Study Desk

The hired hand runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep.

just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.

No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded."

for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand.

Jesus said, "At my Father's direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?"

They replied, "We're stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God."

But when Jesus heard about it he said, "Lazarus's sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this."

he stayed where he was for the next two days.

And for your sakes, I'm glad I wasn't there, for now you will really believe. Come, let's go see him."

When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days.

"Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man's sister, protested, "Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible."

So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me.

You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me."

You don't realize that it's better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed."

He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation.

And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.

It was now almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, and many people from all over the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the purification ceremony before Passover began.

They kept looking for Jesus, but as they stood around in the Temple, they said to each other, "What do you think? He won't come for Passover, will he?"

Not that he cared for the poor—he was a 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.