John 7:31-53

31But many from the crowd believed in Him. And they kept saying, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs and exhibit more proofs than this Man?”

32The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things [under their breath] about Him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent guards to arrest Him.

33Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am [still] with you, and then I go to Him who sent Me.

34You will look for Me, and will not [be able to] find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.”

35Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does this Man intend to go that we will not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion [of Jews scattered and living] among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?

36What does this statement of His mean, ‘You will look for Me, and will not [be able to] find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”

37Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!

38He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’ ”

39But He was speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were to receive afterward. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).

40Listening to these words, some of the people said, “This is certainly the Prophet!”

41Others said, “This is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)!” But others said, “Surely the Christ is not going to come out of Galilee, is He?

42Does the Scripture not say that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”

43So the crowd was divided because of Him.

44Some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

45Then the guards went [back] to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring Him [here with you]?”

46The guards replied, “Never [at any time] has a man talked the way this Man talks!”

47Then the Pharisees said to them, “Have you also been deluded and swept off your feet?

48Has any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?

49But this [ignorant, contemptible] crowd that does not know the Law is accursed and doomed!”

50Nicodemus (the one who came to Jesus before and was one of them) asked,

51“Does our Law convict someone without first giving him a hearing and finding out what he is [accused of] doing?”

52They responded, “Are you also from Galilee? Search [and read the Scriptures], and see [for yourself] that no prophet comes from Galilee!”

53[And everyone went to his own house.