But a certain member of the Sanhedrin, [named] Caiaphas, who was head priest that year, said to [the rest of] them, "You do not know what you are talking about.

And you are not taking into consideration that it would be profitable to you for one man to die for the people, so that the entire nation would not be destroyed."

Now he did not say this on his own [i.e., he was not aware of the significance of his words], but since he was head priest that year, he was prophesying [i.e., predicting] that Jesus should die for the nation.

And not just [die] for the [Jewish] nation, but also that He would assemble together into one body the children of God who were scattered [throughout the world].

So, from that day onward, the Jewish authorities began plotting [how] to kill Jesus.

Now the leading priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where Jesus was, he was to report it, so they could arrest Him.

When a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there [in Bethany], they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus whom He had raised from the dead.

On the next day a large crowd that had come [to Jerusalem] for the Passover Festival heard that Jesus [also] was coming to Jerusalem.

His disciples did not understand these things at first, but after Jesus received splendor [in heaven], then they remembered that these things had been written about Him [in Scripture] and that people had done such things to Him.

The crowd of people that was with Jesus [and saw Him] when He called Lazarus out of the grave and raised him from the dead, gave testimony [about all this].

But the crowd that went out to meet Jesus [i.e., as He entered Jerusalem] did so because they had heard about Him performing this [miraculous] sign [i.e., of raising Lazarus].

The crowd that was standing around heard this [i.e., the sound of the Father's voice], but said it was thunder. Others said, "An angel spoke to Him [i.e., Jesus]."

Then the crowd replied to Him, "We have heard from [the writings of] the law of Moses that the Christ will live forever; so how can you say, 'The son of man must be lifted up [i.e., to die]?' Who is this son of man?"

[So], believe in the Light [i.e., Jesus is speaking of Himself] while you [still] have the Light [with you], so that you can become enlightened people." After Jesus said these things, He left there and hid Himself from them.

This was so that these words, which Isaiah the prophet had spoken, would be fulfilled [Isa. 53:1], "Lord, who has believed our message? And who has the Lord's power been shown to?"

I have come into the world to be a light [to it], so that whoever believes in me would not have to remain in [spiritual] darkness.

The person who rejects me and does not accept my message has One who [will] judge him. The message that I have spoken will judge him on the last day [i.e., the judgment day].

And I know that [obeying] His commandments [leads to] never ending life. So, the things which I say are what the Father has told me [to say]."

Now it was before the Passover Festival [was to begin] and Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. Those [living] in the world, whom He had loved, and who were His own [disciples], He continued to love [dearly] to the very end [i.e., of His life on earth].

Jesus, who knew that the Father had given Him complete authority, [also] knew that He had come from God and was [about] to return to God.

For Jesus knew who would betray Him; that is why He said, "Not every one of you is [spiritually] clean."

You call me 'Teacher,' and 'Lord,' and you are right in doing so because that is who I am.

For I have set an example for you, so that you should do as I have done for you.

"I am not talking about all of you; for I know the ones I have chosen [i.e., which of the twelve apostles would be faithful]. But let the Scripture [Psa. 41:9] be fulfilled [that says], 'The person who eats with me has [viciously] turned against me.'

I am telling you this now, [even] before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe that I am [the Messiah].

For some of them thought, since Judas was in charge of the [money] bag, that Jesus was telling him, "Buy whatever we need for the [Passover] meal," or that he was [being told] to give [money] to poor people [from it].

I am giving you a new commandment: love one another. Also you should love one another in the same way that I have loved you.

If you love one another, then everyone will know by [observing] this that you are my disciples."

And if I go to prepare a place for each of you, I will return to take all you to [be with] me, so that you also will be where I am.

Do you not believe that I am in [fellowship with] the Father, and the Father is in [fellowship with] me? The words which I say to you do not originate with me, but it is the Father, who lives in me, who does His work [in me].

You should believe me [when I say] that I am in [fellowship with] the Father, and the Father is in [fellowship with] me. Or else believe me for the sake of the deeds themselves that I perform.

Truly, truly, I tell you, the person who believes in me will perform the deeds that I do also; and he will perform even greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father. [Note: The "greater deeds" are probably evangelizing the world].

And I will do [for you] whatever you ask in my name [i.e., by my authority], so that the Father may be honored through the Son.

When that day comes [i.e., after His ascension ?], you will know that I am in [fellowship with] the Father, and that you are in [fellowship with] me, and that I am in you [i.e., through the Holy Spirit].

