The Gospel of John for Readers Part 3

Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given me, be with me where I am. May they behold my glory, which Thou hast given me for Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee. But I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them Thy Name, and will declare it that the love wherewith Thou hast loved me may be in them and I in them.

18. When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron where He entered into a garden with His disciples. Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with His disciples. Judas then, having been given a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am He. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon as Jesus said I am He, they were stunned.

Then He asked them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am He. If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way. This He said so that the saying might be fulfilled, which He spoke, Of them which Thou gavest me I have lost none.

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Jesus immediately said to Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath. The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, bound Him, and took Him to Annas first, for he was father in law to Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple who was known to the high priest and who went into the palace of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood outisde the door. Then the other disciple came out, spoke unto her that kept the door, and brought Peter inside. She, who kept the door saith unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. He stood by the fire along with both officers and servants who were warming themselves in the cold night.

The high priest then asked Jesus of His disciples, and of His doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world. I taught in the synagogue, and in the temple whither the Jews always resort. In secret I have said nothing. Why askest thou me? Ask them which heard me what I have said unto them? Behold, they know what I said. When He had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Why answerest Thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil. But if well, why smitest thou me? Then Annas had Him sent bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

As Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. they said unto him, Art not thou also one of His disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with Him? Peter then denied again. Immediately the c.o.c.k crowed.

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment. It was early and they themselves went not into the judgment hall lest they should be defiled and might not eat the pa.s.sover. Pilate then went out unto them and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If He were not a malefactor we would not have delivered Him up unto thee. Then Pilate said unto them, Take Him and judge Him according to your law. The Jews said to him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. This accorded with the saying of Jesus when He spoke of what death He should die.

Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto Him, Art Thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee unto me. What hast Thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so I would not be delivered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto Him, Art Thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto Him, What is truth? After he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith to them, I find in Him no fault at all. But ye have a custom that I should release someone unto you at the pa.s.sover. Will ye, therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

19. Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him scourged. The soldiers platted a crown of thorns and put it on His head. And they put on Him a purple robe and said, Hail, King of the Jews! They smote Him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith, Behold, I bring Him forth to you that ye may know that I find no fault in Him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

When the chief priests and officers saw Him they cried out, Crucify Him. Crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye Him and crucify Him but I find no fault in Him. The Jews answered him, We have a law and, by our law, He ought to die because He made Himself the Son of G.o.d. When Pilate heard that saying he was the more afraid. He went again into the judgment hall and saith unto Jesus, Whence art Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto Him, Speakest Thou not unto me? Knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee or release Thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above. Therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. Thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go thou art not Caesar's friend. Whoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying he brought Jesus forth and sat down in the judgment seat in a place called the Pavement, and in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was the preparation of the pa.s.sover and about the sixth hour. He saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with Him. Away with Him. Crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then he delivered Him unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led Him away.

Bearing His cross He went forth into a place called the place of a skull, in the Hebrew, Golgotha. Here they crucified Him and two others. One on either side and Jesus in the midst. Pilate wrote a t.i.tle and put it on the cross. The writing was, 'Jesus of Nazareth The King Of The Jews'. This t.i.tle was then read by many of the Jews for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city and the t.i.tle written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not The King of the Jews but write that He said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

When they had put Jesus upon the cross the soldiers took His garments and made four parts. Each soldier took a part. But His coat was without seam and woven from the top throughout. They said to eachother, Let us not rend it but cast lots for whose it shall be. Thus the scripture was fulfilled which saith, They parted my raiment among them and for my vesture they did cast lots.

There stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, and so that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar. They filled a sponge and put it upon hyssop and put it to His mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He bowed His head and said, It is finished.

During the preparation for the sabbath, a high day, it was not fit that the bodies should remain upon the cross. The Jews besought Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers who broke the legs of the first and then of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they broke not His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear and from His side came blood and water. He that saw it bore record, and his record is true. He knoweth that he saith truth that ye might believe. These things were done that this scripture should be fulfilled: A bone of Him shall not be broken. And another scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced.

After this, Joseph of Arimathaea, who, for fear of the Jews, was a secret disciple of Jesus, besought Pilate that he might take Jesus' body. Pilate gave him leave. With him came Nicodemus, who at the first came to Jesus by night. He brought a mixture of about a hundred pounds worth of myrrh and aloes. They took the body of Jesus, wound it in linen clothes, and prepared it with the spices as the custom was of the Jews for burial. In the place where He was crucified there was a garden. And in the garden was a new sepulchre wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus.

20. On the first day of the week, when it was yet dark, Mary Magdalene came early unto the sepulchre. She saw that the stone had been taken away from the entrance. Then she ran and met Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. She saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre and we know not where they have laid Him. Peter and the other disciple, therefore, started toward the sepulchre. They began running together. But the other disciple, having outrun Peter, arrived at the entrance first. Stooping down and looking in, he saw the linen clothes lying there but he did not go in.

Then came Simon Peter who went into the sepulchre, seeth the linen clothes and the napkin that was about His head. The napkin was not lying with the linen clothes, but was folded separately and in a place by itself. Then the other disciple went in also, and he saw, and believed. As yet they knew not the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. The disciples then returned to their own home.

But Mary stood outside at the entrance weeping. As she wept, she stooped down, looked into the sepulchre, and saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain. They said to her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid Him. After she had thus said, she turned and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir, if Thou have borne Him hence, tell me where Thou hast laid Him and I will take Him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned and saith unto Him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my G.o.d, and your G.o.d.

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were a.s.sembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when He had so said, He shewed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. When He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose sins ye retain, they are retained.

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe. Eight days pa.s.sed and His disciples were within and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith He to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side. Now be not faithless but believing. Thomas answered and said unto Him, my Lord and my G.o.d. Jesus saith, Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed.

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book. But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of G.o.d; and, that believing, ye might have life through His Name.

21. After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples. It was at the sea of Tiberias. Gathered together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fis.h.i.+ng. They say to him, We also go with thee. They went forth and immediately got into a fis.h.i.+ng boat. That night they caught nothing.

When the morning came, Jesus stood on the sh.o.r.e. The disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye anything? They answered Him, No. And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat and ye shall find some. They, therefore, cast the net. Now they were not able to draw it up for the mult.i.tude of fishes in the net. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he drew up his fisher's coat around him and cast himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat dragging the net with the fishes. They were only about two hundred cubits from the sh.o.r.e. As soon as they reached the sh.o.r.e, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish already laid thereon. And there was also bread. Jesus saith to them, Bring the fish which ye have caught. Simon Peter went over and drew in the net. It was full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty three. Yet, even though there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. None of the disciples durst ask Him, Who art Thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came, and served them bread and fish also. This is now the third time that Jesus showed Himself to His disciples.

After they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord. Thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. Then He saith to him a second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord. Thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him yet a third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because He said to him a third time, Lovest thou me? He said unto Him, Lord, Thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love Thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself and walkedst whither thou wouldest. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not go. This spoke He, signifying by what death Peter should glorify G.o.d. When He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow me.

Then Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. This was the disciple who leaned on Jesus breast at supper, and also asked, Lord, who is he that betrayeth thee? Peter, now seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee? You follow me. Then the saying spread among the brethren that that disciple should not die. Yet Jesus said not unto him, he shall not die but, if I will that he tarry till I come what business is that to thee?

This is the disciple who testifieth of these things, and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did which, if they were all told, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

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