Numbers 9:1-14 and John 7:40-44 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 9:1-14
THE SECOND PASSOVER

1    A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. In the first month of that year he said, 

2    “Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time, 

3    at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. Be sure to follow all my decrees and regulations concerning this celebration.”

4    So Moses told the people to celebrate the Passover 

5    in the wilderness of Sinai as twilight fell on the fourteenth day of the month. And they celebrated the festival there, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 

6    But some of the men had been ceremonially defiled by touching a dead body, so they could not celebrate the Passover that day. They came to Moses and Aaron that day 

7    and said, “We have become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body. But why should we be prevented from presenting the Lord’s offering at the proper time with the rest of the Israelites?”

8    Moses answered, “Wait here until I have received instructions for you from the Lord.”

9    This was the Lord’s reply to Moses. 

10  “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people now or in future generations are ceremonially unclean at Passover time because of touching a dead body, or if they are on a journey and cannot be present at the ceremony, they may still celebrate the Lord’s Passover. 

11  They must offer the Passover sacrifice one month later, at twilight on the fourteenth day of the second month. They must eat the Passover lamb at that time with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast.

12  They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones. They must follow all the normal regulations concerning the Passover.

13  “But those who neglect to celebrate the Passover at the regular time, even though they are ceremonially clean and not away on a trip, will be cut off from the community of Israel. If they fail to present the Lord’s offering at the proper time, they will suffer the consequences of their guilt. 

14  And if foreigners living among you want to celebrate the Passover to the Lord, they must follow these same decrees and regulations. The same laws apply both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you.”

JOHN 7:40-44

DIVISION AND BELIEF

40  When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.” 

41  Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? 

42  For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.”

43  So the crowd was divided about him. 

44  Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.

Numbers 8:20-26 and John 7:37-39 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 8:20-26
THE PURIFICATION AND DEDICATION OF THE LEVITES
20  So Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel dedicated the Levites, carefully following all the Lord’s instructions to Moses.
21  The Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes, and Aaron lifted them up and presented them to the Lord as a special offering. He then offered a sacrifice to purify them and make them right with the Lord.
22  After that the Levites went into the Tabernacle to perform their duties, assisting Aaron and his sons. So they carried out all the commands that the Lord gave Moses concerning the Levites.
23  The Lord also instructed Moses,
24  “This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five,
25  and they must retire at the age of fifty.
26  After retirement they may assist their fellow Levites by serving as guards at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate in the service. This is how you must assign duties to the Levites.”

JOHN 7:37-39
STREAMS OF LIFE-GIVING WATER
37  On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 
38  Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
39  (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

Numbers 8:5-19 and John 7:32-36 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 8:5-19
THE PURIFICATION AND DEDICATION OF THE LEVITES

5    Then the Lord said to Moses, 

6    “Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean. 

7    Do this by sprinkling them with the water of purification, and have them shave their entire body and wash their clothing. Then they will be ceremonially clean. 

8    Have them bring a young bull and a grain offering of choice flour moistened with olive oil, along with a second young bull for a sin offering. 

9    Then assemble the whole community of Israel, and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle.

10  When you present the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them. 

11  Raising his hands, Aaron must then present the Levites to the Lord as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the Lord’s service.

12  “Next the Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls. Present one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord, to purify the Levites and make them right with the Lord.

13  Then have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and raise your hands and present them as a special offering to the Lord. 

14  In this way, you will set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel, and the Levites will belong to me. 

15  After this, they may go into the Tabernacle to do their work, because you have purified them and presented them as a special offering.

16  “Of all the people of Israel, the Levites are reserved for me. I have claimed them for myself in place of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites; I have taken the Levites as their substitutes. 

17  For all the firstborn males among the people of Israel are mine, both of people and of animals. I set them apart for myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. 

18  Yes, I have claimed the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel. 

19  And of all the Israelites, I have assigned the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They will serve in the Tabernacle on behalf of the Israelites and make sacrifices to purify the people so no plague will strike them when they approach the sanctuary.”

JOHN 7:32-36

GUARDS ARE SENT TO ARREST JESUS

32  When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus.
33  But Jesus told them, “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me.
34  You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.”
35  The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. “Where is he planning to go?” they asked. “Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks!
36  What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’ and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?”

