JOHANNES 8

1 maar Jesus het na die Olyfberg toe gegaan. 2 Die volgende môre vroeg was Hy weer in die tempel en die hele volk het na Hom toe gekom. Hy het gaan sit en hulle geleer. 3 Die skrifgeleerdes en die Fariseërs bring toe 'n vrou wat op owerspel betrap is, en laat haar in die middel van die kring mense staan. 4 Hulle het vir Hom gesê: “Meneer, hierdie vrou is op heter daad betrap waar sy owerspel gepleeg het. 5 Moses het ons in die wet beveel om sulke vrouens te stenig, maar u, wat sê u?”

6 Dit het hulle gevra om Hom uit te lok, sodat hulle iets kon kry waaroor hulle Hom kon aankla. Maar Jesus het gebuk en met sy vinger op die grond geskrywe. 7 Toe hulle aanhou om Hom te vra, het Hy regop gekom en vir hulle gesê: “Laat die een van julle wat 'n skoon gewete het, eerste 'n klip op haar gooi.”

8 Daarna het Hy weer gebuk en op die grond geskrywe. 9 Toe hulle hoor wat Hy sê, het hulle een vir een begin wegloop, die familiehoofde eerste. Jesus is alleen agtergelaat saam met die vrou daar in die middel van die kring mense. 10 Toe het Hy regop gekom en vir haar gevra: “Mevrou, waar is hulle? Het nie een van hulle die oordeel oor jou voltrek nie?”

11 “Niemand nie, Here,” sê sy. Toe sê Jesus: “Ek doen dit ook nie. Gaan maar en moet van nou af nie meer sonde doen nie.”

Die Vader getuig ook oor Jesus

12 Op 'n ander keer het Jesus vir die mense gesê: “Ek is die lig vir die wêreld. Wie My volg, sal nooit in die duisternis lewe nie, maar sal die lig hê wat lewe gee.”

13 Die Fariseërs sê toe vir Hom: “Jy getuig oor jouself; jou getuienis is dus nie geldig nie.”

14 Daarop sê Jesus vir hulle: “Al getuig Ek ook oor Myself, is my getuienis geldig, omdat Ek weet waar Ek vandaan gekom het en waarheen Ek teruggaan. Maar julle weet nie waar Ek vandaan kom of waarheen Ek gaan nie. 15 Julle oordeel oor iemand volgens sy uiterlike; Ek oordeel oor niemand nie. 16 En as Ek oor iemand oordeel, is my oordeel reg, omdat dit nie Ek alleen is nie, maar Ek en die Vader wat My gestuur het. 17 In julle wet staan daar geskrywe dat die getuienis van twee persone geldig is. 18 Nou ja, oor My getuig Ek self én die Vader wat My gestuur het.”

19 Toe vra hulle vir Hom: “En waar is die vader van jou?” Jesus het geantwoord: “Julle ken My nie en ook nie my Vader nie. As julle My geken het, sou julle my Vader ook geken het.”

20 Hierdie dinge het Hy gesê in die vertrek waar die offergawekiste gestaan het. Hy was toe besig om die mense in die tempel te leer. En tog het niemand Hom gevange geneem nie, omdat sy tyd nog nie gekom het nie.

Die Jode ken Jesus nie

21 Verder het Jesus vir hulle gesê: “Ek gaan weg, en julle sal My soek, maar julle sal in julle sonde sterwe. Waar Ek heen gaan, kan julle nie kom nie.”

22 Die Jode het toe gesê: “Gaan hy dalk selfmoord pleeg, dat hy sê: Waar Ek heen gaan, kan julle nie kom nie?”

23 Toe sê Hy vir hulle: “Julle is van hier onder; Ek is van daar bo. Julle behoort tot hierdie wêreld; Ek behoort nie tot hierdie wêreld nie. 24 Daarom het Ek vir julle gesê julle sal in julle sondes sterwe, want as julle nie glo dat Ek is wat Ek is nie, sal julle in julle sondes sterwe.”

