John 8:28–59

²⁸So Jesus said, “You will lift up the Son of Man. Then you will know that I am the one I claim to be. You will also know that I do nothing on my own. I speak just what the Father has taught me. ²⁹The One who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.”

³⁰Even while Jesus was speaking, many people put their faith in him.

The Children of Abraham

³¹Jesus spoke to the Jews who had believed him. “If you obey my teaching,” he said, “you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth. And the truth will set you free.”

³³They answered him, “We are Abraham’s children. We have never been slaves of anyone. So how can you say that we will be set free?”

³⁴Jesus replied, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Everyone who sins is a slave of sin. ³⁵A slave has no lasting place in the family. But a son belongs to the family forever. ³⁶So if the Son of Man sets you free, you will really be free.

³⁷“I know you are Abraham’s children. But you are ready to kill me. You have no room for my word. ³⁸I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. You do what you have heard from your father.”

³⁹“Abraham is our father,” they answered.

Jesus said, “Are you really Abraham’s children? If you are, you will do the things Abraham did. ⁴⁰But you have decided to kill me. I am a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do the things you want to do. ⁴¹You are doing the things your own father does.”

“We are not children of people who weren’t married to each other,” they objected. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

The Children of the Devil

⁴²Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me. I came from God, and now I am here. I have not come on my own. He sent me.

⁴³“Why aren’t my words clear to you? Because you can’t really hear what I say. ⁴⁴You belong to your father, the devil. You want to obey your father’s wishes.

“From the beginning, the devil was a murderer. He has never obeyed the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his natural language. He does this because he is a liar. He is the father of lies.

⁴⁵“But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me! ⁴⁶Can any of you prove I am guilty of sinning? Am I not telling the truth? Then why don’t you believe me?

⁴⁷“Everyone who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you don’t hear is that you don’t belong to God.”

Jesus Makes Claims About Himself

⁴⁸The Jews answered Jesus, “Aren’t we right when we say you are a Samaritan? Aren’t you controlled by a demon?”

⁴⁹“I am not controlled by a demon,” said Jesus. “I honor my Father. You do not honor me. ⁵⁰I am not seeking glory for myself. But there is One who brings glory to me. He is the judge. ⁵¹What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who obeys my word will never die.”

⁵²Then the Jews cried out, “Now we know you are controlled by a demon! Abraham died. So did the prophets. But you say that anyone who obeys your word will never die. ⁵³Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died. So did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

⁵⁴Jesus replied, “If I bring glory to myself, my glory means nothing. You claim that my Father is your God. He is the one who brings glory to me. ⁵⁵You do not know him. But I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him. And I obey his word.

⁵⁶“Your father Abraham was filled with joy at the thought of seeing my day. He saw it and was glad.”

⁵⁷“You are not even 50 years old,” the Jews said to Jesus. “And you have seen Abraham?”

⁵⁸“What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered. “Before Abraham was born, I am!”

⁵⁹When he said this, they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself. He slipped away from the temple area.