Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
John » His influence upon the public mind
And people from all over Judea and everybody in Jerusalem kept on going out to him and being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
Now while the people were on tiptoe in their expectations, and they were all arguing in their hearts about John whether he was himself the Christ,
Then Jerusalem and all Judea, even the whole Jordan district, continued to go out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, as one by one they continued to confess their sins.
Although he wanted to have him killed, he was afraid of the people, for they regarded him as a prophet.
For John came to you walking in the way of uprightness, and yet you did not believe him. The tax-collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, even though you saw that, would not change your minds afterward and believe him.
On the other hand, can we say, 'It was from men'?" For they were afraid of the people, because everybody thought that John was really a prophet.
So he used to say to the crowds that continued to come out there to be baptized by him: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to escape from the wrath that is coming?
But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet."
Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he saw Jesus passing by he said, "Look! He is the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and so they followed Jesus. read more.
Now Jesus turned, and as He saw them following Him, He said, "What are you looking for?" They said to Him, "Rabbi," (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they went and saw where He was staying, and they spent the rest of the day with Him; it was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
Now Jesus turned, and as He saw them following Him, He said, "What are you looking for?" They said to Him, "Rabbi," (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they went and saw where He was staying, and they spent the rest of the day with Him; it was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
public Opinion » Feared by » Chief priests, who feared to answer the questions of jesus
On the other hand, can we say, 'It was from men'?" For they were afraid of the people, because everybody thought that John was really a prophet.
Then they were trying to have Him arrested, but they were afraid of the people, for they knew that He aimed this story at them. And so they left Him and went away.
But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the people, for they all consider John a prophet."
Then the high priests and the scribes heard of this, and they kept looking for some way to destroy Him, for they were afraid of Him, for everybody was swept off his feet at what He said.
Temple » Herod the great's temple » Jesus teaches in
Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world; I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews are in the habit of meeting, and I have not spoken anything in secret.
Then again they went into Jerusalem. And while Jesus was walking about in the temple, the high priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him and said to Him, "What sort of authority have you for doing as you do? Or, who gave you the authority to do as you do?" Jesus said to them, "Let me ask you just one question, and if you answer me, I will tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do. read more.
Was John's baptism from heaven or from men? Answer me." Then they argued with one another in this way, "If we say, 'It was from heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' On the other hand, can we say, 'It was from men'?" For they were afraid of the people, because everybody thought that John was really a prophet. So they said to Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus also said to them, "Nor am I going to tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do."
Was John's baptism from heaven or from men? Answer me." Then they argued with one another in this way, "If we say, 'It was from heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' On the other hand, can we say, 'It was from men'?" For they were afraid of the people, because everybody thought that John was really a prophet. So they said to Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus also said to them, "Nor am I going to tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do."
While He was teaching in the temple, He answered them and said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, said: 'The Lord has said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand Until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet."' David himself called him Lord, so how can He be his son?" Most of the people liked to hear Him. read more.
And in His teaching He continued to say: "Beware of the scribes who like to go about in long robes, to be saluted with honor in public places, to be seated in the front seats in the synagogues, to occupy the places of honor at banquets -- men who eat up widows' houses and to cover it up make long prayers. They will get a much heavier sentence!" Then He sat down in front of the collection-box and was watching the people as they dropped their money into it. And many rich people were dropping in large sums. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two little copper coins, which make scarcely a cent. And He called His disciples to Him and said, "I solemnly say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all these others who have been putting money into the collection-box. For all of them put in out of their surplus, but she in her want put in all she had, yes, all she had to live on."
And in His teaching He continued to say: "Beware of the scribes who like to go about in long robes, to be saluted with honor in public places, to be seated in the front seats in the synagogues, to occupy the places of honor at banquets -- men who eat up widows' houses and to cover it up make long prayers. They will get a much heavier sentence!" Then He sat down in front of the collection-box and was watching the people as they dropped their money into it. And many rich people were dropping in large sums. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two little copper coins, which make scarcely a cent. And He called His disciples to Him and said, "I solemnly say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all these others who have been putting money into the collection-box. For all of them put in out of their surplus, but she in her want put in all she had, yes, all she had to live on."
Day after day I used to be with you teaching in the temple, and you never laid hands on me. But this is so to fulfill the Scriptures."
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple court, and said to him, "See! You are now well. Stop sinning or something worse may befall you." The man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had cured him. This is why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He persisted in doing such things on the Sabbath. read more.
Then He answered them, "My Father is still working, and so am I."
Then He answered them, "My Father is still working, and so am I."
