LXVIII. Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles (Jn 7:1-53)
And after these things, Jesus was frequenting Galilee: for
he did not want to circulate in Judaea because the Jews there were seeking
to kill him; for his time had not yet come. Now a public festival of the
Jews - that of Tabernacles - was near at hand. His brothers therefore
said unto him, "Depart from this place and go into Judaea so that your
disciples can also see your works which you are doing. For no one is doing
anything clandestinely or in secret, but is himself seeking and striving
to be publicly seen before all. Since you are doing these things, clearly
and openly show or display yourself unto the world." For his brothers
were not even believing into him. Jesus therefore said unto them, "The
circumstances suitable to my destined time are not yet handily or readily
present, but the fitting circumstances for your time are always and at
all times readily at hand or available. The world is not able to hate, detest,
abhor, or regard you with ill will; but it hates, detests, abhors, and
regards me with ill will because I testify concerning it that its works
are evil, impious, malignant, wicked, afflictive and wrongful. You go up
unto this public festival: I am not yet going up unto this festival; because
the circumstances suitable to my destined time have not yet fully arrived
nor been fulfilled." And having said these things unto them, he remained
in Galilee.
Now when his brothers went up unto the festival, then at that
time he also went up - not openly or publicly - but in secret as it were.
The Jews therefore sought him at the festival, and said, "Where is he?"
And there was a lot of low and suppressed discourse among the multitudes
concerning him: some said, "He is good, generous, virtuous and beneficient;"
but others said, "No, but he is seducing and deluding the multitudes."
However, no one spoke openly about him because of their fear of the Jews.
Now, the festival being midway advanced already, Jesus went
up into the temple and was teaching, because a multitude had gathered
about him. And the Jews were marvelling, saying, "How is it that this
uneducated man knows letters, writings and learning?" Jesus answered them
and said, "My teaching is not mine, but is that of the One sending me.
If anyone should want or desire to do, accomplish or bring to pass His
will, he will know experientially concerning the instruction and doctrine
that is taught, whether it is from God, or that what I am speaking is
derived or originating from myself. The one speaking from himself as
a source is seeking and pursuing after his own glory, credit, honor or
recognition: but the one seeking the glory, credit, honor and recognition
of the One sending him, this one is truthful, and injustice, injury or
wrong is not in him. Has not Moses given you the Law? Yet not one of you
is doing, performing, accomplishing or fulfilling the Law! Why are you
lying in wait looking and seeking for opportunity to kill me?" The multitude
answered, "You are demon possessed: who is seeking to kill you?" Jesus
answered and said unto them, "I performed one deed and you are all astonished
because of this. Moses has given you the ritual of circumcision - not
that it is from Moses, but from the fathers - and you are circumcising a
man on a sabbath. If a man is receiving the ritual of circumcision on a
sabbath, in order that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry
and incensed with me because I made an entire man hale and sound on the
sabbath? Do not be discriminating, awarding, deciding, judging or making
distinctions and determinations according to external appearance: but
discriminate, award, decide, and judge by making just, proper, equitable
and fair distinctions and determinations."
Therefore, some of the natives of Jerusalem said, "Is this
not he whom they are seeking to kill? And look! He is speaking publicly
and they are saying nothing to him. Can it be that the chief priests
have truly resolved and concluded that this is in fact the Christ or Messiah?
Howbeit, we know this man absolutely, where he is from: but when the Christ
or Messiah does come, no one can know where he is from." [The crowd is
being ignorant because their prophecy says he is from Bethlehem and Nazareth.]
Then Jesus exclaimed in the temple, teaching and saying, "You all both
know me, and know from where I am; but I have not come forth originating
from myself, but the One sending me is true and worthy of recognition or
credit, whom you do not know. But I know him absolutely, because I am from
him, and he has sent me" Then they endeavoured to take and sieze him: but
no one laid a hand upon him because his destined hour had not yet come.
