God's Truth

Table of Contents

The Gospel of St John

(Part Two)


The 7th Chapter
     After that, Jesus went about into Galile, and would not go about in Jewry for the Jewes sought to kill him. The Jewes tabernacle feast was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him: get you from here, now and go into Jewry that your disciples may see your works that you do. For there is no man that does anything secretly, and he himself seeks to be known. If you do such things, show yourself to the world. For as yet his brethren believed not in him.
     Then Jesus said unto them: My time is not yet come: your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you. Me it hates: because I testify of it, that the works of it are evil. Go you up unto this feast. I will not go up yet unto this feast, for my time is not yet full come. These words he said unto them, and abode still in Galile. But as soon as his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast: not openly but as it were privily. Then sought him the Jewes at the feast, and said: Where is he? And much murmuring was there of him among the people. Some said: He is good. Other said no, but he deceives the people. How be it no man spoke openly of him, for fear of the Jewes.
     In the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jewes marvelled saying: How knows he the scriptures, seeing that he never learned? Jesus answered them, and said: My doctrine is not mine: but his that sent me: If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaks of himself, seeks his own praise. But he that seeks his praise that sent him, the same is true and no unrighteousness is in him.
     Did not Moses give you a law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why go you about to kill me? The people answered and said: you have the devil: who goes about to kill you? Jesus answered and said to them: I have done one work, and you all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision not because it is of Moses: but of the fathers: And yet you on the Saboth day, circumcise a man. If a man on the Saboth day receive circumcision without breaking of the law of Moses: disdain you at me, because I have made a man every whit (smallest part) whole on the Saboth day? Judge not after the utter appearance: but judge righteous judgement.
     Then said some of them of Jerusalem: Is not this he whom they go about to kill? Behold he speaks boldly, and they say nothing to him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is very Christ? How be it we know this man from where he is: but when Christ comes, no man shall know from where he is.
     Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught saying: you know me, and from where I am you know. And yet I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom you know not. I know him: for I am of him, and he has sent me. Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his time was not yet come. Many of the people believed on him and said: when Christ comes, will he do more miracles than this man has done?
     The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things about him. Wherefore the Pharisees and high priests sent ministers forth to take him. Then said Jesus unto them: Yet am I a little while with you, and then go I unto him that sent me. you shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, over there can you not come. Then said the Jewes between themselves: *whither will he go, that we shall not find him? Will he go among the gentiles which are scattered all abroad, and teach the gentiles? What manner of saying is this that he said: you shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, over there can you not come? *whither=what ever place, result, or condition.
     In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying: If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believes on me, as says the scripture out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life. This spoke he of the spirit which they that believed on him, should receive. For the holy ghost was not yet there, because that Jesus was not yet glorified.
     Many of the people, when they heard this saying said: of a truth this is a prophet. Other said, this is Christ: Some said: shall Christ come out of Galilee? Says not the scripture that Christ shall come of the seed of David: and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was? So was there dissension among the people about him. And some of them would have taken him: but no man laid hands on him. Then came the ministers to the high priests and Pharisees. And they said unto them: why have you not brought him? The servants answered: never man spoke as this man does. Then answered them the Pharisees: are you also deceived? does any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believe on him? But the common people which know not the law? are cursed. Nicodemus said unto them: He that came to Jesus by night, and was one of them. does our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he has done? They answered and said unto him: are you also of Galile? Search and look, for out of Galile arises no Prophet. And every man went unto his own house.

