John 8:26–42

²⁶I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”^{* 27}They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. ²⁸So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he^d and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me.^{* 29}And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.”^{* 30}As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

True Disciples

³¹Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”^{* 33}They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”^*

³⁴Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.^{* 35}The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.^{* 36}So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. ³⁷I know that you are descendants of Abraham, yet you look for an opportunity to kill me because there is no place in you for my word. ³⁸I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.”^e*

Jesus and Abraham

³⁹They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, you would do^f what Abraham did,^{* 40}but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. ⁴¹You are indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one Father, God himself.”^{* 42}Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God, and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me.^*