Twenty - John - 8

8:12  *Jesus again addressed the people. "I am the Light of the World," he said. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life."

8:13  "You are bearing testimony to yourself!" exclaimed the Pharisees, "your testimony is not trustworthy."

8:14  "Even if I bear testimony to myself," answered Jesus, "my testimony is trustworthy; for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from, nor where I am going.

8:15  You judge by appearances; I judge no one.

8:16  Yet, even if I were to judge, my judgement would be trustworthy; because I am not alone, but the Father who sent me is with me.

8:17  Why, in your own Law it is said that the testimony of two persons is trustworthy.

8:18  I, who bear testimony to myself, am one, and the Father who sent me also bears testimony to me."

8:19  "Where is your father, then?" they asked. "You know neither me nor my Father," replied Jesus. "If you had known me, you would have also known my Father."

8:20  These statements Jesus made in the Treasury, while teaching in the Temple Courts. Yet no one arrested him, for his time had not then come.

8:21  Jesus again spoke to the people. "I am going away," he said, "and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin; you cannot come where I am going."

8:22  "Is he going to kill himself," the Jews exclaimed, "that he says-- 'You cannot go where I am going'?"

8:23  "You," added Jesus, "are from below, I am from above; you are of this present world, I am not;

8:24  And so I told you that you would die in your sins, for, unless you believe that I am what I am, you will die in your sins."

8:25  "Who are you?" they asked. "Why ask exactly what I have been telling you?" said Jesus.

8:26  "I have still much that concerns you to speak of and to pass judgement on; yet he who sent me may be trusted, and I speak to the world only of the things which I have heard from him."

8:27  They did not understand that he meant the Father.

8:28  So Jesus added. "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will understand that I am what I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but that I say just what the Father has taught me.

8:29  Moreover, he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone; for I always do what pleases him."

8:30  While he was speaking in this way, many came to believe in him.

8:31  So Jesus went on to say to those Jews who had believed him. "If you remain constant to my Message, you are truly my disciples;

8:32  And you find out the Truth, and the Truth will set you free."

8:33  "We are descendants of Abraham," was their answer, "and have never yet been in slavery to any one. What do you mean by saying 'you will be set free'?"

8:34  "In truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "every one who sins is a slave to sin.

8:35  And a slave does not remain in the home always; but a son remains always.

8:36  If, then, the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!

8:37  I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you are seeking to put me to death, because my Message finds no place in your hearts.

8:38  I tell you what I have myself seen in the presence of my Father; and you, in the same way, do what you have learned from your father."

8:39  "Our father is Abraham," was their answer. "If you are Abraham's children," replied Jesus, "do what Abraham did.

8:40  But, as it is, you are seeking to put me to death--a man who has told you the Truth as he heard it from God. Abraham did not act in that way.

8:41  You are doing what your own father does." "We are not bastards," they said, "we have one Father--God himself."

8:42  "If God were your Father," Jesus replied, "you would have loved me, for I came out from God, and now am here; and I have not come of myself, but he sent me as his Messenger.

8:43  How is it that you do not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my Message.

8:44  As for you, you are children of your Father the Devil, and you are determined to do what your father loves to do. He was a murderer from the first, and did not stand by the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he does what is natural to him; because he is a liar, and the father of lying.

8:45  But, as for me, it is because I speak the truth to you that you do not believe me.

8:46  Which of you can convict me of sin? Why then do not you believe me, if I am speaking truth?

8:47  He who comes from God listens to God's teaching; the reason why you do not listen is because you do not come from God."

8:48  "Are not we right, after all," replied the Jews, "in saying that you are a Samaritan, and are possessed by a demon?"

8:49  "I am not possessed by a demon," Jesus answered, "but I am showing reverence for my Father; and yet you have no reverence for me.

8:50  Not that I am seeking honor for myself; there is one who is seeking my honor, and he decides.

8:51  In truth I tell you, if any one lays my Message to heart, he will never really die."

8:52  "Now we are sure that you are possessed by a demon," the Jews replied. "Abraham died, and so did the Prophets; and yet you say 'If any one lays my Message to heart, he will never know death.'

8:53  Are you greater than our ancestor Abraham, who died? And the Prophets died too. Whom do you make yourself out to be?"

8:54  "If I do honor to myself," answered Jesus, "such honor counts for nothing. It is my Father who does me honor--and you say that he is your God;

8:55  And yet you have not learned to know him; but I know him; and, if I were to say that I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him, and I lay his Message to heart.

8:56  Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; and he did see it, and was glad."

8:57  "You are not fifty years old yet," the Jews exclaimed, "and have you seen Abraham?"

8:58  "In truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "before Abraham existed I was."

8:59  At this they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and left the Temple Courts.