There is general accord about this in most
churches I have attended, so it may be just a reminder to some. Others,
though, may have never read what Jesus taught, but let a preacher, or
Bible commentators explain an interpretation.
I just bought a large -print King James Version Bible, and am enjoying
it very much. Once you get used to it, its kind of poetic, and is still
the number one Bible Christians in the Bible Belt swear by. So' I'll
quote from it mostly. As my minisrty is a lot about working directly in
churches, I am all out to re-read and memorize Jesus instructions in the
KJ. and am enjoying it exceedingly! (surprisingly)
We must start here, in John 3, although I suggest you begin earlier. I
have covered the first 2 chapters so many times, and maybe I'll get back
there....but for now;
3 "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know
that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles
that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he
enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof,
but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every
one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Being born of the water and the spirit is a requirement, not an option
only available for a few mercifully gifted men and women. All Christians
must be born from God, and receive the sonship , inheritance of being
glorified as spirit beings in heaven after our death, and/or the return
of Christ.
Born of water, means accurate and complete Bible knowledge, a lifetime
effort, not something we ever really 'graduate from either...or retire
from. Jesus Christ is the teacher Father Jehovah has chosen for us, as
we will read.
3:13-18
13 "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not
is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God."
Here we now see what Jesus really taught. He was to sacrifice his body
as a gift for mankind to be free from death; but only the good ones, as
he says here...it is conditional upon a person believing and
appreciation for what God and Christ did for us. There was a pictorial
prophecy in Moses' day of the event. That was the copper serpent Moses
had the Israelites make , and hang on a pole, because of the poisonous
snakes Jehovah sent for their sins. Whoever merely obeyed, and got to
the pole, and looked at the snake...was healed from the bite.
Pretty good miracle eh?
19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and
men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
Not everyone wants life , and many do, but don't want to follow the path to eternal life. This is what Jesus teaches here;
Motive
We grow in knowledge of Jesus the more we read. The more we read, the
greater our appreciation, and even love for Jesus and admiration....even
worship of him as our greatest gift from God.
This gift must be used regularly, or it will fade away.
Make time every day to read Jesus' words in the Bible. There is no
better way to learn than straight from Him. As you do, you can talk to
God and his Son,
thanking them for this gift of love and eternal life.
I will just make mention of a couple scriptures in chapter 4,
because, as in ch. 3, I have harped and harped on this spirit and truth
theme from Christ.(sorry)
I will state the obvious;
Jesus teaches he has the 'living water' inside him. Those who
receive his truth will have it in them, and can and will share it , and
the cycles continues. The living water, spirit and truth, is about to
come pouring out of Christ; a FLOOD of it. Jesus now pauses, no doubt to
listen to Father's will, as he readies himself to do (eat) God's will
...by preaching to the Samaritans.
"My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his
work." So, the woman came back bringing townspeople, and Jesus begins
pouring out the living water...for two whole days he spends preaching to
Samaritans. You know his disciples were shocked.
Now, especially beginning in chapter 5, Jesus begins pouring out
living water ...a flood of it. Every verse, practically, is pure,
refined truth...
These verses, if we can memorize them, are some of the most important truths of all;
Enjoy your reading:
Chapter 5
John 5King James Version (KJV)
5 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled
the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water
stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is
troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another
steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold,
thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only
had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making
himself equal with God.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do:
for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that
himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye
may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.
He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent
him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come
into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when
the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear
shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection
of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation.
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my
judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the
Father which hath sent me.
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the
Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness
of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me.
Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41 I receive not honour from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
King James Version (KJV)
Part 3
As a Witness (As I was too for most my life) how
does this make you feel, to know you stand before God
sinless...righteous because of your faith alone?
Christ Took Our Punishment :
Rom 3:21-28 NLT
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without
keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of
Moses
and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious
standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight.
He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for
our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People
are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his
life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair
when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26
for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this
present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he
himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when
they believe in Jesus.
27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God?
No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based
on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by
obeying the law.
Do you see from these scriptures here, and Paul is writing about
Jesus' teachings above; we are forgiven of sin; not just those we may
commit today....but tomorrow, and the next, and so on. We have the gift
of eternal life. So even when we die, we are alive to God, sleeping. And
have the token of life waiting for the Resurrection day when we will be
called back up from death. John 5
WT taught me when I was 'in', that 'only the anointed' are forgiven for their sins.
How do you feel about that after reading what Jesus himself said?
Do you see how much Jesus and Jehovah love you? And all other Christians on earth who have heartfelt faith?
have you looked at the thread about church? Have you given any
thought to going to a church anywhere to observe people in their worship
of God and Christ?
It might put a spark in your desire to look at these scriptures and ponder their meaning.
Part 4
Do you like Bread?
John 6 could be called, 'The Bread Chapter'...because that's what its all about.
Three (3) types of bread are discussed....and meat.
The Israelites were given manna, and quail meat once, while in the
wilderness...but this is not the bread Jesus wants us to hunger for.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you....Ye seek me, not because you saw
the miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled."
