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.”

39 “Our father is Abraham,” they replied.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” Jesus told them, “you would do what Abraham did.j 40 But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truthk that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You’re doing what your father does.”l

“We weren’t bornm of sexual immorality,”n they said. “We have one Father—God.”o

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,p because I came from Godq and I am here. For I didn’t come on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen toD my word.r 44 You are of your father the devil,s and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderert from the beginningu and does not stand in the truth,v because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature,E because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Who among you can convict me of sin?w If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”

JESUS AND ABRAHAM

48 The Jews responded to him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re a Samaritanx and have a demon?”y

49 “I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I do not seek my own glory;z there is one who seeks it and judges. 51 Truly I tell you, if anyone keeps my word,aa he will never see death.”

52 Then the Jews said, “Now we know you have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. You say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham who died? And the prophets died. Who do you claim to be?”

54 “If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father—about whom you say, ‘He is our God’—he is the one who glorifies me. 55 You do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say I don’t know him,ab I would be a liar like you. But I do know him,ac and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw itad and was glad.”

57 The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham?”F

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”ae