John 7:15-28

¹⁵The Jewish elders were amazed at what he was saying. They said, “This man never studied in one of our religious schools! So ◄how can he have learned so much about Scripture?/it is difficult for us to believe that he has learned so much about Scripture!► RHQ”

¹⁶Jesus replied to them, “What I teach does not come from myself. It comes from God, the one who sent me.

¹⁷Those who choose to do what God wants will find out whether what I teach comes from God or whether I am speaking with only my own authority.

¹⁸Those who speak with only their own authority do that only so that others will honor them. But I am doing things so that others will honor the one who sent me, and I am someone who speaks the truth. I never lie.

¹⁹Think about the laws that Moses gave you RHQ. None of you completely obeys those laws. So why are you trying to kill me, saying I do not obey the laws concerning ◄ the Sabbath/the Jewish day of rest►?”

²⁰Someone in the crowd answered, “ By saying this you show that you are crazy (OR, A demon is controlling you)! Certainly no one is trying to kill you!”

²¹Jesus replied to them, “Because I did a miracle of healing someone ◄on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day►, you are all shocked.

²²Moses gave you a law that you must circumcise the male children and that you must do that exactly seven days after they are born. Actually, it was your ancestors, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, not Moses, who started that ritual. But because of that law, you sometimes circumcise them ◄on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day►, but that is working, too

²³You sometimes circumcise boys ◄on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day► so that the law of Moses is not disobeyed { you do not disobey the law of Moses}, so ◄it is ridiculous that you are angry with me, saying I worked ◄on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day► by healing a man!/why are you angry with me, saying I worked ◄on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day► by healing a man?► RHQ Healing someone is far more helpful than circumcising a baby boy!

²⁴Stop deciding whether my healing this man is wrong according to what you see! Instead, decide according to what is really the right action to help people”!

²⁵Some of the people from Jerusalem were saying, “◄This is the man that they are trying to kill!/Isn't this the man that they are trying to kill?► RHQ

²⁶He is saying these things ◄publicly/in front of many people►, but our Jewish rulers are not saying anything to oppose him. Is that because they have decided that he is truly ◄the Messiah/God's chosen king►?

²⁷But he cannot be the Messiah, because we know where this man came from. When the Messiah really comes, no one will know where he comes from.”

²⁸They said that because they thought Jesus was born in Nazareth. So while Jesus was teaching people in the Temple courtyard, he shouted, “Yes, you say that you know me, and you think you know IRO where I am from. But I have come here not ◄because I appointed myself/with my own authority►. Instead, God is the one who truly sent me. You do not know him.