18 “aNo one has taken it away from Me, but I blay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. cThis commandment I received from My Father.”

19 aA division occurred again among the Jews because of these words.

20 Many of them were saying, “He ahas a demon and bis insane. Why do you listen to Him?”

21 Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one ademon-possessed. bA demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?”

Jesus Asserts His Deity

22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem;

23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of aSolomon.

24 aThe Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long 1will You keep us in suspense? If You are 2the Christ, tell us bplainly.”

25 Jesus answered them, “aI told you, and you do not believe; bthe works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.

26 “But you do not believe because ayou are not of My sheep.

27 “My sheep ahear My voice, and bI know them, and they follow Me;

28 and I give aeternal life to them, and they will never perish; and bno one will snatch them out of My hand.

29 “1My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.