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Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus – the manHe had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with Him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from the essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray Him, said “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor – he was at thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me.”

When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see Him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.” (vv. 1-11, NLT)

When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man (the blind man who Jesus healed) and asked, ” Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in Him.”

“You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and He is speaking to you!”

“Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And He worshiped Jesus.

Then Jesus told him, “I entered in this world to render judgment – to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.:

Some of the Pharisees who were standing nearby heard Him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”

“If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty ,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you can see.” (vv. 35-41, NLT)

Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free?’

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, every one who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family , but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are surely free. Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for My message. I am telling you what I was when I was with My Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”

“Our father is Abraham!” they declared.

“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would know his example. Instead, you are trying to kill Me because I told you the truth, which I heard from My God. Abraham never did such a thing. No, you are imitating your real father.”

The replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God Himself is our true Father.” (vv 31-41, NLT)

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you want have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about Yourself! Such a testimony is not valid!”

Jesus told them, “These claims are even valid though I make them about Myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about Me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And If I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent Me is with Me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted s fact. I am one witness, and My Father who sent me is the other.”

“Where is your father?” they asked.

Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who My father is. If you knew Me, you would also know My Father. Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple know as the Treasury. But He was not arrested, because His time had not yet come. (vv. 12-20, NLT)

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to Me! Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from His heart.'” (When He said “living water”, he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in Him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into His glory.) (vv. 37-39, NLT)

After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting His death. But soon if was time for the Jewish festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hid like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show Yourself to the world!” For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

Jesus replied, “Now is the the right time for Me to go, but you can go anytime. The wold can’t hate you, but it does hate Me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because My time has not yet come.” After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee.” (vv. 1-9, NLT)

Many of His disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”

Jesus was aware that His disciples were complaining, so He said to them,”Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have. spoken to you are spirit and life. 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.) Then He said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to Me unless the Father gives them to Me.”

At this point, many of His disciples turned away and deserted Him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, on of the Twelve, who would later betray Him. (vv. 60-71, NLT)

(Speaking to the Jewish leaders)

“If I were to testify on My own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. But someone else is also testifying about Me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about Me is true. Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John- My teachings and My miracles. Then Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that He sent Me. And the Father who sent Me has testified about Me himself. You have never heard His voice or seen Him face-to-face, and you do not have His message in your hearts, because you do not believe Me-the One He sent to you.”

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me! Yet you refuse to come to Me to receive this life.”

“Your approval means nothing to Me, because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. For I have come to you in My Father’s name, and You have rejected Me. Yet if others com in their own name, you gladly welcome them. No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the One who along is God.”

Yet is isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. If you really believed in Moses, you would believe in Me, because he wrote about Me. Put since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?” (vv. 31-47, NLT)