But many of the multitude faithed into him, and they said, "Although when
the Messiah or Christ shall come, he will not do more signs and miracles
than those which this man has done." The Pharisees overheard the multitude
speaking covertly and whispering these things amongst themselves concerning
him; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent forth into action officers
in order that they might apprehend and arrest him. Jesus therefore said
unto them, "I will be with you a little while longer, then I will depart
and go away unto the One sending me. You will seek and search after me
and will not find or acquire me: and where I will be you are not absolutely
nor intrinsically able to come." Then the Jews said among themselves,
"Whither is this one intending to go that we will not find or get him?
He is not intending to go into the Dispersion of the Greeks and to teach
the Greeks! What is this expression which he did speak, "You will seek
and search after me and will not find or acquire me: and where I will
be you are not absolutely nor intrinsically able to come?""
Now on the last and greatest day of the festival - Jesus stood
and exclaimed, saying, "If any one should longingly and ardently thirst,
let him come unto me and let him drink. He believing into me, as the
Old Testament scripture has said, "Out of his inner self will flow rivers
or streams of fresh, flowing, living water for spiritual refreshment."
But he spoke this concerning the Spirit whom those believing into him
were about to receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus
was not yet glorified. Therefore, many of the multitude after hearing this
saying said, "This is surely the Prophet;" others said, "This is Christ
the Messiah." And some others besides these said, "But the Christ or Messiah
does not come out of Galilee. Has the scripture not said that the Christ
or Messiah comes out of the progeny of David, and from Bethlehem, the village
where David was?" Then there arose a schism or division between parties
in the multitude on account of him; and some of them wanted to take and
sieze him; but no one laid hands upon him.
Then the officers came unto the chief priests and Pharisees;
and these said unto the officers, "Why have you not brought him in?"
The officers answered, "A man has never spoken in the way this man has."
Therefore the Pharisees answered them, "Have you not also been deceived
and seduced? None of the rulers have believed on him, nor any of the Pharisees.
But not completely and conclusively knowing the Law, this confused multitude
of common people are vile outcasts." Then Nicodemus said unto them -
the one that had previously come by night unto Jesus, being one of their
number - "Our Law refrains from sentencing the man, until it can first
hear from him, and ascertain by examination what he is doing." They answered
and said unto him, "You are not also from Galilee, are you? Investigate
and see that a prophet has not been raised up out of Galilee!" Then each
one departed and went into his house.
LXIX. A Woman Taken in Adultery (Jn 8:1-11)
Now Jesus had gone to the Mount of Olives for the night. And
early in the morning he again publicly came forth into the temple, and
all the people came unto him; and sitting down he taught them. Then the
scribes and the Pharisees forcefully conducted and produced unto him
a woman who had just been caught in the act of adultery. And making her
stand in their midst, they said unto him, "Teacher, this woman has been
caught in the very act of committing adultery. This makes her an adulteress.
Now in the Law, Moses commanded us that all such the like are to be pelted
with stones unto death: so what is your opinion?" But they mischievously
said this for proving and testing him so that they might have the wherewithal
to accuse him. But Jesus, bending down and stooping, wrote with his finger
in the dust, (listing their sins), while assuming the appearance of ostensible
indifference. And as they insistently persisted in questioning him, straightening
himself up, he said unto them, "Let the guiltless one among you that
is without sin throw the first stone at her." And bending down and stooping
again, he resumed writing in the dust, listing their sins. And having
heard this, and being experientially under conviction by their concience,
they were leaving one by one, dropping their stones upon the ground as
they went, commencing with the highest until the lowest among them. And
thus Jesus and the woman were left there alone where they were situated
in the midst of the crowd. And Jesus, straightening himself up and seeing
not a one of them, but only the woman, said unto her, "Woman, where are
they - your accusers? Not one passed judgment and condemned you!" And she
said, "Not one, Lord!" And then Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I pass
judgment and condemn you. Now go your way and sin no more."
