John 7:31-53

31But many people in the crowd believed in Jesus. They said, ‘This man has done so many miracles. Surely he is the Messiah! Nobody could do more miracles than he has done.’

32The Pharisees heard what these people were saying quietly about Jesus. Then the leaders of the priests and the Pharisees sent some of their officers to take him away.

33Jesus said, ‘I will be with you for only a short time. Then I will return to the one who sent me.

34You will look for me, but you will not find me. You cannot go to the place where I will be.’

35The Jewish leaders asked each other, ‘What is he trying to tell us? Where can he go so that we cannot find him? Perhaps he will go to our people who have gone away to live among the Greek people. Perhaps he will go to teach the Greek people.

36He said, “You will look for me, but you will not find me.” And he also said, “You cannot go to the place where I will be.” What does he mean?’

37The last day of the festival was the most important day. On that day, Jesus stood up and he spoke with a loud voice. He said, ‘If anyone is thirsty, he should come to me so that he may drink.

38It says in the Bible, “God will cause streams of water to pour out from anyone who believes in me. Water that gives life will come out from inside that person.” ’

39Jesus was speaking about God's Spirit, who would come to people some time after that. Those people who believed in Jesus would receive God's Spirit at that later time. But God had not yet given his Spirit to people, because he had not yet raised Jesus back up to heaven.

40The people in the crowd heard Jesus say these words. Some of them said, ‘Surely this man must be the Prophet from God that we have been waiting for!’

41Other people said, ‘This man is the Messiah.’ But some other people said, ‘The Messiah will not come from Galilee!

42The Bible says that the Messiah will come from King David's family. He will come from Bethlehem, the town where David lived.’

43In this way the people had different thoughts about Jesus.

44Some people wanted to take hold of him. But nobody could put their hands on him to take him away.

45The officers returned to the leaders of the priests and the Pharisees. The leaders asked their officers, ‘Why did you not bring Jesus here?’

46The officers answered, ‘Nobody has ever spoken great things like this man speaks.’

47The Pharisees replied, ‘He seems to have made you believe his lies!

48None of the Pharisees or our leaders believe in him.

49But this crowd does not know what God's Law teaches. God will surely punish them.’

50Nicodemus spoke to them. He himself was one of the Pharisees. He was the man who had gone to speak with Jesus before. He said,

51‘We must find out first what this man has done. Then we can decide if it is right to punish him. Our law says that we must listen to him first.’

52They answered Nicodemus, ‘Perhaps you come from Galilee, as well as him! Study what the Bible teaches. You will learn that no prophet of God ever comes from Galilee.’

53[Then everyone went to his own home.]