When one of those at the meal with Jesus heard this, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will feast in the kingdom of God!”

“The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it.

For a while he refused, but later on he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people,

Won’t God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long to help them?

I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

When Jesus noticed this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” He answered them, “You say that I am.”

But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!”

(He had not consented to their plan and action.) He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.

But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children

On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.

How can you believe, if you accept praise from one another and don’t seek the praise that comes from the only God?

Jesus replied, “This is the deed God requires – to believe in the one whom he sent.”

It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me.

(Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God – he has seen the Father.)