“As for all these things which you see, the time will come when there will not be one stone left on another that will not be torn down.”

They asked Him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to happen?”

When you hear of wars and disturbances [civil unrest, revolts, uprisings], do not panic; for these things must take place first, but the end will not come immediately.”

“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake.

This will be a time and an opportunity for you to testify [about Me].

Woe to those women who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For great trouble and anguish will be on the land, and wrath and retribution on this people [Israel].

I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [those living at that definite period of time preceding the second coming] will not pass away until everything takes place.

“But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap;

So he consented, and began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus to them [at a time when He was] separated from the crowd [because the people might riot or stop them from seizing Him].

He said to them, “I have earnestly wanted to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;

And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant [ratified] in My blood.

And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this.

But it is not to be this way with you; on the contrary, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest [and least privileged], and the [one who is the] leader, like the servant.

Jesus said, “I say to you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will [utterly] deny three times that you know Me.”

For I tell you that this [Scripture] which is written must be completed and fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was counted with the criminals’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment [and is settled].”

saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.”

Day after day when I was with you in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power and authority of darkness are yours.”

And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.”

After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, “This man was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.”

But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

They began to accuse Jesus, asserting, “We found this Man misleading and perverting our nation and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and claiming that He Himself is Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), a King.”

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this Man.”

But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people [to rebel], teaching throughout Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as here [in Jerusalem].”

When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.

Now that very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other—before this they had been enemies.

and said to them, “You brought this man before me as one who corrupts and incites the people to rebellion. After examining Him before you, I have found no guilt in this Man regarding the charges which you make against Him.

But they [loudly] shouted out all together, saying, “Away with this Man, and release Barabbas to us!”

Now there was also an inscription above Him: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

We are suffering justly, because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”

Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he began praising and honoring God, saying, “Certainly this Man was innocent.”

All the crowds who had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had happened, began to return [to their homes], beating their breasts [as a sign of mourning or repentance].

this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

While they were perplexed and wondering about this, suddenly, two men in dazzling clothing stood near them;

Then Jesus asked them, “What are you discussing with one another as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking brokenhearted.

But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel and set our nation free. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.

While they were talking about this, Jesus Himself [suddenly] stood among them and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

After saying this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

Then He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you, everything which has been written about Me in the Law of Moses and the [writings of the] Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

This man came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe [in Christ, the Light] through him.

John testified [repeatedly] about Him and has cried out [testifying officially for the record, with validity and relevance], “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I and has priority over me, for He existed before me.’”

This is the testimony of John [the Baptist] when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I and has priority over me, for He existed before me.’

I myself have [actually] seen [that happen], and my testimony is that this is the Son of God!”

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

Jesus replied, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe [in Me]? You will see greater things than this.”

This, the first of His signs (attesting miracles), Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory [displaying His deity and His great power openly], and His disciples believed [confidently] in Him [as the Messiah—they adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Him].

Then the Jews retorted, “What sign (attesting miracle) can You show us as [proof of] your authority for doing these things?”

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Then the Jews replied, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and You will raise it up in three days?”

So when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered what He had said. And they believed and trusted in and relied on the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be possible?”

This is the judgment [that is, the cause for indictment, the test by which people are judged, the basis for the sentence]: the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

After these things Jesus and His disciples went into the land of Judea, and there He spent time with them and baptized.

He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this pleasure and joy of mine is now complete.

Whoever receives His testimony has set his seal [of approval] to this: God is true [and he knows that God cannot lie].

Jesus answered her, “If you knew [about] God’s gift [of eternal life], and who it is who says, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him [instead], and He would have given you living water (eternal life).”

Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and who used to drink from it himself, and his sons and his cattle also?”

Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.

The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not get thirsty nor [have to continually] come all the way here to draw.”

At this, Jesus said, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

for you have had five husbands, and the man you are now living with is not your husband. You have said this truthfully.”

Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one ought to worship is in Jerusalem [at the temple].”

Jesus replied, “Woman, believe Me, a time is coming [when God’s kingdom comes] when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

“Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done! Can this be the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)?”

For in this case the saying is true, ‘One [person] sows and another reaps.’

This is the second sign (attesting miracle) that Jesus performed [in Cana] after He had come from Judea to Galilee [revealing that He is the Messiah].

Now in Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew (Jewish Aramaic) Bethesda, having five porticoes (alcoves, colonnades).

For this reason the Jews began to persecute Jesus continually because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

This made the Jews more determined than ever to kill Him, for not only was He breaking the Sabbath [from their viewpoint], but He was also calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

Do not be surprised at this; for a time is coming when all those who are in the tombs will hear His voice,

After this, Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Sea of Tiberias).

But He said this to test Philip, because He knew what He was about to do.

When the people saw the sign (attesting miracle) that He had done, they began saying, “This is without a doubt the promised Prophet who is to come into the world!”

Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.”

Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but that I [give new life and] raise it up at the last day.

For this is My Father’s will and purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him [as Savior] will have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.”

They kept saying, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now [have the arrogance to] say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?”

This is the Bread that comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.

I am the Living Bread that came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior], he will live forever. And the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh (body).”

This is the Bread which came down out of heaven. It is not like [the manna that] our fathers ate and they [eventually] died; the one who eats this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] will live forever.”

When many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This is a difficult and harsh and offensive statement. Who can [be expected to] listen to it?”

But Jesus, aware that His disciples were complaining about it, asked them, “Does this cause you to stumble and take offense?

And He was saying, “This is the reason why I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him [that is, unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.”

As a result of this many of His disciples abandoned Him, and no longer walked with Him.

After this, Jesus walked [from place to place] in Galilee, for He would not walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.

So His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples [there] may also see the works that You do.

No one does anything in secret when he wants to be known publicly. If You [must] do these things, show Yourself openly to the world and make Yourself known!”

Then the Jews were perplexed. They said, “How did this man become learned [so versed in the Scriptures and theology] without formal training?”

Then some of the people of Jerusalem said, “Is this not the Man they want to kill?

Look, He is speaking publicly, and they say nothing to Him! Is it possible that the rulers really know that this is the Christ?

But we know where this Man is from; whenever the Christ comes, no one will know where He is from.”

But many from the crowd believed in Him. And they kept saying, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs and exhibit more proofs than this Man?”

Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does this Man intend to go that we will not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion [of Jews scattered and living] among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?

What does this statement of His mean, ‘You will look for Me, and will not [be able to] find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”

Listening to these words, some of the people said, “This is certainly the Prophet!”

Others said, “This is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)!” But others said, “Surely the Christ is not going to come out of Galilee, is He?

The guards replied, “Never [at any time] has a man talked the way this Man talks!”