He came to the things that were His own, and His own people gave Him no welcome.

who were begotten as such not by human descent, nor through an impulse of their own nature, nor through the will of a human father, but from God.

And the Word came in the flesh, and lived for a time in our midst, so that we saw His glory--the glory as of the Father's only Son, sent from His presence. He was full of grace and truth.

"What then?" they inquired; "are you Elijah?" "I am not," he said. "Are you the Prophet?" "No," he answered.

So they pressed the question. "Who are you?" they said--"that we may take an answer to those who sent us. What account do you give of yourself?"

They were Pharisees who had been sent.

Again they questioned him. "Why then do you baptize," they said, "if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?"

"I baptize in water only," John answered, "but in your midst stands One whom you do not know--

This conversation took place at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Then Jesus turned round, and seeing them following He asked them, "What is your wish?" "Rabbi," they replied--'Rabbi' means 'Teacher' --"where are you staying?"

"Come and you shall see," He said. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they remained and spent that day with Him. It was then about ten o'clock in the morning.

He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon, son of John: you shall be called Cephas" --that is to say, Peter (or 'Rock')

"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. "Before Philip called you," said Jesus, "when you were under the fig-tree I saw you."

"Rabbi," cried Nathanael, "you are the Son of God, you are Israel's King!"

Now there were six stone jars standing there (in accordance with the Jewish regulations for purification)

So they carried some to him. And no sooner had the President tasted the water now turned into wine, than--not knowing where it came from, though the attendants who had drawn the water knew--he called to the bridegroom

So the Jews asked Him, "What proof of your authority do you exhibit to us, seeing that you do these things?"

He came to Jesus by night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher from God; for no one can do these miracles which you are doing, unless God is with him.

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So is it with every one who has been born of the Spirit."

"Are you," replied Jesus, "'the Teacher of Israel,' and yet do you not understand these things?

In most solemn truth I tell you that we speak what we know, and give testimony of that of which we were eye-witnesses, and yet you all reject our testimony.

And this is the test by which men are judged--the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than they loved the Light, because their deeds were wicked.

And John too was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there were many pools of water there; and people came and received baptism.

they came to John and reported to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you on the other side of the Jordan and to whom you bore testimony is now baptizing, and great numbers of people are resorting to him."

for His disciples were gone to the town to buy provisions.

"Sir," she said, "you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; so where can you get the living water from?

Are you greater than our forefather Jacob, who gave us the well, and himself drank from it, as did also his sons and his cattle?"

"Go and call your husband," said Jesus; "and come back."

"for you have had five husbands, and the man you have at present is not your husband. You have spoken the truth in saying that."

"Sir," replied the woman, "I see that you are a Prophet.

Our forefathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem."

Just then His disciples came, and were surprised to find Him talking with a woman. Yet not one of them asked Him, "What is your wish?" or "Why are you talking with her?"

Meanwhile the disciples were urging Jesus. "Rabbi," they said, "eat something."

Do you not say, 'It wants four months yet to the harvest'? But look round, I tell you, and observe these plains-- they are already ripe for the sickle.

I sent you to reap a harvest which is not the result of your own labours. Others have laboured, and you are getting benefit from their labours."

and they said to the woman, "We no longer believe in Him simply because of your statements; for we have now heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world."

So He came once more to Cana in Galilee, where He had made the water into wine. Now there was a certain officer of the King's court whose son was ill at Capernaum.

"You may return home," replied Jesus; "your son has recovered." He believed the words of Jesus, and started back home;

Then the father recollected that that was the time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son has recovered," and he and his whole household became believers.

In these there used to lie a great number of sick persons, and of people who were blind or lame or paralyzed.

"Rise," said Jesus, "take up your mat and walk."

That day was a Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, "It is the Sabbath: you must not carry your mat."

"He who cured me," he replied, "said to me, 'Take up your mat and walk.'"

"Who is it," they asked, "that said to you, 'Take up your mat and walk'?"

Afterwards Jesus found him in the Temple and said to him, "You are now restored to health. Do not sin any more, or a worse thing may befall you."

On this account then the Jews were all the more eager to put Him to death--because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also spoke of God as being in a special sense His Father, thus putting Himself on a level with God.

Wonder not at this. For a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice and will come forth--

He was the lamp that burned and shone, and for a time you were willing to be gladdened by his light.