Numbers 8:1-4 and John 7:25-31 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 8:1-4

PLACING THE LAMPS

1  The Lord said to Moses, 

2  “Give Aaron the following instructions: When you set up the seven lamps in the lampstand, place them so their light shines forward in front of the lampstand.” 

3  So Aaron did this. He set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 

4  The entire lampstand, from its base to its decorative blossoms, was made of beaten gold. It was built according to the exact design the Lord had shown Moses.

JOHN 7:25-31

IS HE THE MESSIAH?

25  Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 

26  But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? 

27  But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.”

28  While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. 

29  But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.” 

30  Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.

31  Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?”

Numbers 7:54-89 and John 7:10-24 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 7:54-89
THE OFFERINGS OF THE LEADERS (continued)

54  On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the tribe of Manasseh, presented his offering.

55  His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. 

56  He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. 

57  He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 

58  and a male goat for a sin offering. 

59  For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

60  On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the tribe of Benjamin, presented his offering.

61  His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. 

62  He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. 

63  He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 

64  and a male goat for a sin offering. 

65  For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Abidan son of Gideoni.

66  On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the tribe of Dan, presented his offering.

67  His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. 

68  He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. 

69  He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 

70  and a male goat for a sin offering. 

71  For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

72  On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, leader of the tribe of Asher, presented his offering.

73  His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. 

74  He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. 

75  He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 

76  and a male goat for a sin offering. 

77  For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Pagiel son of Ocran.

78  On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the tribe of Naphtali, presented his offering.

79  His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. 

80  He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. 

81  He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 

82  and a male goat for a sin offering. 

83  For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Ahira son of Enan.

84  So this was the dedication offering brought by the leaders of Israel at the time the altar was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver basins, and twelve gold incense containers. 

85  Each silver platter weighed 3 1⁄4 pounds, and each silver basin weighed 1 3⁄4 pounds. The total weight of the silver was 60 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). 

86  Each of the twelve gold containers that was filled with incense weighed four ounces (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). The total weight of the gold was three pounds.

87  Twelve young bulls, twelve rams, and twelve one-year-old male lambs were donated for the burnt offerings, along with their prescribed grain offerings. Twelve male goats were brought for the sin offerings.

88  Twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty one-year-old male lambs were donated for the peace offerings. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

89  Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The Lord spoke to him from there.

JOHN 7:10-24

JESUS AT THE FESTIVAL OF SHELTERS

10  But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view.

11  The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. 

12  There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.” 

13  But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.

14  Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. 

15  The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked.

16  So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. 

17  Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. 

18  Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. 

19  Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.”

20  The crowd replied, “You’re demon possessed! Who’s trying to kill you?”

21  Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. 

22  But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) 

23  For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? 

24  Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”

Numbers 7:30-53 and John 7:1-9 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 7:30-53
THE OFFERINGS OF THE LEADERS (continued)

30  On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the tribe of Reuben, presented his offering.

31  His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. 

32  He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. 

33  He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 

34  and a male goat for a sin offering. 

35  For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Elizur son of Shedeur.

36  On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the tribe of Simeon, presented his offering.

37  His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. 

38  He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. 

39  He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 

40  and a male goat for a sin offering. 

41  For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

42  On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the tribe of Gad, presented his offering.

43  His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. 

44  He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. 

45  He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 

46  and a male goat for a sin offering. 

47  For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Eliasaph son of Deuel.

48  On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the tribe of Ephraim, presented his offering.

49  His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. 

50  He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. 

51  He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 

52  and a male goat for a sin offering. 

53  For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Elishama son of Ammihud.

JOHN 7:1-9

JESUS AND HIS BROTHERS

1  After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. 

2  But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, 

3  and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! 

4  You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” 

5  For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.

6  Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. 

7  The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. 

8  You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” 

9  After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee.

Numbers 7:12-29 and John 6:60-71 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 7:12-29
THE OFFERINGS OF THE LEADERS

12  On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab, leader of the tribe of Judah, presented his offering.

13  His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. 

14  He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. 

15  He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 

16  and a male goat for a sin offering. 

17  For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Nahshon son of Amminadab.

18  On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of the tribe of Issachar, presented his offering.

19  His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. 

20  He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. 

21  He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 

22  and a male goat for a sin offering. 

