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

So 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.

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

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

I 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].

But 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.

You 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 is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths.

I 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.”

The 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.’

Jesus 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.’

Yet 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.

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

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

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

They asked him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”

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

So 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.”

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

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

but 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.”

So 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].”

Then 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.”

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

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

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

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

Jesus 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.

When 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.

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

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

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]—

even 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.

No 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.”

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

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

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.

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.

But 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].”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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].

I knew that You always hear Me and listen 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].”

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!

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,

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

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].

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

“Now My soul is troubled and deeply 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].

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

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].

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.”

Now before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that His hour had come [and it was time] for Him to leave this world and return 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).

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,

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

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].”

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

I assure you and most 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.

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

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 eats My bread has raised up his heel against Me [as My enemy].’

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 am He [who I say I am—the Christ, the Anointed, the Messiah].

But no one reclining at the table knew why He said this to him.

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;

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.’

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

By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”

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.”

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

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

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

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.

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

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip, nor recognize clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’

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

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

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

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.]

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

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];

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.

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.

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

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.

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

If you belonged to the world, the world would love [you as] its own and would 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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