Week 1: Who Jesus Claims to Be

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. ²The Word was with God in the beginning. ³All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. ⁴In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. ⁵And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it. ⁶A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. ⁹The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. ¹¹He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. ¹²But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children— ¹³children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God. ¹⁴Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. ¹⁵John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’” ¹⁶For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.

⁴⁸The Judeans replied, “Aren’t we correct in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?” ⁴⁹Jesus answered, “I am not possessed by a demon, but I honor my Father—and yet you dishonor me. ⁵⁰I am not trying to get praise for myself. There is one who demands it, and he also judges. ⁵¹I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death.” ⁵²Then the Judeans responded, “Now we know you’re possessed by a demon! Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet you say, ‘If anyone obeys my teaching, he will never experience death.’ ⁵³You aren’t greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?” ⁵⁴Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people say, ‘He is our God.’ ⁵⁵Yet you do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his teaching. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.” ⁵⁷Then the Judeans replied, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!” ⁵⁹Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden from them and went out from the temple area.

¹“Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. ²There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. ³And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. ⁴And you know the way where I am going.” ⁵Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.” ⁸Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be content.” ⁹Jesus replied, “Have I been with you for so long and yet you have not known me, Philip? The person who has seen me has seen the Father! How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father residing in me performs his miraculous deeds. ¹¹Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, but if you do not believe me, believe because of the miraculous deeds themselves. ¹²I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these because I am going to the Father. ¹³And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.