Now when the feast was already half over, Jesus went up to the temple and began to teach. The Jews were dumbfounded and said, "How can this uneducated man know the Scriptures?" Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not my own, but it comes from Him who sent me. read more.
If anyone is willing to keep on doing God's will, he will know whether my teaching comes from God, or merely expresses my own ideas. Whoever utters merely his own ideas is seeking his own honor, but whoever seeks the honor of him who sent him is sincere, and there is no dishonesty in him. Did not Moses give you the law? And yet not one of you is keeping that law. If so, why are you trying to kill me?" The crowd answered, "You are certainly under the power of a demon! Who is trying to kill you?" Jesus answered them, "I have done just one deed, and yet you are all dumbfounded! Then Moses gave you the rite of circumcision -- not that it had its origin with Moses but with your earlier forefathers -- and you circumcise a male child even on the Sabbath. Well, if a male child undergoes circumcision on the Sabbath, to keep the law of Moses from being broken, are you angry with me for making a man perfectly well on the Sabbath? Stop judging superficially; you must judge fairly." Then some of the people of Jerusalem said, "Is not this the man they are trying to kill? Just look! He is talking in public, and yet they do not say a word to Him! It cannot be that the authorities have really learned that He is the Christ, can it? But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, however, no one will know where He is from." So Jesus, as He was teaching in the temple, cried out, "Yes, you do know me and you do know where I come from, and I have not come on my own authority, but the One who has sent me exists as the Real One, whom you do not know.
If anyone is willing to keep on doing God's will, he will know whether my teaching comes from God, or merely expresses my own ideas. Whoever utters merely his own ideas is seeking his own honor, but whoever seeks the honor of him who sent him is sincere, and there is no dishonesty in him. Did not Moses give you the law? And yet not one of you is keeping that law. If so, why are you trying to kill me?" The crowd answered, "You are certainly under the power of a demon! Who is trying to kill you?" Jesus answered them, "I have done just one deed, and yet you are all dumbfounded! Then Moses gave you the rite of circumcision -- not that it had its origin with Moses but with your earlier forefathers -- and you circumcise a male child even on the Sabbath. Well, if a male child undergoes circumcision on the Sabbath, to keep the law of Moses from being broken, are you angry with me for making a man perfectly well on the Sabbath? Stop judging superficially; you must judge fairly." Then some of the people of Jerusalem said, "Is not this the man they are trying to kill? Just look! He is talking in public, and yet they do not say a word to Him! It cannot be that the authorities have really learned that He is the Christ, can it? But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, however, no one will know where He is from." So Jesus, as He was teaching in the temple, cried out, "Yes, you do know me and you do know where I come from, and I have not come on my own authority, but the One who has sent me exists as the Real One, whom you do not know.
and Jesus was walking in Solomon's portico. So the Jews surrounded Him and kept asking Him, "How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are really the Christ, tell us so plainly." Jesus answered them, "I have already told you so, but you do not believe me. The works which I am doing on my Father's authority are my credentials, read more.
but still you do not believe in me, for you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them and they follow me, and I give to them eternal life, and they shall never get lost, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My father who gave them to me is stronger than all, and no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. The Father and I are one." The Jews again picked up stones to stone Him. Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good deeds from my Father. For which of them are you going to stone me?" The Jews retorted, "It is not for a good deed but for blasphemy we are going to stone you; namely, because you, although a mere man, claim to be God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods"'? If men to whom God's message came are called gods -- and the Scriptures cannot be made null and void -- do you now say to me whom my Father has set apart to it and sent into the world, 'You are a blasphemer,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? If I am not doing the things that my Father is doing, do not believe me. But if I am doing so, even if you will not believe me, believe the deeds, that you may come to know and continue to know that the Father is in union with me and I am in union with the Father."
but still you do not believe in me, for you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them and they follow me, and I give to them eternal life, and they shall never get lost, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My father who gave them to me is stronger than all, and no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. The Father and I are one." The Jews again picked up stones to stone Him. Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good deeds from my Father. For which of them are you going to stone me?" The Jews retorted, "It is not for a good deed but for blasphemy we are going to stone you; namely, because you, although a mere man, claim to be God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods"'? If men to whom God's message came are called gods -- and the Scriptures cannot be made null and void -- do you now say to me whom my Father has set apart to it and sent into the world, 'You are a blasphemer,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? If I am not doing the things that my Father is doing, do not believe me. But if I am doing so, even if you will not believe me, believe the deeds, that you may come to know and continue to know that the Father is in union with me and I am in union with the Father."