LXX. The Light of the World (Jn 8:12-30)
Then Jesus spoke unto them again, saying, "I am the source
and dispenser of spiritual light for the world: the one imitating and
following me as a disciple will never walk or live life in the darkness
- blindness, ignorance or evil, but will be furnished with the Source
and Dispenser of spiritual light - Jesus via the Holy Spirit, who
is the Source of spiritual life." Then the Pharisees said unto him,
"You are testifying and witnessing on your own behalf: your witness or
testimony is not valid." And Jesus responded, saying unto them, "Even
if I am witnessing or testifying concerning myself, my witness or testimony
is valid, because I know absolutely from whence I came, and whither I
go. But you have no idea from whence I come, or whither I go. You are
all forming and passing judgment according to human viewpoint or standards;
I judge not - no one. But even if I do judge, my judgement and determination
is valid, because I am not alone. At all events it is I and the Father
sending me forth; for even in your Law it has been written and currently
stands that the witness or testimony of two men is valid. I am one witnessing
person myself, and the Father sending me forth is also witnessing concerning
me." Then they said unto him, "Where is your father?" Jesus responded,
"You all know neither me nor my Father: if you all had ever known my Father,
you would have known me also." Jesus spoke these words while teaching in
the temple treasury: yet no man took him, because his hour had not yet
come.
Then Jesus spoke again unto them, saying, "I will go away,
and you will seek after me, and you will all die the final death of condemnation
and misery in your own guilt and sinfulness as a result. Whither I go
you are not able to come because of it." The Jews therefore said, "Is
he not killing himself since he is saying, "Whither I go you are not able
to come?"" And he said unto them, "You are from what is below as a source;
I am from that which is above as a source: you are of this world as a
source; I am not of this world as a source. For this reason I declared
unto you that you will all die the final death of condemnation and misery
in your own sins as a result: for unless you believe that I AM [Exodus
3:14], you will all die the final death of condemnation and misery in your
own sins as a result." They therefore said unto him, "Who are you?" Jesus
then said unto them, "Even that altogether of consequence which I am telling
you. I have much to say and to judge - bring under question, determine,
call to account and decree concerning you all: howbeit the One sending
me is credible and truthful; and all that which I have heard from him,
these very things I communicate unto the world." They did not perceive nor
comprehend that he spoke unto them of the Father, therefore Jesus said unto
them, "When you shall have lifted up aloft the Son of Man on the cross,
then at that time you will ascertain, understand and conclude as a result
that I AM [Exodus 3:14], and that I am doing nothing originating from or
derived from myself as a source, but according as my Father taught me, these
things I am speaking. And the One dispatching me is with me: the Father
has not forsaken or abandoned me; for I am always doing things pleasing
and acceptable to him." And as he was saying these things, many believed
into him.
LXXI. Discourse on Spiritual Freedom (Jn 8:31-47)
Jesus therefore said to those Jews that were persuaded and
had believed him, "You are truly my disciples if you can steadfastly
stay, remain, abide, reside, dwell, endure, continue and persevere in
(the structure or house - edification complex - of) my word or doctrine,
and then you will experientially know the Truth (Jesus), and as a result,
the Truth (Jesus) will liberate you or set you free." Then they answered
him, "We are offspring, progeny or posterity of Abraham, and we have never
at any time been in bondage, enslaved, enthralled or subject to anyone
[except the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans], and we are yet still
free: how is it that you are saying to us, "you will become liberated or
be made free?"" Jesus responded to them, "Most certainly I say unto you,
that everyone habitually following after, causing, executing, commiting
or practicing sin or trespass is a slave of sin or trespass; and the slave
does not always or permanently stay or reside in the structure or house:
the Son stays and resides there always or permanently. Therefore if the
Son should liberate you or set you free, you would be really liberated
and truly free from the dominion of sin. I know absolutely that you are
offspring, progeny or posterity of Abraham; but you are seeking to kill
me because my word or doctrine is not making way or progressing in you.
