The Woman Caught in Adultery 1 UDB Jesus went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives, and they stayed near there that night. BSB BSB: But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 UDB Early the next morning, Jesus returned to the temple courtyard. Many people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. BSB BSB: Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them.
3 UDB Then men who taught the Jewish laws and some who were Pharisees brought a woman to him. She had been caught in the act of adultery—she had been sleeping with a man who was not her husband. They made her stand up in the front of this group so they could question her. BSB BSB: The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them
4 UDB They said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught committing adultery with a man, someone not her husband. BSB BSB: and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
5 UDB Now Moses commanded us in the law that we must execute such a woman with stones. Nevertheless, what do you say we should do?" BSB BSB: In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?”
6 UDB They asked this question as a trap so that they could accuse him of saying something wrong. If he said that they should not kill her, they could say that he dishonored the law of Moses. However, if he said that they should kill her, he would be breaking the Roman law that reserved for the governor the power to execute people. However, Jesus bent down and wrote something on the ground with his finger. BSB BSB: They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.
7 UDB While they continued to question him, he stood up and said to them, "Whichever one of you has never sinned, you are one who should lead the rest to punish her. You throw the first stone!" BSB BSB: When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”
8 UDB Then Jesus stooped down and wrote some more on the ground. BSB BSB: And again He bent down and wrote on the ground.
9 UDB After they heard what he said, those who were questioning him started walking away, one by one, the older ones first and then the younger ones. They knew they were all sinners. Finally only Jesus was there with the woman. BSB BSB: When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.
10 UDB Jesus stood up and asked her, "Woman, where are those who accuse you? Has no one brought a charge against you that you must be punished?" BSB BSB: Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?”
11 UDB She said, "No, sir, no one." Then Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go home now, and from now on, do not sin like this anymore!"] BSB BSB: “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”
Jesus the Light of the World (1 John 1:5–10)
12 UDB Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will have the light that gives life, and he will never walk in darkness again. BSB BSB: Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13 UDB So the Pharisees said to him, "It sounds as though you are trying to convince us to trust you by talking about yourself more and more! What you say about yourself does not prove anything!" BSB BSB: So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not valid.”
14 UDB Jesus replied, "Even if I were the only one to say these things about myself, what I say is true because I know where I came from and I know where I am going. Nevertheless, you do not know where I came from and you do not know where I am going. BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going.
15 UDB You judge people according to human standards and the laws of men. I have not come at this time to judge anyone. BSB BSB: You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
16 UDB When I do judge, it will be right and just because I am not the only one who will bring justice. I and the Father who sent me, we will execute justice together. BSB BSB: But even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone; I am with the Father who sent Me.
17 UDB It is written in your law that a matter can be settled only when there are at least two witnesses to give evidence in the case. BSB BSB: Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
18 UDB I am bringing evidence to you about myself, and my Father who sent me also brings evidence about me. So you should believe that what we tell you is true." BSB BSB: I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me.”
19 UDB Then they asked him, "Where is your father?" Jesus replied, "You do not know me, and you do not know my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father." BSB BSB: “Where is Your Father?” they asked Him. “You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.”
20 UDB He said these things when he was near the treasury within the temple courtyard, the place where the people brought in their offerings. Yet no one arrested him because it was not yet time for him to die. BSB BSB: He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts, near the treasury. Yet no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.
21 UDB Jesus also said to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, but it is certain that you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come." BSB BSB: Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
22 UDB His Jewish opponents said among themselves, "Perhaps he is thinking that he will kill himself, and that is what he means when he says, 'Where I am going you cannot come.'" BSB BSB: So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
23 UDB Jesus continued saying to them, "You are from this earth below, but I am from heaven above. You belong to this world. I do not belong to this world. BSB BSB: Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 UDB I told you that you will die and that God will condemn you for your sins. This will certainly happen unless you trust that I am God, as I say I am." BSB BSB: That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
25 UDB "Who are you?" they asked him. Jesus said to them, "Ever since the very beginning, I have been telling you! BSB BSB: “Who are You?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied.
26 UDB I could judge you and say that you are guilty of many things. Instead, I will say only this: The one who sent me tells the truth, and I tell the people in the world only what I have heard from him." BSB BSB: “I have much to say about you and much to judge. But the One who sent Me is truthful, and what I have heard from Him, I tell the world.”
