Jerusalem, sing and be happy! Israel, shout for joy! Jerusalem, be happy and have fun! The LORD stopped your punishment. He destroyed your enemies' strong towers. King of Israel, the LORD is with you. You don't need to worry about anything bad happening. At that time Jerusalem will be told, "Be strong, don't be afraid! The LORD your God is with you. He is like a powerful soldier. He will save you. He will show how much he loves you and how happy he is with you. He will laugh and be happy about you,

In the past God spoke to our people through the prophets. He spoke to them many times and in many different ways. And now in these last days, God has spoken to us again through his Son. He made the whole world through his Son. And he has chosen his Son to have all things. The Son shows the glory of God. He is a perfect copy of God's nature, and he holds everything together by his powerful command. The Son made people clean from their sins. Then he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven.

The Son became much greater than the angels, and God gave him a name that is much greater than any of their names. God never said this to any of the angels: "You are my Son. Today I have become your Father." God also never said about an angel, "I will be his Father, and he will be my son." And then, when God presents his firstborn Son to the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." This is what God said about the angels: "He changes his angels into winds and his servants into flaming fire." But this is what he said about his Son: "God, your kingdom will last forever and ever. You use your authority for justice. You love what is right and hate what is wrong. So God, your God, has chosen you, giving you more honor and joy than anyone like you."

It was winter, and the time came for the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. Jesus was in the Temple area at Solomon's Porch. The Jewish leaders gathered around him. They said, "How long will you make us wonder about you? If you are the Messiah, then tell us clearly." Jesus answered, "I told you already, but you did not believe. I do miracles in my Father's name. These miracles show who I am. But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep.  My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me.

I give my sheep eternal life. They will never die, and no one can take them out of my hand. My Father is the one who gave them to me, and he is greater than all. No one can steal my sheep out of his hand. The Father and I are one." Again the Jews there picked up stones to kill Jesus. But he said to them, "The many wonderful things you have seen me do are from the Father. Which of these good things are you killing me for?" They answered, "We are not killing you for any good thing you did. But you say things that insult God. You are only a man, but you say you are the same as God! That is why we are trying to kill you!"