25 Hulle vra Hom toe: “Wie is jy?” Jesus het hulle geantwoord: “Waarom praat Ek eintlik nog met julle?

26 Ek kan baie dinge oor julle sê en 'n oordeel oor julle uitspreek; maar Hy wat My gestuur het, is geloofwaardig, en net wat Ek by Hom gehoor het, sê Ek vir die wêreld.”

27 Hulle het nie begryp dat Hy met hulle van die Vader gepraat het nie.

28 Daarna sê Jesus vir hulle: “Eers wanneer julle die Seun van die mens verhoogt het, sal julle begryp dat Ek is wat Ek is, en dat Ek niks uit my eie doen nie, maar net verkondig wat die Vader My geleer het. 29 Hy wat My gestuur het, is by My. Hy het My nie alleen gelaat nie, omdat Ek altyd doen wat Hy wil.”

30 Terwyl Hy hierdie dinge gesê het, het daar baie mense tot geloof in Hom gekom.

God is nie hulle Vader nie

31 Toe sê Jesus vir die Jode wat in Hom glo: “As julle aan my woorde getrou bly, is julle waarlik my dissipels; 32 en julle sal die waarheid ken, en die waarheid sal julle vry maak.”

33 Hulle het Hom geantwoord: “Ons is die nageslag van Abraham en was nog nooit iemand se slawe nie. Hoe kan jy sê: ‘Julle sal vry word’?”

34 Jesus sê toe vir hulle: “Dít verseker Ek julle: Elkeen wat sonde doen, is 'n slaaf van die sonde. 35 'n Slaaf bly nie vir altyd by 'n huisgesin nie; 'n seun bly vir altyd. 36 Eers as die Seun julle vry maak, sal julle werklik vry wees. 37 Ek weet julle is die nageslag van Abraham. Maar julle wil My doodmaak omdat my woorde nie ingang by julle vind nie. 38 Ek praat oor wat Ek by my Vader gesien het; en julle doen wat julle by julle vader gehoor het.”

39 Hulle het vir Hom gesê: “Ons vader is Abraham.” Daarop sê Jesus vir hulle: “As julle kinders van Abraham was, sou julle doen wat Abraham gedoen het.

40 Maar nou wil julle My doodmaak, vir My wat die waarheid wat Ek by God gehoor het, aan julle verkondig. Dít is nie wat Abraham gedoen het nie. 41 Julle doen wat julle vader gedoen het.” Hulle sê toe vir Hom: “Ons is nie uit owerspel gebore nie. Ons het net die een Vader, naamlik God.”

42 Maar Jesus sê vir hulle: “As God julle Vader was, sou julle My liefhê, want Ek het van God af gekom, en hier is Ek nou. Ek het immers ook nie uit my eie gekom nie, maar Hý het My gestuur. 43 Waarom begryp julle nie wat Ek sê nie? Omdat julle my boodskap nie kán verstaan nie! 44 Julle is kinders van die duiwel; hy is julle vader, en julle wil doen wat julle vader wil hê julle moet doen. Hy was van die begin af 'n moordenaar. En hy staan nie aan die kant van die waarheid nie, omdat daar geen waarheid in hom is nie. Wanneer hy leuentaal praat, is dit volgens sy aard, want hy is 'n leuenaar en die vader van die leuen. 45 En omdat Ek die waarheid praat, glo julle nie in My nie. 46 Wie van julle kan sonde by My aanwys? As Ek dan die waarheid praat, waarom glo julle nie in My nie? 47 Wie 'n kind van God is, luister na die woorde van God. Juis daarom luister julle nie, omdat julle nie kinders van God is nie.”