[Then] Judas (not the betrayer) [Note: This was the son of James, See Luke 6:16. He is also called Thaddaeus, See Matt. 10:3], said to Jesus, "Lord, what has happened [i.e., to your original plans to be seen by everyone when you came. See Luke 21:27], that you will reveal yourself to us apostles [only] and not to the [whole] world?"

But the Helper, that is, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name [i.e., by my authority] will teach you everything. And He will remind you of everything that I [have] said to you.

You heard me say to you, 'I am going away and I am returning to you.' If you [really] loved me, you would have been happy that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.

Now I have told you this, even before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe [in me].

But, in order for the world to know that I love the Father, I am [always] doing what the Father commands me to. Let us get up, and leave here." [i.e., leave the room where they had eaten the Passover meal. See 13:1 with 18:1].

He will cut off [See verse 6] every branch [i.e., follower of Christ] who is in [fellowship with] me that does not bear fruit. And He will prune every branch that does bear fruit, so it will bear more fruit.

My Father is honored by your bearing much fruit and [thus] showing that you are my disciples.

I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in your hearts, and that your joy may be complete.

I do not call you slaves anymore, for a slave does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have told you everything that I heard from my Father.

You [apostles] did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you to go and bear much fruit [i.e., through their evangelizing], and that your fruit should last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask Him for in my name [i.e. by my authority].

I command you to do these things so that you will [demonstrate your] love for one another. [Note: Or this may mean that His command was to love one another, as in verse 12].

"If the world hates you, then know that it has [already] hated me, [even] before it hated you.

If you belonged to the world, the world would love [you as] its own people. But since you do not belong to the world, for I chose you out of it, that is why the world hates you.

They would not be guilty of sinning if I had not come and spoken to them. But now [that I have], they have no excuse for their sin.

"But the Helper will come, that is, the Holy Spirit of truth [i.e., who reveals truth]. He comes from the Father and I will send Him to you from the Father. [When He comes] He will give testimony about me.

[Jesus continued], "I have told you these things so that you men would not fall away [i.e., from the faith].

But I have told you these things so that, when the time comes [for people to do such things], you will remember that I had warned you. I did not tell you them at the beginning [of my ministry] because I was with you [i.e., to protect you from persecution].

And now that I have told you these things, your hearts are full of grief.

And when He does come, He will bring conviction to the world regarding sin [i.e., exposing it and producing guilt], regarding what is right [i.e., upholding godly standards], and regarding judgment [i.e., showing that sin condemns].

However, when the Holy Spirit of truth comes, He will lead you [apostles] into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own authority, but will speak [only] what He hears [from the Father]. And He will tell you about the things that are to come.

Everything the Father has belongs to me. Therefore, I said that the Holy Spirit will receive what belongs to me and will declare it to you.

Jesus sensed that the disciples wanted to ask Him a question, so He said to them, "Are you discussing among yourselves my saying 'After a little while [longer] you will not see me. Then, a little while [later] you will see me again'?

At that time [i.e., after my resurrection], you will not be asking me [for] anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, if you will ask the Father for anything [then], in my name [i.e., by my authority], He will give it to you.

Up until now you have not asked for anything in my name. [So now] ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be complete.

At that time you will ask Him [i.e., for things in prayer], in my name; I do not say that I will ask the Father for you,

for the Father Himself loves you [i.e., and will grant your requests without my persuasion], because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

Now we realize that you know everything and do not need anyone to ask you [questions]. This makes us believe that you came from God."

I have said these things to you so that you can have peace in [fellowship with] me. You will have trouble in the world, but cheer up, for I have conquered the world."

After saying these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the time has come; honor your Son so that your Son may honor you.

And this is never ending life; that people may know you [as] the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One whom you have sent.

Now they know that everything you gave me came from you,

because I have given them the message you gave me, and they accepted it. They [also] knew for certain that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

I protected them while I was with them by [the power of] your name which you gave me. [See verse 11]. I guarded them so that not one of them was lost except the "son of destruction" [i.e., Judas]. [This was] so that the Scripture would be fulfilled [Psa. 41:9 ?].

But now I am coming to you, and I am speaking these things [while still] in the world, so that they [i.e., the apostles] may have my joy within them in all its fullness.

I am not praying that you should take them out of the world, but that you should protect them from the evil one [i.e., the devil].

