John's Story: The Last Eyewitness

by Tim LaHaye

  9“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me,a that they may be one as We are. 12While I was with them in the world,a I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept;b and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

  Jesus Prays for All Believers

  20“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who willa believe in Me through their word; 21that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

  24“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

  Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane

  18 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

  5They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

  Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

  7Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”

  And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

  8Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

  10Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

  11So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

  Before the High Priest

  12Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.

  13And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

  Peter Denies Jesus

  15And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did anothera disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”

  He said, “I am not.”

  18Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

  Jesus Questioned by the High Priest

  19The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

  20Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet,a and in secret I have said nothing. 21Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

  22And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

  23Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

  24Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

  Peter Denies Twice More

  25Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”

  He denied it and said, “I am not!”

  26One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

  In Pilate’s Court

  28Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

  30They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”

  31Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”

  Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” 32that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.

  33Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

  34Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”

  35Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

  36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

  37Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

  Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

  38Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

  Taking the Place of Barabbas

  39“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

  40Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

  The Soldiers Mock Jesus

  19 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3Then they said,a “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.

  4Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

  Pilate’s Decision

  5Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them,
“Behold the Man!”

  6Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

  Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

  7The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to oura law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”

  8Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid,

  9and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

  10Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”

  11Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

  12From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

  13When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

  15But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”

  Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

  The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

  16Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.a

  The King on a Cross

  17And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, 18where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 19Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:

  JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

  20Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

  21Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”

  22Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

  23Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

  “They divided My garments among them,

  And for My clothing they cast lots.”a

  Therefore the soldiers did these things.

  Behold Your Mother

  25Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

  It Is Finished

  28After this, Jesus, knowinga that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.

  30So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

  Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

  31Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”a 37And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”a

  Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb

  38After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.

  39And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

  The Empty Tomb

  20 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

  3Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

  Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord

  11But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

  She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

  14Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

  She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

  16Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

  She turned and said to Him,a “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

  17Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”

  18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord,a and that He had spoken these things to her.

  The Apostles Commissioned

  19Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled,a for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

  21So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any,
they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

  Seeing and Believing

  24Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

  So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

  26And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

  28And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

  29Jesus said to him, “Thomas,a because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

  That You May Believe

  30And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;

  31but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.