JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEPARTURE

21 Then he said to them again, “I’m going away;ae you will look for me, and you will die in your sin.af Where I’m going, you cannot come.”ag

22 So the Jews said again, “He won’t kill himself, will he, since he says, ‘Where I’m going, you cannot come’ah?”

23 “You are from below,” he told them, “I am from above.ai You are of this world;aj I am not of this world.ak 24 Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

25 “Who are you?” they questioned.

“Exactly what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. 26 “I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the one who sent meal is true, and what I have heard from him—these things I tell the world.”am

27 They did not know he was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man,an then you will know that I amao he, and that I do nothing on my own.ap But just as the Father taught me, I say these things. 29 The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone,aq because I always do what pleases him.”

TRUTH AND FREEDOM

30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word,* a you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth,b and the truth will set you free.”

33 “We are descendants* of Abraham,”c they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.d 35 A slave does not remain in the household forever,e but a son does remain forever.f 36 So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37 I know you are descendants of Abraham,g but you are trying to kill me because my word has no place among you. 38 I speak what I have seenh in the presence of the Father;C,i so then, you do what you have heard from your father.”