John 8:30-59

John 8

³⁰ As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

³¹ So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples. ³² You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

³³ “We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered, “and we have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be set free’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Everyone who keeps committing sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵ But a slave does not remain in the family forever. A son does remain forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. ³⁷ I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because there is no place for my word in you. ³⁸ I am telling you what I have seen at the side of the Father. As for you, you do what you have heard ^[1] at the side of your father.”

³⁹ “Our father is Abraham!” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” Jesus told them, “you would do the works of Abraham. ⁴⁰ But now you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard at the side of God. Abraham did not do this. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your father.”

“We were not born of sexual immorality!” they said. “We have one Father: God.”

⁴² Jesus replied, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and I am here. Indeed, I have not come on my own, but he sent me. ⁴³ Why do you not understand my message? It is because you are not able to listen to my word. ⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the Devil, and you want to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and did not remain standing in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks from what is his, because he is a liar and the father of lying. ⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. ⁴⁶ Who of you can convict me of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? ⁴⁷ Whoever belongs to God listens to what God says. The reason you do not listen is that you do not belong to God.”

⁴⁸ The Jews responded, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

⁴⁹ Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon. On the contrary, I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ I do not seek my own glory. There is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹ Amen, Amen, I tell you: If anyone holds on to my word, he will certainly never see death.”

⁵² So the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets. Yet you say, ‘If anyone holds on to my word, he will certainly never taste death.’ ⁵³ You are not greater than our father, Abraham, are you? He died. And the prophets died. Who do you think you are?”

⁵⁴ Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, about whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ ⁵⁵ Yet you do not really know him, but I do know him. If I said, ‘I do not know him,’ I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I hold on to his word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham was glad that he would see my day. He saw it and rejoiced.”

⁵⁷ The Jews replied, “You aren’t even fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?”

⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Before Abraham was born, I am.” ⁵⁹ Then they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden and left the temple area. ^[2]