Biblical Commentary

John 1

  • John 1:1-18

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

  • John 1:6-8, 19-28

    There was a man sent by God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. John was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.

  • John 1:29-42

    John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.'"

  • John 1:43-51

    Jesus said to Philip, "Follow me." Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

  • John 2:1-11

    Jesus' mother was at marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus also was invited, with his disciples. When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no wine." Jesus had the servants fill six water pots with water, and had them draw some to take to the ruler of the feast. The water had become wine, and the ruler proclaimed it the best wine of the day.

  • John 2:13-22

    In the temple, Jesus found those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money. He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers' money, and overthrew their tables. To those who sold the doves, he said, "Take these things out of here! Don't make my Father's house a marketplace!"

  • John 3:1-17

    A Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”

  • John 3:14-21

    "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him."

  • John 4:5-42

    Jesus, being tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." The woman said, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

  • John 5:1-9

    A man had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man said, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Arise, take up your mat, and walk." Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked.

  • John 6:1-21

    The feeding of the five thousand (see also Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17). The feeding of the five thousand (See also Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17). The men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; likewise also of the fish as much as they desired. When they were filled, Jesus said to his disciples, "Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost." So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten.

  • John 6:24-35

    "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don't believe. All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out."

  • John 6:37-40

    "This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day. This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

  • John 6:35, 41-51

    Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

  • John 6:51-58

    "I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

  • John 6:56-69

    "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven—not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever."

  • John 7:37-39

    Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn't yet glorified.

  • John 8:1-11

    "Teacher, we found this woman in adultery. In our law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What then do you say about her?" They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. He said, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her."

  • John 8:31-36

    "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."

  • John 9:1-41

    Jesus' disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him. I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

  • John 10:1-10

    "I am the sheep's door. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. "

  • John 10:11-18

    "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again."

  • John 10:22-30

    They said, "If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I told you, and you don't believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, these testify about me. But you don't believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand."

  • John 11:1-45

    Jesus said, "Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep." The disciples said, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep. So Jesus said to them plainly then, "Lazarus is dead. I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let's go to him." Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go also, that we may die with him."

  • John 11:17-27

    Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God's Son, he who comes into the world."

  • John 11:32-44

    Jesus said, "Father, I thank you that you listened to me. I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" Lazarus, who was dead, came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Free him, and let him go."

  • John 12:1-8

    Mary took a pound of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus, said, "Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?" He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it. But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you don't always have me."

  • John 12:20-33

    Jesus said, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him."

  • John 13:1-17, 31b-35

    Jesus took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet. When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said, "You will never wash my feet!" Jesus answered, "If I don't wash you, you have no part with me." Peter said, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!"

  • John 13:31-35

    Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

  • John 14:1-14

    "Don't let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many homes. If it weren't so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also."

  • John 14:15-21

    "If you love me, keep my commandments. I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever––the Spirit of truth, whom the world can't receive; for it doesn't see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also."

  • John 14:23-29

    "I said these things to you, while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful."

  • John 14:8-17 and 26-27

    "I have said these things to you, while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful."

  • John 15:1-8

    “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the ...

  • John 15:9-17

    “As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, ...

  • John 15:26-27; 16:4-15

    “When the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to ...

  • John 15:26-27; 16:4-15

    "When the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you."

  • John 16:12-15

    "When the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you."

  • John 17:1-11

    Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; even as you gave him authority over all flesh, he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ."

  • John 17:6-19

    "I pray for my disciples. I don't pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are."

  • John 17:20-26

    Jesus prayed, "Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me."

  • John 18:33-37

    Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "My Kingdom is not of this world. My Kingdom is not from here." Pilate said, "Are you a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."

  • John 18:1 – 19:42

    Jesus arrested (18:1-11). Tried (18:12-24; 28-38). Peter's denial (18:28-32). Sentenced to death (18:38-40). Flogged and mocked (19:1-3). Pilate appeals to the Jews, but capitulates (19:4-16). Crucified (19:16b-37). Buried (19:38-42). (See also Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23). So then he delivered him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away. He went out, bearing his cross, to the place called "The Place of a Skull," which is called in Hebrew, "Golgotha," where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. There was written, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS."

  • John 18:1 – 19:42

    Jesus arrested (18:1-11). Tried (18:12-24; 28-38). Peter’s denial (18:28-32). Sentenced to death (18:38-40). Flogged and mocked (19:1-3). Pilate appeals to the Jews, but capitulates (19:4-16). Crucified (19:16b-37). Buried (19:38-42). (See also Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23). So then he delivered him to them to be crucified. ...

  • John 20:1-18

    Mary Magdaline finds an open tomb (20:1-2). Peter and another disciple find an open tomb (20:3-10). Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene (20:11-18). Peter and the other disciple ran toward the tomb. The other disciple outran Peter. Looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn't enter in. Then Simon Peter entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying, and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. So then the other disciple entered in, and he saw and believed. For as yet they didn't know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

  • John 20:19-31

    Jesus appears to the disciples (20:19-23; see also Luke 24:36-43). Jesus and Thomas (20:24-29). This book is written that you might believe (20:30-31). After eight days, Jesus' disciples were gathered, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace be to you." He said to Thomas, "Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don't be unbelieving, but believing." Thomas answered, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed."

  • John 21:1-19

    The third resurrection appearance of Jesus to his disciples. He tells the disciple fishermen to cast their nets on the other side of the boat, and they get a great catch. He gives them bread and fish.