23  For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Nethanel son of Zuar.

24  On the third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the tribe of Zebulun, presented his offering.

25  His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. 

26  He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. 

27  He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 

28  and a male goat for a sin offering. 

29  For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Eliab son of Helon.

JOHN 6:60-71

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

60  Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”

61  Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 

62  Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 

63  The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 

64  But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 

65  Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

66  At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 

67  Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

68  Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 

69  We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

70  Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” 

71  He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.

Numbers 7:1-11 and John 6:25-59 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 7:1-11
THE OFFERINGS OF THE LEADERS

1    On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy. He also anointed and set apart all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils. 

2    Then the leaders of Israel—the tribal leaders who had registered the troops—came and brought their offerings. 

3    Together they brought six large wagons and twelve oxen. There was a wagon for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. They presented these to the Lord in front of the Tabernacle.

4    Then the Lord said to Moses, 

5    “Receive their gifts, and use these oxen and wagons for transporting the Tabernacle. Distribute them among the Levites according to the work they have to do.” 

6    So Moses took the wagons and oxen and presented them to the Levites. 

7    He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonite division for their work, 

8    and he gave four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarite division for their work. All their work was done under the leadership of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 

9    But he gave none of the wagons or oxen to the Kohathite division, since they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders.

10  The leaders also presented dedication gifts for the altar at the time it was anointed. They each placed their gifts before the altar. 

11  The Lord said to Moses, “Let one leader bring his gift each day for the dedication of the altar.”

JOHN 6:25-59

JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE

25  They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26  Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 

27  But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

28  They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”

29  Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

30  They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 

31  After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32  Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 

33  The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34  “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

35  Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 

36  But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. 

37  However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 

38  For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 

39  And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. 

40  For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”

41  Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 

42  They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

43  But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. 

44  For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. 

45  As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 

46  (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)

47  “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. 

48  Yes, I am the bread of life! 

49  Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 

50  Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. 

51  I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

52  Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

53  So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 

54  But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. 

55  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 

56  Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 

57  I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. 

58  I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

59  He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Numbers 6:16-27 and John 6:22-24 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 6:16-27
THE PRIESTLY BLESSING
16  The priest will present these offerings before the Lord: first the sin offering and the burnt offering;
17  then the ram for a peace offering, along with the basket of bread made without yeast. The priest must also present the prescribed grain offering and liquid offering to the Lord.
18  “Then the Nazirites will shave their heads at the entrance of the Tabernacle. They will take the hair that had been dedicated and place it on the fire beneath the peace-offering sacrifice.
19  After the Nazirite’s head has been shaved, the priest will take for each of them the boiled shoulder of the ram, and he will take from the basket a cake and a wafer made without yeast. He will put them all into the Nazirite’s hands.
20  Then the priest will lift them up as a special offering before the Lord. These are holy portions for the priest, along with the breast of the special offering and the thigh of the sacred offering that are lifted up before the Lord. After this ceremony the Nazirites may again drink wine.
21  “This is the ritual law of the Nazirites, who vow to bring these offerings to the Lord. They may also bring additional offerings if they can afford it. And they must be careful to do whatever they vowed when they set themselves apart as Nazirites.”  
22  Then the Lord said to Moses,
23  “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:
24  ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you.
25  May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
26  May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’
27  Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”

JOHN 6:22-24

JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE

22  The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. 

23  Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. 

24  So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him.

Numbers 6:9-15 and John 6:16-21 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 6:9-15
RULES FOR NAZIRITES (continued)
9    “If someone falls dead beside them, the hair they have dedicated will be defiled. They must wait for seven days and then shave their heads. Then they will be cleansed from their defilement.
10  On the eighth day they must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
11  The priest will offer one of the birds for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way, he will purify them from the guilt they incurred through contact with the dead body. Then they must reaffirm their commitment and let their hair begin to grow again.
12  The days of their vow that were completed before their defilement no longer count. They must rededicate themselves to the Lord as a Nazirite for the full term of their vow, and each must bring a one-year-old male lamb for a guilt offering.
13  “This is the ritual law for Nazirites. At the conclusion of their time of separation as Nazirites, they must each go to the entrance of the Tabernacle
14  and offer their sacrifices to the Lord: a one-year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a one-year-old female lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a peace offering,
15  a basket of bread made without yeast—cakes of choice flour mixed with olive oil and wafers spread with olive oil—along with their prescribed grain offerings and liquid offerings.