And the Father who sent me, *He* has given testimony concerning me. None of you have ever either heard His voice or seen what He is like.

and yet you are unwilling to come to me that you may have Life.

but I know you well, and I know that in your hearts you do not really love God.

"Do not suppose that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, namely Moses, on whom your hope rests.

But if you disbelieve his writings, how are you to believe my words?"

And when He looked round and saw an immense crowd coming towards Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for all these people to eat?"

Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were resting on the ground; and also the fish in like manner--as much as they desired.

When all were fully satisfied, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the broken portions that remain over, so that nothing be lost."

Perceiving, however, that they were about to come and carry Him off by force to make Him a king, Jesus withdrew again up the hill alone by Himself.

When, however, they had rowed three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the water and coming near the boat.

They were terrified; but He called to them. "It is I," He said, "do not be afraid."

Then they were willing to take Him on board; and in a moment the boat reached the shore at the point to which they were going.

Next morning the crowd who were still standing about on the other side of the Lake found that there had been but one small boat there, and they had seen that Jesus did not go on board with His disciples, but that His disciples went away without Him.

Yet a number of small boats came from Tiberias to the neighbourhood of the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

When however the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they themselves also took boats and came to Capernaum to look for Jesus.

"In most solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that you are searching for me not because you have seen miracles, but because you ate the loaves and had a hearty meal.

Bestow your pains not on the food which perishes, but on the food that remains unto the Life of the Ages--that food which will be the Son of Man's gift to you; for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."

"What are we to do," they asked, "in order to carry out the things that God requires?"

Our forefathers ate the manna in the Desert, as it is written, 'He gave them bread out of Heaven to eat'."

Your forefathers ate the manna in the Desert, and they died.

This is the bread which came down out of Heaven; it is unlike that which your forefathers ate--for they ate and yet died. He who eats this bread shall live for ever."

But, knowing in Himself that His disciples were dissatisfied about it, Jesus asked them,

"Does this seem incredible to you? What then if you were to see the Son of Man ascending again where He was before?

It is the spirit which gives Life. The flesh confers no benefit whatever. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and are Life.

But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.

"Master," replied Simon Peter, "to whom shall we go? Your teachings tell us of the Life of the Ages.

And we have come to believe and know that *you* are indeed the Holy One of God."

After this Jesus moved from place to place in Galilee. He would not go about in Judaea, because the Jews were seeking an opportunity to kill Him.

So His brothers said to Him, "Leave these parts and go into Judaea, that not only we but your disciples also may witness the miracles which you perform.

For no one acts in secret, desiring all the while to be himself known publicly. Since you are doing these things, show yourself openly to the world."

For even His brothers were not believers in Him.

When however His brothers had gone up to the Festival, then He also went up, not openly, but as it were privately.

Meanwhile the Jews at the Festival were looking for Him and were inquiring, "Where is he?"

The Jews were astonished. "How does this man know anything of books," they said, "although he has never been at any of the schools?"

If any one is willing to do His will, he shall know about the teaching, whether it is from God or originates with me.

"You are possessed by a demon," replied the crowd; "no one wants to kill you."

"One deed I have done," replied Jesus, "and you are all full of wonder.

Consider therefore. Moses gave you the rite of circumcision (not that it began with Moses, but with your earlier forefathers)

If a child is circumcised even on a Sabbath day, are you bitter against me because I have restored a man to perfect health on a Sabbath day?

Do not form superficial judgements, but form the judgements that are just."

Some however of the people of Jerusalem said, "Is not this the man they are wanting to kill?

And yet we know this man, and we know where he is from; but as for the Christ, when He comes, no one can tell where He is from."

Jesus therefore, while teaching in the Temple, cried aloud, and said, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. And yet I have not come of my own accord; but there is One who has sent me, an Authority indeed, of whom you have no knowledge.

You will look for me and will not find me, and where I am you cannot come."

The Jews therefore said to one another, "Where is he about to betake himself, so that we shall not find him? Will he betake himself to the Dispersion among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?

What do those words of his mean, 'You will look for me, but will not find me, and where I am you cannot come'?"

He referred to the Spirit which those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not bestowed as yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

"Are *you* deluded too?" replied the Pharisees;

"has any one of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?

But this rabble who understand nothing about the Law are accursed!"

"Does our Law," he asked, "judge a man without first hearing what he has to say and ascertaining what his conduct is?"

They listened to Him, and then, beginning with the eldest, took their departure, one by one, till all were gone. And Jesus was left behind alone--and the woman in the centre of the court.