• Departure for Jerusalem and final departure from Galilee

    PER208 describes the final departure of Jesus and his disciples from Galilee on October 3, AD 32, on their way to Jerusalem for the Feast of Sukkot. Following Luke's account, they pass through Samaria rather than taking the usual route along the Jordan. They arrive on Friday evening, October 8, teach on the Temple Mount, and Jesus gives his discourse on water at Hoshana Rabbah on October 13. The group will remain in the Jerusalem region for six months, until the Passover of April 1, AD 33.

    John 7.16-24 (King James Version) :
    Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
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  • The authorities are looking for the Messiah Jesus in order to arrest him

    During the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, the crowd wonders about the messianic identity of Jesus. Despite the confusion over his origins and the attempts of the religious authorities to arrest him, Jesus teaches publicly in the Temple, reaffirms his divinity and announces his coming departure. Since his hour has not yet come, the guards cannot seize him. This episode, unique to the Gospel of John (7.25-36), illustrates the growing opposition between Jesus and the religious authorities.

    John 7.25-36 (King James Version) :
    Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?
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  • The discourse on living water

    On the last day of the feast of Sukkot (Hoshana Rabbah), the Messiah Jesus proclaims in the Temple of Jerusalem that he is the true source of living water. Taking up the symbolism of the water libation rite, he invites anyone who is thirsty to come to him. John explains that this living water refers to the Holy Spirit, who would be given after Jesus was glorified. Only John reports this episode, dated Wednesday, October 13, AD 32.

    John 4.1-26 (King James Version) :
    When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)He left Judæa, and departed again into Galilee.And he must needs go through Samaria.Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
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  • The conflicting assessment of the people

    On the last day of the Feast of Sukkot in Jerusalem (October AD 32), Jesus proclaims himself to be a source of living water. The crowd is divided: some recognize him as the Messiah, others refuse to accept what is plain. The guards sent to arrest him disobey, impressed by his words. Nicodemus argues for a fair judgment, while the Pharisees put forward flimsy arguments. The opposition of the religious authorities turns fanatical, making Jesus' death their sole objective.

    John 7.51 (King James Version) :
    Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
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  • The woman caught in adultery

    Pericope 217 recounts the episode of the woman caught in adultery (John 8.1-11), in which Pharisees set a trap for Jesus by bringing him a woman caught in the very act. Jesus foils the trap with his famous saying inviting the one who is without sin to cast the first stone, then forgives the woman. This account, whose textual authenticity is debated, illustrates the union of divine justice and mercy, and reveals Jesus' unique authority to justify.

    John 8.7 (King James Version) :
    So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
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  • The Messiah Jesus is the light of the world

    At the Feast of Sukkot in Jerusalem, Jesus proclaims himself the ‘light of the world’ (John 8.12-58), drawing on the symbolism of the great illuminations of the Temple. He gradually reveals his divine identity through debates with the Pharisees, culminating in the statement ‘Before Abraham was, I AM’, an explicit affirmation of his pre-existence and his divinity. To believe in him is to enter into the light, the truth and eternal life.

    Exodus 3.14 (King James Version) :
    And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
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  • Assassination attempt

    On the last day of a feast in Jerusalem (13 October 32), the Pharisees try to stone the Messiah Jesus after his proclamations about his divine origin. Jesus escapes death by hiding among his disciples and leaves the city. He probably withdraws to Bethany beyond the Jordan. Only John reports this episode, based on John 8,59.

    John 8.59 (King James Version) :
    Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
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  • Jesus the Messiah challenged after a miracle

    In Jerusalem, after healing a mute demoniac, Jesus the Messiah is challenged by opponents who attribute his power to Beelzebul and demand another sign. He answers with logical and spiritual arguments, cites the sign of Jonah, redirects a word of praise toward obedience to the Word, and concludes with a metaphor about the inner light. This discourse, reported only by Luke (11.14-36), illustrates two opposite attitudes toward the Messiah: authentic faith and unbelieving rejection.

    Luke 11.28 (King James Version) :
    But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
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