John 8:28–59

²⁸So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the ^•Son of Man, ^wthen you will know that I am ^xHe, and that I do nothing on My own. ^yBut just as the Father taught Me, I say these things. ²⁹The One who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, ^zbecause I always do what pleases Him.”

Truth and Freedom

³⁰As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. ³¹So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, ^abyou really are My disciples. ³²You will know the truth, ^cand the truth will set you free.”

³³“We are descendants ^dof Abraham,” ^ethey answered Him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free’?”

³⁴Jesus responded, “^•I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a ^•slave of sin. ^f35A slave does not remain in the household forever, ^gbut a son does remain forever. ^h36Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. ³⁷I know you are descendants ⁱof Abraham, ^jbut you are trying to kill Me because My word ^kis not welcome among you. ³⁸I speak what I have seen ^lin the presence of the Father; ^mntherefore, 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. ^o40But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth ^pthat I heard from God. Abraham did not do this! ⁴¹You’re doing what your father does.” ^q

“We weren’t born ^rof sexual immorality,” ^sthey said. “We have one Father—God.” ^t

⁴²Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, ^ubecause I came from God ^vand I am here. For I didn’t come on My own, but He sent Me. ⁴³Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to ^wMy word. ^x44You are of your father the Devil, ^yand you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer ^zfrom the beginning ^aand has not stood in the truth, ^bbecause there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, ^cbecause he is a liar and the father of liars. ^d45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. ⁴⁶Who among you can convict Me of sin? ^eIf I tell the truth, why don’t you believe Me? ⁴⁷The 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

⁴⁸The Jews responded to Him, “Aren’t we right in saying that You’re a Samaritan ^fand have a demon?” ^g

⁴⁹“I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor My Father and you dishonor Me. ⁵⁰I do not seek My glory; ^hthe One who seeks it also judges. ⁵¹I assure you: If anyone keeps My word, ⁱhe will never see death—ever!”

⁵²Then 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—ever!’ ⁵³Are You greater than our father Abraham who died? Even the prophets died. Who do You pretend to be?” ^j

⁵⁴“If I glorify Myself,” Jesus answered, “My glory is nothing. My Father—you say about Him, ‘He is our God’—He is the One who glorifies Me. ⁵⁵You’ve never known Him, but I know Him. If I were to say I don’t know Him, ^kI would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, ^land I keep His word. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day; he saw it ^mand rejoiced.”

⁵⁷The Jews replied, “You aren’t 50 years old yet, and You’ve seen Abraham?” ⁿ

⁵⁸Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.” ^op

⁵⁹At that, they picked up stones ^qto throw at Him. ^rBut Jesus was hidden ^stand went out of the temple complex. ^uv