Study Desk

So some Jews said to the man who had been healed, "Today is the Sabbath. It is against our law for you to carry your mat on the Sabbath day."

John was like a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were happy to enjoy his light for a while.

But I know you—I know that you have no love for God.

I have come from my Father and speak for him, but you don't accept me. But when other people come speaking only for themselves, you accept them.

It was almost the time for the Jewish Passover festival.

Jesus looked up and saw a crowd of people coming toward him. He said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough bread for all these people to eat?"

Philip answered, "We would all have to work a month to buy enough bread for each person here to have only a little piece!"

"Here is a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two little fish. But that is not enough for so many people."

Jesus took the loaves of bread and gave thanks for them. Then he gave them to the people who were waiting to eat. He did the same with the fish. He gave them as much as they wanted.

He answered, "Why are you looking for me? Is it because you saw miraculous signs? The truth is, you are looking for me because you ate the bread and were satisfied.

So the people asked, "What miraculous sign will you do for us? If we can see you do a miracle, then we will believe you. What will you do?

Jesus already knew that his followers were complaining about this. So he said, "Is this teaching a problem for you?

It is the Spirit that gives life. The body is of no value for that. But the things I have told you are from the Spirit, so they give life.

It was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters.

Jesus said to them, "The right time for me has not yet come, but any time is right for you to go.

So you go to the festival. I will not go now, because the right time for me has not yet come."

At the festival the Jewish leaders were looking for him. They said, "Where is that man?"

If I taught my own ideas, I would just be trying to get honor for myself. But if I am trying to bring honor to the one who sent me, I can be trusted. Anyone doing that is not going to lie.

This shows that someone can be circumcised on a Sabbath day to obey the Law of Moses. So why are you angry with me for healing a person's whole body on the Sabbath day?

When Jesus said this, the people tried to grab him. But no one was able even to touch him, because the right time for him had not yet come.