The 8th Chapter
     And Jesus went unto mount olivet, and early in the morning came again into the temple and all the people came unto him, and he sat down and taught them. And the Scribes and the Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in *advoutry, and set her in the midst and said unto him: Master, this woman was taken in advoutry, even as the deed was a doing. Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned. What say you therefore? And this they said to tempt him: that they might have, whereof to accuse him. Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. And while they continued asking him, he lifted himself up, and said unto them: let him that is among you without sin, cast the first stone at her. And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. And as soon as they heard that, they went out one by one, the eldest first. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
     When Jesus had lifted up himself again, and saw no man, but the woman, he said unto her: Woman where are those your accusers? Has no man condemned you? She said: No man Lord. And Jesus said: Neither do I condemn you. *advoutry: prefix "a" meaning not or without, devout: devotion; plain hearted to God, being devoted to something or some one else .in this case devoted to the flesh. see James 2 for adultery
     Go, and sin no more.
     Then spoke Jesus again unto them saying: I am the light of the world. He that follows me, shall not walk in darkness: but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees said unto him: You bear record of your self, your record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them: though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know from where I came and *whither I go. But you cannot tell from where I come and *whither I go. you judge after the flesh, I judge no man. And if I judge, my judgement is true. For I am not alone: but I and the father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the father that sent me, bears witness of me. Then said they unto him: where is your father? Jesus answered: you neither know me, nor yet my father. If you had known me, you should have known my father also. These words spoke Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple, and no man laid hands on him, for his time was not yet come. *whither=what ever place, result, or condition.
     Then said Jesus again unto them: I go my way, and you shall seek me, and shall die in your sins. *Whither I go, over there can you not come. Then said the Jewes: will he kill himself, because he says: *whither I go, over there can you not come? And he said unto them: you are from beneath, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that you shall die in your sins. For except you believe that I am he, you shall die in your sins.
     Then said they unto him, who are you? And Jesus said unto them: Even the very same thing that I say unto you. I have many things to say, and to judge of you. you and he that sent me is true. And I speak in the world, those things which I have heard of him. How be it they understood not that he spoke of his father. Then said Jesus unto them: when you have lift up on high the son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself: but as my father has taught me, even so I speak: and he that sent me, is with me. The father has not left me alone, for I do always those things that please him.
     As he spoke these words, many believed on him.
     Then said Jesus to those Jewes which believed on him. If you continue in my words, then are you my very disciples, and shall know the truth: and the truth shall make you free. They answered him: We be Abrahams seed, and were never bond to any man: why say you then, you shall be made free?
     Jesus answered them: Verily, verily I say unto you, that whosoever commits sin, is the servant of sin. And the servant abides not in the house for ever: But the son abides ever. If the son therefore shall make you free, then are you free indeed. I know that you are Abrahams seed: but you seek means to kill me, because my sayings have no place in you. I speak that I have seen with my father: and you do that which you have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him: Abraham is our father. Jesus said unto them. If you were Abrahams children you would do the deeds of Abraham. But now you go about to kill me, a man that have told you the truth which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. you do the deeds of your father. Then said they unto him: we were not born of fornication. We have one father, which is God. Jesus said unto them: if God were your father, then would you love me. For I proceeded forth and come from God. Neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do you not know my speech? Even because you cannot abide the hearing of my words.
     You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, then speaks he of his own. For he is a liar, and the father thereof. And because I tell you the truth, therefore you believe me not.
     Which of you can rebuke me of sin? If I say the truth, why do not you believe me? He that is of God, hears Gods words. you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God. Then answered the Jewes and said unto him: Say we not well that you are a Samaritane and have the devil? Jesus answered: I have not the devil: but I honour my father, and you have dishonored me. I seek not mine own praise: but there is one that seeks and judges.
     Verily, verily I say unto you, if a man keep my sayings, he shall never see death. Then said the Jewes to him. Now know we that you have the devil. Abraham is dead, and also the Prophets: and yet you say, if a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. are you greater then our father Abraham, which is dead? and the Prophets are dead. Whom make you yourself?
     Jesus answered: If I honour my self, mine honour is nothing worth. It is my father that honors me, which you say, is your God, and you have not known him: but I know him. And if I should say, I know him not, I should be a liar like unto you. But I know him, and keep his saying.
     Your father Abraham was glad to see my day, and he saw it and rejoiced. Then said the Jewes unto him: you are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them: Verily, verily I say unto you: yer (before) Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones, to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

