Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

After these things, Jesus walked in Galilee, staying away from Judea where the Jews sought to kill him. The Jewish festival of tabernacles was near.

His brothers said to him, "Leave Judea and go into Judaea so your disciples can see the works you're doing." They suggested he reveal himself openly because no one does secret things then seeks to be known publicly. His own brothers didn't believe in him.

Jesus told them, "My time hasn't yet come, but you're always ready." He said, "The world can't hate you; it's me they hate because I testify that its works are evil." When he finished speaking with his brothers, Jesus remained in Galilee. But when his brothers went up to the festival, he also went, not openly but secretly.

At the festival, the Jews sought him and asked, "Where is he?" Many people murmured about him: some said he was a good man, while others said he deceived the people. No one dared speak openly about him for fear of the Jews.

Near the middle of the festival, Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews were amazed and asked, "How does this man know letters since he never learned?" Jesus replied, "My teaching comes not from me but from the One who sent me."

"If anyone is willing to do his will," Jesus said, "he'll understand whether my teaching is from God or if I speak on my own initiative." He explained, "The one who speaks of himself seeks his own glory, while he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true and free from unrighteousness."

Jesus asked them, "Didn't Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keep it. Why are you trying to kill me?" The people responded, saying, "You have a demon; who's trying to kill you?"

Jesus answered, "I've done only one work, and you're all amazed by it." He said, "Moses gave you circumcision—not because of him but because of your fathers. On the Sabbath day, you circumcise a man."

Jesus warned them not to judge based on outward appearances but to make righteous judgments. Some from Jerusalem said, "Isn't this the man they're trying to kill?" They noted that he spoke boldly and the rulers did nothing to stop him; perhaps the rulers knew Jesus was the Christ.

They argued, saying, "We know where he comes from, but when the Christ arrives, no one will know his origin." Jesus stood in the temple and cried out, "You both know me and where I come from. I didn't come on my own initiative, but he who sent me is true—whom you do not know."

Jesus declared, "I know him because I come from him, and he has sent me." The crowd sought to arrest Jesus, but no one laid hands on him because his time hadn't yet come.

Many people believed in Jesus, saying, "When the Christ comes, will he do greater works than this man has done?" The Pharisees heard that people were murmuring about Jesus and sent officers to take him. Yet Jesus said, "I'll be with you a little while longer, then I'll go to the one who sent me."

The Jews among themselves said, "Where will he go that we can't find him? Will he go to the scattered Gentiles and teach them?" They wondered about Jesus' statement: "You will seek me, but not find me. Where I am, you cannot come."

In the last day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink." He promised that those who believed in him would have rivers of living water flowing from within them.

However, he spoke about the Spirit, which those who believe in him would receive. At this point, the Holy Ghost had not yet been given because Jesus hadn't yet been glorified. Many people heard Jesus' words and said, "This is truly the Prophet."

Others said, "This is the Christ," but some questioned, "Can the Messiah come from Galilee? Didn't Scripture say he would come from the seed of David and from Bethlehem?" There was a division among the people because of him.

Some were willing to take Jesus by force, but no one laid hands on him. The officers went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, saying, "Why haven't you brought him?" They replied, "No man ever spoke like this man."

The Pharisees asked them, "Are you also deceived? Have any of our rulers or Pharisees believed in him?" One of their own, Nicodemus, who had secretly met with Jesus earlier, said to the group, "Our law doesn't condemn anyone before hearing them and understanding what they've done."

They responded by questioning his Galilean origin: "Investigate and see; no prophet arises from Galilee." And every person went home.