And for their sakes I dedicate myself [to you] so that they themselves also may be truly dedicated [to you].

[I pray] that all of them may be one, just as you, Father, are [one] in [fellowship with] me, and I [am one] in [fellowship with] you, so that they also may be [one] in [fellowship with] us in order that the world may [see it and] believe that you sent me.

And I have given them [i.e., all believers] the honor which you gave me, so that they may be one, just as we are one:

I in them, and you in me, so that they may be completely one. [This is] so the world will know that you sent me and that you love them just as you love me.

Righteous Father, the world does not know you but I know you, and these men know that you sent me.

And I declared your name to them and I will continue to declare it, so that the love you have for me will be in them [also], and that I [will be] in them."

Since Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to Him, He went out and said to them, "Who are you men looking for?"

Jesus said to them, "I [already] told you that I am [He]; so if you are looking for me, let these men [i.e., the apostles] go."

They led Him to Annas first [Note: This man was a former head priest. See Luke 3:2], for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was head priest that year.

Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was profitable for one man to die for the people. [See 11:50].

Simon Peter followed along with another disciple. [Note: Some think this refers to the apostle John himself, but there is no strong evidence in favor of that conclusion]. Now that disciple was [well-] known to the head priest, so was able to enter his courtyard with Jesus

When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing there struck Him [in the face], saying, "Is that any way to talk to the head priest?"

[They said this] so that the words Jesus had spoken would be fulfilled, regarding the kind of death He would die. [Note: Jesus had predicted he would be "lifted up," indicating a Roman crucifixion. See 12:32-33].

So, Pilate said to Him, "Are you a king, then?" Jesus answered, "You are [correct in] calling me a 'king.' This was the [very] purpose for which I was born and came into the world, that I should testify about the truth. Every person who wants [to know and obey] the truth listens to me."

But since you [Jews] have a custom that I should release to you one [prisoner] during the Passover Festival, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"

Now Pilate went outside again and said to the Jewish authorities, "Look, I am bringing him out here to you, so you can know that I do not find him guilty of any crime."

The Jews replied, "We have a law which requires that he ought to die because he claimed to be the Son of God."

Then Pilate said to Him, "Are you not going to speak to me? Do you not know that I have the authority to release you or to crucify you?"

and said to one another, "Let us not tear it [i.e., because of its great value], but gamble to see who gets it." [This was] so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, which said [Psa. 22:18], "They divided my clothing between themselves, and they gambled for my clothing." So, this is what the soldiers did.

Then He said to the disciple, "Look, [here is] your mother!" And from that time onward, this disciple took Jesus' mother to [live in] his own home.

Now Jesus knew that everything had been completed [i.e., relating to His crucifixion], so then He said, in order to fulfill Scripture [Psa. 69:21], "I am thirsty."

Now it was the Day of Preparation [Note: This was the day before the Passover Festival began, and fell on a Friday that year], and the Jews did not permit bodies to remain on a cross over the Sabbath day. (Besides, that Sabbath day was a special day [i.e., since it was both the Passover and the regular weekly Sabbath, as well]). So, they asked Pilate to have Jesus' and the criminals' legs broken [i.e., to speed up their deaths] and then have their bodies taken away.

But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

And the person who saw this happen is giving a true testimony about it. He knows it is true [and is giving it] so that you will believe [it, also].

For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled [Ex. 12:46], "Not a [single] bone of his will be broken."

So, they placed Jesus' body there, for it was the Day of Preparation and that was the closest grave site. [Note: Since this was the day before the Passover Festival, and the next day was also the regular weekly Sabbath, they had to bury the body before sundown to comply with Jewish restrictions against working on a Sabbath day].

Now the cloth that had been around Jesus' head was not lying with the [other] linen cloths, but was rolled up by itself.

But these disciples still did not understand the Scripture that [predicted] Jesus must rise again from the dead.

So, Mary from Magdala went and told the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her. [See Matt. 28:7-10].

So, when it was evening on that day, [which was] the first day of the week [i.e., Sunday] and the doors [of someone's house], where the disciples were gathered, were closed [i.e., probably locked] for fear of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. [Note: Probably Jesus passed through the closed door miraculously]. He said to them, "May there be peace in your hearts."

After saying this, Jesus showed them His hands and His side, so they rejoiced when they saw the Lord [i.e., now convinced that He had indeed risen from the dead].