JOHN 6:16-21
JESUS WALKS ON THE WATER
16  That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. 
17  But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. 
18  Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. 
19  They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 
20  but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” 
21  Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!

Numbers 6:1-8 and John 6:1-15 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 6:1-8
RULES FOR NAZIRITES

1  Then the Lord said to Moses, 

2   “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel.  “If any of the people, either men or women, take the special vow of a Nazirite, setting themselves apart to the Lord in a special way, 

3  they must give up wine and other alcoholic drinks. They must not use vinegar made from wine or from other alcoholic drinks, they must not drink fresh grape juice, and they must not eat grapes or raisins. 

4  As long as they are bound by their Nazirite vow, they are not allowed to eat or drink anything that comes from a grapevine—not even the grape seeds or skins.

5  “They must never cut their hair throughout the time of their vow, for they are holy and set apart to the Lord. Until the time of their vow has been fulfilled, they must let their hair grow long. 

6  And they must not go near a dead body during the entire period of their vow to the Lord. 

7  Even if the dead person is their own father, mother, brother, or sister, they must not defile themselves, for the hair on their head is the symbol of their separation to God. 

8  This requirement applies as long as they are set apart to the Lord.

JOHN 6:1-15

JESUS FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND MEN

1    After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 

2    A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. 

3    Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. 

4    (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) 

5    Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” 

6    He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.

7    Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

8    Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 

9    “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

10  “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) 

11  Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. 

12  After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.”

13  So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.

14  When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!”

15  When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.

Numbers 5:23-31 and John 5:30-47 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 5:23-31
CASES OF WIVES WITH SUSPICIOUS HUSBANDS
23  And the priest will write these curses on a piece of leather and wash them off into the bitter water.
24  He will make the woman drink the bitter water that brings on the curse. When the water enters her body, it will cause bitter suffering if she is guilty.
25  “The priest will take the jealousy offering from the woman’s hand, lift it up before the Lord, and carry it to the altar.
26  He will take a handful of the flour as a token portion and burn it on the altar, and he will require the woman to drink the water.
27  If she has defiled herself by being unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings on the curse will cause bitter suffering. Her abdomen will swell and her womb will shrink, and her name will become a curse among her people.
28  But if she has not defiled herself and is pure, then she will be unharmed and will still be able to have children.
29  “This is the ritual law for dealing with suspicion. If a woman goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority,
30  or if a man becomes jealous and is suspicious that his wife has been unfaithful, the husband must present his wife before the Lord, and the priest will apply this entire ritual law to her.
31  The husband will be innocent of any guilt in this matter, but his wife will be held accountable for her sin.”

JOHN 5:30-47
WITNESSES TO JESUS
30  I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will. 
31  “If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. 
32  But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true.
33  In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. 
34  Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. 
35  John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. 
36  But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. 
37  And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, 
38  and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.
39  “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!
40  Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.
41  “Your approval means nothing to me, 
42  because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. 
43  For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. 
44  No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.
45  “Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. 
46  If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 
47  But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

Numbers 5:11-22 and John 5:19-29 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 5:11-22
CASES OF WIVES WITH SUSPICIOUS HUSBAND

11  And the Lord said to Moses, 

12  “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel.  “Suppose a man’s wife goes astray, and she is unfaithful to her husband 

13  and has sex with another man, but neither her husband nor anyone else knows about it. She has defiled herself, even though there was no witness and she was not caught in the act. 

14  If her husband becomes jealous and is suspicious of his wife and needs to know whether or not she has defiled herself, 

15  the husband must bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring an offering of two quarts of barley flour to be presented on her behalf. Do not mix it with olive oil or frankincense, for it is a jealousy offering—an offering to prove whether or not she is guilty.

16  “The priest will then present her to stand trial before the Lord. 

17  He must take some holy water in a clay jar and pour into it dust he has taken from the Tabernacle floor.

18  When the priest has presented the woman before the Lord, he must unbind her hair and place in her hands the offering of proof—the jealousy offering to determine whether her husband’s suspicions are justified. The priest will stand before her, holding the jar of bitter water that brings a curse to those who are guilty. 

19  The priest will then put the woman under oath and say to her, ‘If no other man has had sex with you, and you have not gone astray and defiled yourself while under your husband’s authority, may you be immune from the effects of this bitter water that brings on the curse. 