John 6:26
We most all here pray before every meal;RELIGIOUSLY.
Jesus said, that's fine to receive our bread with appreciation, and thank God for it.
Matt. 6:11
But are we even more thankful for the words coming from Jesus'
mouth? Do we seek to memorize them by heart? Live by and be obedient?
How often do we read other things...or watch 2-hour long movies, and
never once in a day or two or three read something from the Lord of the
universe;
Here is John 6 from a good modern translation. Enjoy this delightful meal.
John 6New Living Translation (NLT)
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
6 After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee,
also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A huge crowd kept following him
wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the
sick. 3 Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples
around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) 5
Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning
to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” 6
He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.
7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money[a] to feed them!”
8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy
here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with
this huge crowd?”
10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the
grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) 11 Then Jesus took
the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people.
Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as
they wanted. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now
gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they picked up
the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who
had eaten from the five barley loaves.
14 When the people saw him
do this miraculous sign, they
exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!”[c] 15
When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he
slipped away into the hills by himself.
Jesus Walks on Water
16 That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him.
17 But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into
the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. 18 Soon a gale
swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. 19 They had rowed
three or four miles[d] when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water
toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them,
“Don’t be afraid. I am here![e]” 21 Then they were eager to let him in
the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!
Jesus, the Bread of Life
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the
disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone
with them. 23 Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where
the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. 24 So when the
crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into
the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. 25 They found
him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get
here?”
26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I
fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don’t
be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy
seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man[f] can give you. For God
the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe
in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while
they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave
them bread from heaven to eat.’[g]”
32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from
heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven.
33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and
gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will
never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36
But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. 37 However,
those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject
them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent
me, not to do my own will. 39 And this is the will of God, that I
should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should
raise them up at the last day. 40 For it is my Father’s will that all
who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will
raise them up at the last day.”
41 Then the people[h] began to murmur in disagreement because he had
said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t
this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he
say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
43 But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. 44 For no one
can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at
the last day I will raise them up. 45 As it is written in the
Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens
to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 (Not that anyone has
ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)
47 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 Yes, I
am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness,
but they all died. 50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however,
will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I
will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.
53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh
of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life
within you. 54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has
eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. 55 For my
flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Anyone who eats my
flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 I live because
of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on
me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread that came down from
heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did
(even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”
59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Many Disciples Desert Jesus
60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”
61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to
them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see the
Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal
life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have
spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe
me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and
he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that
people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67
Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to
leave?”
68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words
that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One
of God.[j]”
70 Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” 71
He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.
A Virtual river of water from John 14
Jesus is coming to the end of his ministry on earth, so he pours
out a tremendous teaching about several important topics we, as
Jehovah's Witnesses can benefit from.
Why JW's specifically?
WTBTS teaches we must alter our course away from Jesus' teachings, by:
1. not receiving the Holy Spirit rebirth (John 3)
2. Not letting the spirit teach us, but the corporation writers only (
1 John 2:26,
27)
3. By switching Jesus words from 'in' as far as God and Christ
coming into our minds, hearts, and bodies, into ,'"in union with", they
have done something is called, 'sinning against the spirit'....a
blasphemy, sinning directly against God's teachings through Jesus Christ
(as John 14 will show)
4. Teaching all the world we do not pray to Jesus, or seek him to
become part of us, as Jesus had Jehovah the Father inside him the entire
time after his baptism.
5. Jesus comes to take the believers to heaven when he returns.
All this and more, including self-examination of whether WE ACTUALLY LOVE JESUS or not, he discloses in this chapter...
I encourage all here to read this short chapter sometime today, and
compare it to the NWT (which clearly, Franz, the head of the misnamed,
'Translation Committee', as none of these men were qualified to
translate any of the Bible, not being original language scholars) as you
will clearly see the light of truth to the above statements I
make...repeatedly. Franz changed scripture to the say something totally
different nearly 100 times in the NWT, and the Greek language without
authorization . Look at the Greek, the Wescott and Hort Translation he
was supposed to follow!
Again, I say, "If you love Jesus...WILL YOU ...keep his commands?, and teach the truths he wanted preached?"
Or do as all are being taught at the summer sessions, "Be Loyal to Jehovah's Organization?"
Who deserves your loyalty? Who suffered, died, and created you in
the first place...is watching us, and will judge whether we obey him?,
or love the glory and fear of men?
Here is John 14 in the KJ, the least likely (I find), of being
altered , but you may have other Bibles you prefer. Then compare to the
NWT. Please , don't come back on the KJ Bible, but read the message if
you really desire Christ as your loving teacher. Read it in any
translation YOU TRUST....and check the Greek literal...BY ALL MEANS!
Back to previous chapterNext chapter
Bible Study HOME
Other translations of this chapter:
NASV / NKJV / NIV
Chapter 14
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast
thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;
and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that
I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works
that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do;
because I go unto my Father.
13
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
1
4 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it
seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth
with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth
me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love
him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my
words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make
our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send
in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world
giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it
be afraid.
28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto
you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the
Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father
gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
t, one of the Twelve, who
would later betray him.