27 UDB They did not understand that he was talking about the Father. BSB BSB: They did not understand that He was telling them about the Father.
28 UDB So Jesus said, "When you have lifted me up on a cross to kill me—me, the Son of Man—you will know that I am God, and you will know that I do not do anything on my own authority. Instead, I only say what my Father has taught me to say. BSB BSB: So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me.
29 UDB He who sent me is with me, and he has not left me alone, because I do only the things that delight him." BSB BSB: He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
The Truth Will Set You Free (2 John 1:4–6)
30 UDB As Jesus was saying these things, many more people trusted in him. BSB BSB: As Jesus spoke these things, many believed in Him.
31 UDB Then Jesus said to the Jews who now were saying that they trusted in him, "If you listen to all I teach you and live by it in everything you do, you are truly my disciples. BSB BSB: So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.
32 UDB You will know the truth, and the truth will lead you to be free from everything that made you its slaves." BSB BSB: Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 UDB They answered him, "We are the descendants of Abraham, and we have never been anyone's slaves. Why do you say we need to be free? BSB BSB: “We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”
34 UDB Jesus replied, "I am telling you the truth: All who sin obey their sinful desires just as a slave is forced to obey his master. BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
35 UDB Slaves will not remain as permanent members of a family but may be set free to return home or may be sold. However, a son is a member of the family forever. BSB BSB: A slave does not remain in the house forever, but a son remains forever.
36 UDB So if I, the Son, set you free, you will be absolutely free. BSB BSB: So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
37 UDB I know that you are in Abraham's family; you are his descendants. Yet your people are trying to put me to death. You will not trust anything I say. BSB BSB: I know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you.
38 UDB I tell you all about the wonders and wisdom my Father has shown me, but you are only doing what your father told you to do." BSB BSB: I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
39 UDB They replied to him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's descendants, you would be doing the things he did. BSB BSB: “Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.
40 UDB I have been telling you the truth that I heard from God, but you are trying to put me to death. Abraham did not do things like that. BSB BSB: But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.
41 UDB No! You are doing the things that your real father did." They said to him, "We do not know about you, but we are not illegitimate children. We have only one Father, and that is God." BSB BSB: You are doing the works of your father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. “Our only Father is God Himself.”
42 UDB Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and now I have come here to this world. I did not come because I myself decided to come but because he sent me. BSB BSB: Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.
43 UDB I will tell you why you do not understand what I say. It is because you do not accept my message or my teachings. BSB BSB: Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message.
45 UDB Because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me! BSB BSB: But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!
46 UDB Which one of you finds me guilty of sin? Since I tell you the truth, what reason do you give for not trusting me? BSB BSB: Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?
47 UDB Those who belong to God hear and obey what he tells them. The reason that you do not hear and obey his message is that you do not belong to God." BSB BSB: Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Before Abraham Was Born, I Am 48 UDB His Jewish enemies replied to him, "We are certainly right in stating that you are a Samaritan—you are not really a true Jew at all!—and that a demon lives in you!" BSB BSB: The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”
49 UDB Jesus replied, "A demon does not live in me! I honor my Father, and you dishonor me! BSB BSB: “I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
50 UDB I do not try to persuade people to honor me. There is someone else who desires to give me what I deserve, and he is the one who will judge everything that I say and do. BSB BSB: I do not seek My own glory. There is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge.
51 UDB I am telling you the truth: If anyone holds firm to my word and trusts in it as I gave it, that person will never die!" BSB BSB: Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”
52 UDB Then his Jewish enemies said to him, "Now we are sure that a demon lives within you! Abraham and the prophets died long ago! Yet you say that anyone who holds firm to what you teach will not die! BSB BSB: “Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death.
53 UDB You are not greater than our father Abraham. He died and all the prophets died with him. So who do you think you are?" BSB BSB: Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?”
54 UDB Jesus replied, "If I tried to get people to honor me, that would be mean nothing. It is my Father who honors me, and yet he is the one of whom you say, 'He is our God.' BSB BSB: Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’
55 UDB Although you do not know him, I do know him. If I said that I did not know him, I would be a liar like you. I know him and I always obey what he says. BSB BSB: You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word.
57 UDB Then the Jewish leaders said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old! You have seen Abraham?" BSB BSB: Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?”
59 UDB So they picked up stones to put him to death. However, Jesus hid himself, left the temple, and went somewhere else. BSB BSB: At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.