John 8:39–59

³⁹“Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,”^k said Jesus, “then you would^c do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,^l a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.^m Abraham did not do such things. ⁴¹You are doing the works of your own father.”ⁿ

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”^o

⁴²Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,^p for I have come here from God.^q I have not come on my own;^r God sent me.^{s 43}Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴You belong to your father, the devil,^t and you want to carry out your father’s desires.^u He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.^{v 45}Yet because I tell the truth,^w you do not believe me! ⁴⁶Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? ⁴⁷Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.^x The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Jesus’ Claims About Himself

⁴⁸The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan^y and demon-possessed?”^z

⁴⁹“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰I am not seeking glory for myself;^a but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”^b

⁵²At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!^c Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. ⁵³Are you greater than our father Abraham?^d He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

⁵⁴Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,^e my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.^{f 55}Though you do not know him,^g I know him.^h If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.^{i 56}Your father Abraham^j rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it^k and was glad.”

⁵⁷“You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

⁵⁸“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born,^l I am!”^{m 59}At this, they picked up stones to stone him,ⁿ but Jesus hid himself,^o slipping away from the temple grounds.