The 9th Chapter
     And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him saying. Master, who did sin: this man or his father and mother, that he was born blind? Jesus answered: Neither has this man sinned, nor yet his father and mother: but that the works of God should be showed on him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day. The night comes when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
     As soon as he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle, and rubbed the clay on the eyes of the blind, and said unto him: Go wash you in the pool of Siloe, which by interpretation, signifies sent. He went his way and washed, and came again seeing. The neighbors and they that had seen him before how that he was a beggar, said: is not this he that sat and begged? Some said: this is he. Other said: he is like him.
     But he himself said: I am even he. They said unto him: How are your eyes opened then? He answered and said. The man that is called Jesus, made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me. Go to the pool Siloe and wash. I went and washed and received my sight. They said unto him: where is he? He said: I cannot tell.
     Then brought they to the Pharisees, him that a little before was blind: for it was the Saboth day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them: He put clay upon mine eyes and I washed, and do see. Then said some of the Pharisees: this man is not of God, because he keeps not the Saboth day. Other said: how can a man that is a sinner, do such miracles? And there was strife among them. Then spoke they unto the blind again: What say you of him, because he has opened your eyes? And he said: He is a Prophet.
     But the Jewes did not believe of the fellow, how that he was blind and received his sight, until they had called the father and mother of him that had received his sight. And they asked them saying: Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How does he now see then? His father and mother answered them and said, we wot (know) well that this is our son, and that he was born blind: but by what means he now sees that can we not tell, or who has opened his eyes, can we not tell. He is old enough, ask him, let him answer for himself. Such words spoke his father and mother, because they feared the Jewes. For the Jewes had conspired already that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be excommunicate out of the synagogue. Therefore said his father and mother: he is old enough, ask him.
     Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him: Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said: Whether he be a sinner or no, I cannot tell: One thing I am sure of, that I was blind, and now I see. Then said they to him again. What did he to you? How opened he your eyes? He answered them, I told you yer (before) while, and you did not hear. Wherefore would you hear it again? Will you also be his disciples? Then rated they him, and said: You are his disciple. We be Mosess disciples. We are sure that God spoke with Moses. This fellow we know not from where he is.
     The man answered and said unto them: this is a marvelous thing that you wot (know) not from where he is, seeing he has opened mine eyes. For we be sure that God hears not sinners. But if any man be a worshipper of God and do his will, him hears he. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could have done nothing. They answered and said unto him: you are altogether born in sin, and do you teach us? And they cast him out.
     Jesus heard that they had excommunicated him: and as soon as he had found him, he said unto him: do you believe on the son of God? He answered and said: Who is it Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him: You have seen him, and he it is that talks with you. And he said: Lord I believe: and worshipped him. Jesus said: I am come unto judgement into this world: that they which see not, might see, and they which see, might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him, heard these words and said unto him: are we then blind? Jesus said unto them: if you were blind, you should have no sin. But now you say, we see, therefore your sin remains.

The 10th Chapter
     Verily, verily I say unto you: he that enters not in by the door, into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way: the same is a thief and a robber. He that goes in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep: to him the porter opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. And when he has sent forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but will fly from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This similitude spoke Jesus unto them. But they understood not what things they were which he spoke unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again. Verily, verily I say unto you: I am the door of the sheep. All, even as many as came before me, are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be safe, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes not but for to steal, kill and destroy. I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.
     I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. An hired servant, which is not the shepherd, neither the sheep are his own, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flys, and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. The hired servant flys, because he is an hired servant, and cares not for the sheep. I am that good shepherd, and know mine, and am known of mine. As my father knows me: even so know I my father. And I give my life for the sheep: and other sheep I have, which are not of this fold. Them also must I bring, that they may hear my voice, and that there may be one flock and one shepherd.
     Therefore does my father love me, because I put my life from me, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me: but I put it away of myself. I have power to put it from me, and have power to take it again: This commandment have I received of my father. And there was a dissension again among the Jewes for these sayings, and many of them said. He has the devil, and is mad: why hear you him? Other said, these are not the words of him that has the devil. Can the devil open the eyes of the blind?
     And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter: and Jesus walked in Solomons porch. Then came the Jewes round about him, and said unto him: How long do you make us doubt? If you be Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them: I told you and you believe not. The works that I do in my fathers name, they bear witness of me. But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep. As I said unto you: my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father which gave them me, is greater then all and no man is able to take them out of my fathers hand. And I and my father are one.
     Then the Jewes again took up stones, to stone him with all. Jesus answered them: many good works have I showed you from my father: for which of them will you stone me? The Jewes answered him saying. For your good works sake we stone you not: but for your blasphemy, and because that you being a man, make yourself God. Jesus answered them: Is it not written in your law: I say, you are Gods? If he called them Gods unto whom the word of God was spoken (and the scripture cannot be broken) say you then to him, whom the father has sanctified, and sent into the world, you blaspheme, because I said I am the son of God? If I do not the works of my father, believe me not. But if I do, though you believe not me, yet believe the works, that you may know and believe that the father is in me, and I in him.
     Again they went about to take him: but he escaped out of their hands, and went away again beyond Jordan, into the place where John before had baptised, and there abode. And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spoke of this man, are true. And many believed on him there.

CONTINUE

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