20  But if you have gone astray by being unfaithful to your husband, and have defiled yourself by having sex with another man—’

21  “At this point the priest must put the woman under oath by saying, ‘May the people know that the Lord’s curse is upon you when he makes you infertile, causing your womb to shrivel and your abdomen to swell. 

22  Now may this water that brings the curse enter your body and cause your abdomen to swell and your womb to shrivel’ And the woman will be required to say, ‘Yes, let it be so.’

JOHN 5:19-29

THE AUTHORITY OF THE SON

19  So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 
20  For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. 
21  For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. 
22  In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, 
23  so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.
24  “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
25  “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 
26  The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son.
27  And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man.
28  Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son,
29  and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.

Numbers 5:5-10 and John 5:1-18 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 5:5-10
REPAYMENT FOR WRONGS DONE
5    Then the Lord said to Moses,
6    “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people—men or women—betray the Lord by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty.
7    They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding an additional 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged.
8    But if the person who was wronged is dead, and there are no near relatives to whom restitution can be made, the payment belongs to the Lord and must be given to the priest. Those who are guilty must also bring a ram as a sacrifice, and they will be purified and made right with the Lord.
9    All the sacred offerings that the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him.
10  Each priest may keep all the sacred donations that he receives.”

JOHN 5:1-18
THE HEALING AT THE POOL
1    Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days.
2    Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches.
3    Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches.
5    One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years.
6    When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”
7    “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
8    Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
9    Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath,
10  so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”
11  But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”
12  “Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded.
13  The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd.
14  But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” 
15  Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.  
16  So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules.
17  But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” 
18  So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.

Numbers 5:1-4 and John 4:43-54 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 5:1-4
UNCLEAN PEOPLE
1  The Lord gave these instructions to Moses:
2  “Command the people of Israel to remove from the camp anyone who has a skin disease or a discharge, or who has become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead person.
3  This command applies to men and women alike. Remove them so they will not defile the camp in which I live among them.”
4  So the Israelites did as the Lord had commanded Moses and removed such people from the camp.

JOHN 4:43-54
JESUS HEALS AN OFFICIAL'S SON

43  At the end of the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee. 

44  He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown. 

45  Yet the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.

46  As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. 

47  When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.

48  Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”

49  The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”

50  Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.

51  While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. 

52  He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” 

53  Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. 

54  This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.

Numbers 4:34-49 and John 4:1-42 (New Living Translation)

NUMBERS 4:34-49
THE CENSUS OF THE LEVITES

34  So Moses, Aaron, and the other leaders of the community listed the members of the Kohathite division by their clans and families. 

35  The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle, 

36  and the total number came to 2,750. 

37  So this was the total of all those from the Kohathite clans who were eligible to serve at the Tabernacle. Moses and Aaron listed them, just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

38  The Gershonite division was also listed by its clans and families. 

39  The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle, 

40  and the total number came to 2,630. 

41  So this was the total of all those from the Gershonite clans who were eligible to serve at the Tabernacle. Moses and Aaron listed them, just as the Lord had commanded.

42  The Merarite division was also listed by its clans and families. 

43  The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle, 

44  and the total number came to 3,200. 

45  So this was the total of all those from the Merarite clans who were eligible for service. Moses and Aaron listed them, just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

46  So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel listed all the Levites by their clans and families. 

47  All the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle and for its transportation 

48  numbered 8,580. 

49  When their names were recorded, as the Lord had commanded through Moses, each man was assigned his task and told what to carry.  And so the registration was completed, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

JOHN 4:1-42

JESUS AND THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

1    Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 

2    (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 

3    So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.

4    He had to go through Samaria on the way. 

5    Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6    Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.

7    Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink.” 

8    He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

9    The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

10  Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

11  “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 

12  And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

13  Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 

14  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

15  “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

16  “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.

17  “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.  Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 

18  for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

19  “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 

20  So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”

21  Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 

22  You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 

23  But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 

24  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

25  The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26  Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”

27  Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 

28  The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 

29  “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 

30  So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

31  Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”

32  But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”

33  “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.

34  Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 

35  You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 

36  The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 

37  You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 

38   I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”  

39  Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” 

40  When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days,

41  long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. 

42  Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”

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