Jesus was voor Abraham al daar

48 Die Jode het toe vir Hom gesê: “Ons het mos gesê jy is 'n Samaritaan en van die duiwel besete!”

49 Jesus het geantwoord: “Ek is nie van die duiwel besete nie, maar Ek eer my Vader, en julle doen My oneer aan. 50 Ek soek egter nie na eer vir Myself nie; daar is Een wat eer vir My soek, en Hy is regter. 51 Dít verseker Ek julle: As iemand my woorde ter harte neem, sal hy in alle ewigheid nooit sterwe nie.”

52 Die Jode sê toe vir Hom: “Nou is ons seker dat jy van die duiwel besete is. Abraham het gesterwe en die profete ook, en tog sê jy: ‘As iemand my woorde ter harte neem, sal hy in alle ewigheid nooit sterwe nie.’ 53 Jy is tog nie groter as ons voorvader Abraham wat gesterf het nie? En die profete het gesterwe. Wie verbeel jy jou is jy?”

54 Maar Jesus antwoord: “As Ek Myself verheerlik, beteken my heerlikheid niks. Dit is my Vader wat My verheerlik. Julle sê: ‘Hy is ons God,’ 55 en tog ken julle Hom nie. Maar Ek ken Hom. As Ek sê Ek ken Hom nie, sal Ek net soos julle 'n leuenaar wees. Maar Ek ken Hom, en Ek neem sy woorde ter harte. 56 Abraham, julle voorvader, het hom daaroor verheug dat hy die dag van my koms sou sien, en hy het dit gesien en was bly.”

