17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my lifee—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.f I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”g

19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided.h 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessedi and raving mad.j Why listen to him?”

21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon.k Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”l

Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

22 Then came the Festival of Dedicationb at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.m 24 The Jewsn who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”o

25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you,p but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,q 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.r 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,s and they follow me.t 28 I give them eternal life,u and they shall never perish;v no one will snatch them out of my hand.w 29 My Father, who has given them to me,x is greater than allc;y no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”z

31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him,a 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”b

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law,c ‘I have said you are “gods” ’d?d 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of Gode came—and Scripture cannot be set asidef—36 what about the one whom the Father set apartg as his very ownh and sent into the world?i Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?j 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.k 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”l 39 Again they tried to seize him,m but he escaped their grasp.n

40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordano to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign,p all that John said about this man was true.”q 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.r