John 8:48–58

Jesus and Abraham

⁴⁸They asked Jesus, “Were we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon in you?”

⁴⁹“I have no demon,” Jesus answered. “I honour my Father, but you dishonour me. ⁵⁰I am not seeking honour for myself. But there is one who is seeking it and who judges in my favour. ⁵¹I am telling you the truth: whoever obeys my teaching will never die.”

⁵²They said to him, “Now we are certain that you have a demon! Abraham died, and the prophets died, yet you say that whoever obeys your teaching will never die. ⁵³Our father Abraham died; you do not claim to be greater than Abraham, do you? And the prophets also died. Who do you think you are?”

⁵⁴Jesus answered, “If I were to honour myself, that honour would be worth nothing. The one who honours me is my Father—the very one you say is your God. ⁵⁵You have never known him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his word. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see the time of my coming; he saw it and was glad.”

⁵⁷They said to him, “You are not even fifty years old—and you have seen Abraham?”^w

⁵⁸“I am telling you the truth,” Jesus replied. “Before Abraham was born, ‘I Am’.”