the works of your [own] father." They said to Him, "We are not illegitimate children; we have one [spiritual] Father: God."

⁴²Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father [but He is not], you would love and recognize Me, for I came from God [out of His very presence] and have arrived here. For I have not even come on My own initiative [as self-appointed], but He [is the One who] sent Me.

⁴³Why do you misunderstand what I am saying? It is because [your spiritual ears are deaf and] you are unable to hear [the truth of] My word.

⁴⁴You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks what it natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths.

⁴⁵But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me [and continue in your unbelief].

⁴⁶Which one of you [has proof and] convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?

⁴⁷Whoever is of God and belongs to Him hears [the truth of] God's words; for this reason you do not hear them: because you are not of God and you are not in fellowship with Him."

⁴⁸The Jews answered Him, "Are we not right when we say You are a Samaritan and [that You] have a demon [and are under its power]?"

⁴⁹Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon. On the contrary, I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.

⁵⁰However, I am not seeking glory for Myself. There is One who seeks [glory for Me] and judges [those who dishonor Me].

⁵¹I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if anyone keeps My word [by living in accordance with My message] he will indeed never, ever see and experience death."

⁵²The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon [and are under its power]. Abraham died, and also the prophets; yet You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he will never, ever taste of death.'

⁵³Are You greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too! Whom do You make Yourself out to be?"

⁵⁴Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is [worth] nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'

⁵⁵Yet you do not know Him, but I know Him fully. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him and keep His word.

⁵⁶Your father Abraham [greatly] rejoiced to see My day (My incarnation). He saw it and was delighted."

⁵⁷Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not even fifty years old, and You [claim to] have seen Abraham?"

⁵⁸Jesus replied, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, before Abraham was born, I Am."

⁵⁹So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus concealed Himself and left the temple.

¹While He was passing by, He noticed a man [who had been] blind from birth.

²His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi (Teacher), who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?"

³Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed and illustrated in him.

⁴We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.

⁵As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world [giving guidance through My word and works]."

⁶When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made mud with His saliva, and He spread the mud [like an ointment] on the man's eyes.

⁷And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.

⁸So the neighbors, and those who used to know him as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?"

⁹Some said, "It is he." Still others said, "No, but he looks like him." But he kept saying, "I am the man."

¹⁰So they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?"

¹¹He replied, "The Man called Jesus made mud and smeared it on my eyes and told me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received my sight!"

¹²They asked him, "Where is He?" He said, "I do not know."

¹³Then they brought the man who was formerly blind to the Pharisees.

¹⁴Now it was on a Sabbath day that Jesus made the mud and opened the man's eyes.

¹⁵So the Pharisees asked him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, "He smeared mud on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see."

¹⁶Then some of the Pharisees said, "This Man [Jesus] is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner (a non-observant Jew) do such signs and miracles?" So there was a difference of opinion among them.

¹⁷Accordingly they said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?" And he said, "[It must be that] He is a prophet!"

¹⁸However, the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the man's parents.

¹⁹They asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?"

²⁰His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;

²¹but as to how he now sees, we do not know; or who has opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him [and stop asking us]; he is of age, he will speak for himself and give his own account of it."

²²His parents said this because they were afraid of [the leaders of] the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged Jesus to be the Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue (excommunicated).

²³Because of this his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

²⁴So a second time they called the man who had been [born] blind, and said to him, "Give God glory and praise [for your sight]! We know this Man [Jesus] is a sinner [separated from God]."

²⁵Then he answered, "I do not know whether He is a sinner [separated from God]; but one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."

²⁶So they said to him, "What did He [actually] do to you? How did He open your eyes?"

²⁷He answered, "I already told you and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again and again? Do you want to become His disciples, too?"

²⁸And [at that remark] they stormed at him and jeered, "You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses!

²⁹We know [for certain] that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this Man, we do not know where He is from."

³⁰The man replied, "Well, this is astonishing! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes!

³¹We know [according to your tradition] that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone fears God and does His will, He hears him.

³²Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.

³³If this Man were not from God, He would not be able to do anything [like this because God would not hear His prayer]."

³⁴They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins [from head to foot], and you [presume to] teach us?" Then they threw him out [of the synagogue].

³⁵Jesus heard that they had put him out [of the synagogue], and finding him, He asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

³⁶He answered, "Who is He, Sir? Tell me so that I may believe in Him."

³⁷Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him, and [in fact] He is the one who is talking with you."

³⁸And he said, "Lord, I believe [in You and Your word]!" And he worshiped Him [with reverence and awe].

³⁹Then Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment [to separate those who believe in Me from those who reject Me—to declare judgment on those who choose to be separated from God], so that the sightless would see, and those who see would become blind."

⁴⁰Some Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, "Are we also blind?"

⁴¹Jesus said to them, "If you were blind [to spiritual things], you would have no sin [and would not be blamed for your unbelief]; but since you claim to have [spiritual] sight, [you have no excuse so] your sin and guilt remain.

¹"I assure you and most 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.

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

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

⁴When he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice and recognize his call.

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

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

⁷So Jesus said again, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am the Door for the sheep [leading to life].

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

⁹I 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).

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

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

¹²But 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 scatters them.

¹³The man runs because he is a hired hand [who serves only for wages] and is not concerned about the [safety of the] sheep.

¹⁴I 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]—

¹⁵even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My [very own] life [sacrificing it] for the benefit of the sheep.

¹⁶I have other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voice and pay attention to My call, and they will become one flock with one Shepherd.

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

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

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

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

²¹Others were saying, "These are not the words and thoughts of one possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

²²At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem.

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

²⁴So 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 plainly and openly."

²⁵Jesus 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].

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

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

²⁸And 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 given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

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

³¹Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him.

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

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

³⁴Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods [human judges representing God, not divine beings]'?

³⁵If He called them gods, men to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be undone or annulled or broken),

³⁶[if that is true] then do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and set apart for Himself and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?

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

³⁸But if I am doing them, even if you do not believe Me or have 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]."

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

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

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

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