I am declaring and conveying what I have been admitted to witness or have
observed nigh to or along side of my Father: and therefore you are doing
what you have seen and witnessed nigh to or along side of your father."
They answered and said unto him, "Our father is Abraham!" Jesus said unto
them, "If there was even the slightest chance that you were children of
Abraham, you would have been doing the works of Abraham right along. But
you are presently desiring, seeking or endeavouring to kill me - a man who
is communicating truth unto you which I heard from God - this Abraham did
not do. You are doing the works of your father." [Jesus is here implying
that their father is Satan.] They therefore said unto him, "We have not
been born of concubinage as you have been. We have only one father - God."
[They are here implying that Jesus was an illegitimate bastard and his mother
a whore.] Jesus said unto them, "If God were even remotely your Father,
you would have been loving, valuing, esteeming, delighting and caring for
me because I have arrived and come forth, proceeded and emanated from God:
and I have not come by myself, or on my own, but He sent me. Why are you
not understanding or comprehending my matter of discourse? Because you are
not able to take in my word, or even admit it to mental acceptance. You
are of your father - the Devil - and the cupidity and violent desires of
your father you are wanting or intending to do. He was a murderer from the
start, and has not ever stood, not even now, in the truth, because no truth
is in him. Whenever he might speak a falsehood, he is speaking for his own
kind: for he is a liar and the father thereof. But because I speak the truth,
you believe me not [e.g. if he spoke lies they would believe him]. Who among
you is convicting me concerning sin? And since I speak truth, why do you
not believe me? The one being of God is taking in and admitting to mental
acceptance the words and doctrines of God. For this reason you are not listening
or hearing: because you are not of God."
LXXII. Jesus Preceded Abraham (Jn 8:48-59)
The Jews answered and said unto him, "Are we not appositely
and correctly saying that you are a Samaritan [a term of denigration],
and are demon possessed?" Jesus responded, "I cannot possibly have a
demon; but I am honoring my Father, and you are slighting and dishonoring
me; for I am not pursuing, seeking after or endeavouring to obtain my
glory, honor or recognition: the One seeking it and vindicating me exists.
Most certainly I can say unto you, "If any one should strictly keep,
accurately heed and practically observe my word, he shall never experience
or undergo spritual death ["thanaton" - as the opposite of spiritual
life - "dzoe," e.g. forfeiture of salvation] for or into the illimitable
duration of eternity." Then the Jews said unto him, "We knew it, and are
now assured, that you are demon possessed! Abraham died ["apethane" -
"died" as commonly understood] - and the prophets - and you are saying,
"If any one should strictly keep, accurately heed and practically observe
my word, he will never experience or taste of death ["thanatou"] for or
into the illimitable duration of eternity! You are not greater than our
father Abraham, who died ["apethane"], and the prophets that died ["apethanon"]?
Who are you making yourself out to be?" Jesus responded, "If I magnify
or glorify myself, my magnification or glory is of no account. The One
magnifying or glorifiying me is my Father - that God whom you are claiming
is yours - and you knew him not and thus are presently ignorant of him;
but I absolutely know him. And if I were to say, "I know him not absolutely,"
I would resemble or be like unto all of you - a liar - one who utters a
falsehood: but I absolutely know him and I am strictly keeping, accurately
heeding and practically observing his Word. Your father Abraham ardently
desired that he might witness and see my day and time, and as a result rejoiced
exceedingly: and he witnessed and saw it and became joyful and glad." The
Jews therefore said unto him, "You have not yet aquired and lived fifty
years, and you have seen Abraham?!" Jesus said unto them, "Most certainly
I say unto you, before Abraham was born, I AM [Jesus is God manifested in
flesh: Exodus 3:14; Colossians 1:15; Philippians 2:6; I Timothy 3:16; Titus
2:13]!" Then they consequently took up stones they could throw at him:
but Jesus, passing through the midst of them, became concealed, and escaped
out of the temple, and was passing along in an ordinary manner.