John 3:29

3:29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly ¹  when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. ² 

John 12:26

12:26 If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow ³  me, and where I am, my servant will be too. ⁴  If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

John 14:24

14:24 The person who does not love me does not obey ⁵  my words. And the word ⁶  you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

[3:29]  ¹ tn Grk “rejoices with joy” (an idiom).

[3:29]  ² tn Grk “Therefore this my joy is fulfilled.”

[12:26]  ³ tn As a third person imperative in Greek, ἀκολουθείτω (akolouqeitw) is usually translated “let him follow me.” This could be understood by the modern English reader as merely permissive, however (“he may follow me if he wishes”). In this context there is no permissive sense, but rather a command, so the translation “he must follow me” is preferred.

[12:26]  ⁴ tn Grk “where I am, there my servant will be too.”

[14:24]  ⁵ tn Or “does not keep.”

[14:24]  ⁶ tn Or “the message.”