57 Die Jode sê toe vir Hom: “Jy is nog nie eens vyftig jaar oud nie, en het jy vir Abraham gesien?”

58 Jesus het hulle geantwoord: “Dít verseker Ek julle: Voordat Abraham gebore is, was Ek al wat Ek is.”

59 Hulle het toe klippe opgetel om Hom daarmee te gooi. Maar Jesus het gaan skuil en van die tempel af weggegaan.

John 8

1  BUT JESUS went to the Mount of Olives.2  Early in the morning (at dawn), He came back into the temple [court], and the people came to Him in crowds. He sat down and was teaching them,3  When the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They made her stand in the middle of the court and put the case before Him.4  Teacher, they said, This woman has been caught in the very act of adultery.5  Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such [women--offenders] shall be stoned to death. But what do You say [to do with her--what is Your sentence]? 6  This they said to try (test) Him, hoping they might find a charge on which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger.7  However, when they persisted with their question, He raised Himself up and said, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.8  Then He bent down and went on writing on the ground with His finger.9  They listened to Him, and then they began going out, conscience-stricken, one by one, from the oldest down to the last one of them, till Jesus was left alone, with the woman standing there before Him in the center of the court.10  When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?11  She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more.12  Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life.13  Whereupon the Pharisees told Him, You are testifying on Your own behalf; Your testimony is not valid and is worthless.14  Jesus answered, Even if I do testify on My own behalf, My testimony is true and reliable and valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.15  You [set yourselves up to] judge according to the flesh (by what you see). [You condemn by external, human standards.] I do not [set Myself up to] judge or condemn or sentence anyone.16  Yet even if I do judge, My judgment is true [My decision is right]; for I am not alone [in making it], but [there are two of Us] I and the Father, Who sent Me.17  In your [own] Law it is written that the testimony (evidence) of two persons is reliable and valid. 18  I am One [of the Two] bearing testimony concerning Myself; and My Father, Who sent Me, He also testifies about Me.19  Then they said to Him, Where is this Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me. If you knew Me, you would know My Father also.20  Jesus said these things in the treasury while He was teaching in the temple [court]; but no one ventured to arrest Him, because His hour had not yet come.21  Therefore He said again to them, I am going away, and you will be looking for Me, and you will die in (under the curse of) your sin. Where I am going, it is not possible for you to come.22  At this the Jews began to ask among themselves, Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says, Where I am going, it is not possible for you to come?23  He said to them, You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world (of this earthly order); I am not of this world.24  That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be--if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins.25  Then they said to Him, Who are You anyway? Jesus replied, [Why do I even speak to you!] I am exactly what I have been telling you from the first.26  I have much to say about you and to judge and condemn. But He Who sent Me is true (reliable), and I tell the world [only] the things that I have heard from Him.27  They did not perceive (know, understand) that He was speaking to them about the Father.28  So Jesus added, When you have lifted up the Son of Man [on the cross], you will realize (know, understand) that I am He [for Whom you look] and that I do nothing of Myself (of My own accord or on My own authority), but I say [exactly] what My Father has taught Me.29  And He Who sent Me is ever with Me; My Father has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.30  As He said these things, many believed in Him [trusted, relied on, and adhered to Him].31  So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.32  And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.33  They answered Him, We are Abraham’s offspring (descendants) and have never been in bondage to anybody. What do You mean by saying, You will be set free?34  Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Whoever commits and practices sin is the slave of sin.35  Now a slave does not remain in a household permanently (forever); the son [of the house] does remain forever.36  So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free.37  [Yes] I know that you are Abraham’s offspring; yet you plan to kill Me, because My word has no entrance (makes no progress, does not find any place) in you.38  I tell the things which I have seen and learned at My Father’s side, and your actions also reflect what you have heard and learned from your father.39  They retorted, Abraham is our father. Jesus said, If you were [truly] Abraham’s children, then you would do the works of Abraham [follow his example, do as Abraham did].40  But now [instead] you are wanting and seeking to kill Me, a Man Who has told you the truth which I have heard from God. This is not the way Abraham acted.41  You are doing the works of your [own] father. They said to Him, We are not illegitimate children and born out of fornication; we have one Father, even God.42  Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me and respect Me and welcome Me gladly, for I proceeded (came forth) from God [out of His very presence]. I did not even come on My own authority or of My own accord (as self-appointed); but He sent Me.43  Why do you misunderstand what I say? It is because you are unable to hear what I am saying. [You cannot bear to listen to My message; your ears are shut to My teaching.]44  You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false.45  But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me [do not trust Me, do not rely on Me, or adhere to Me].46  Who of you convicts Me of wrongdoing or finds Me guilty of sin? Then if I speak truth, why do you not believe Me [trust Me, rely on, and adhere to Me]?47  Whoever is of God listens to God. [Those who belong to God hear the words of God.] This is the reason that you do not listen [to those words, to Me]: because you do not belong to God and are not of God or in harmony with Him.48  The Jews answered Him, Are we not right when we say You are a Samaritan and that You have a demon [that You are under the power of an evil spirit]?49  Jesus answered, I am not possessed by a demon. On the contrary, I honor and reverence My Father and you dishonor (despise, vilify, and scorn) Me.50  However, I am not in search of honor for Myself. [I do not seek and am not aiming for My own glory.] There is One Who [looks after that; He] seeks [My glory], and He is the Judge.51  I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone observes My teaching [lives in accordance with My message, keeps My word], he will by no means ever see and experience death.52  The Jews said to Him, Now we know that You are under the power of a demon (insane). Abraham died, and also the prophets, yet You say, If a man keeps My word, he will never taste of death into all eternity.53  Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, and all the prophets died! Who do You make Yourself out to be?54  Jesus answered, If I were to glorify Myself (magnify, praise, and honor Myself), I would have no real glory, for My glory would be nothing and worthless. [My honor must come to Me from My Father.] It is My Father Who glorifies Me [Who extols Me, magnifies, and praises Me], of Whom you say that He is your God.55  Yet you do not know Him or recognize Him and are not acquainted with Him, but I know Him. If I should say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I know Him and keep His word [obey His teachings, am faithful to His message].56  Your forefather Abraham was extremely happy at the hope and prospect of seeing My day (My incarnation); and he did see it and was delighted. 57  Then the Jews said to Him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?58  Jesus replied, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I AM. 59  So they took up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus, by mixing with the crowd, concealed Himself and went out of the temple [enclosure].