John 8

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.2 At sunrise he arrived in the temple courtyard again. All the people gathered around him there. He sat down to teach them.
3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman. She had been caught in adultery. They made her stand in front of the group.4 They said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught having sex with a man who was not her husband.5 In the Law, Moses commanded us to kill such women by throwing stones at them. Now what do you say?"6 They were trying to trap Jesus with that question. They wanted to have a reason to bring charges against him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.
7 They kept asking him questions. So he stood up and said to them, "Has any one of you not sinned? Then you be the first to throw a stone at her."
8 He bent down again and wrote on the ground.
9 Those who heard what he had said began to go away. They left one at a time, the older ones first. Soon only Jesus was left. The woman was still standing there.
10 Jesus stood up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Hasn't anyone found you guilty?"
11 "No one, sir," she said.
"Then I don't find you guilty either," Jesus said. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Jesus' Witness Is True

12 Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, "I am the light of the world. Those who follow me will never walk in darkness. They will have the light that leads to life."
13 The Pharisees argued with him. "Here you are," they said, "appearing as your own witness. But your witness does not count."
14 Jesus answered, "Even if I give witness about myself, my witness does count. I know where I came from. And I know where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.15 You judge by human standards. I don't judge anyone.
16 "But if I do judge, what I decide is right. This is because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.17 Your own Law says that the witness of two is what counts.18 I give witness about myself. My other witness is the Father, who sent me."
19 Then they asked him, "Where is your father?"
"You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also."
20 He spoke these words while he was teaching in the temple area. He was near the place where the offerings were put. But no one arrested him. His time had not yet come.
21 Once more Jesus spoke to them. "I am going away," he said. "You will look for me, and you will die in your sin. You can't come where I am going."
22 This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, 'You can't come where I am going'?"
23 But Jesus said, "You are from below. I am from heaven. You are from this world. I am not from this world.24 I told you that you would die in your sins. Do you believe that I am the one I claim to be? If you don't, you will certainly die in your sins."
25 "Who are you?" they asked.
"Just what I have been claiming all along," Jesus replied.26 "I have a lot to say that will judge you. But the One who sent me can be trusted. And I tell the world what I have heard from him."
27 They did not understand that Jesus was telling them about his Father.28 So Jesus said, "You will lift up the Son of Man. Then you will know that I am the one I claim to be. You will also know that I do nothing on my own. I speak just what the Father has taught me.29 The One who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him."
30 Even while Jesus was speaking, many people put their faith in him.

The Children of Abraham

31 Jesus spoke to the Jews who had believed him. "If you obey my teaching," he said, "you are really my disciples.32 Then you will know the truth. And the truth will set you free."
33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's children. We have never been slaves of anyone. So how can you say that we will be set free?"
34 Jesus replied, "What I'm about to tell you is true. Everyone who sins is a slave of sin.35 A slave has no lasting place in the family. But a son belongs to the family forever.36 So if the Son of Man sets you free, you will really be free.
37 "I know you are Abraham's children. But you are ready to kill me. You have no room for my word.38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. You do what you have heard from your father. "
39 "Abraham is our father," they answered.
Jesus said, "Are you really Abraham's children? If you are, you will do the things Abraham did.40 But you have decided to kill me. I am a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham didn't do the things you want to do.41 You are doing the things your own father does."
"We are not children of people who weren't married to each other," they objected. "The only Father we have is God himself."

The Children of the Devil

42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me. I came from God, and now I am here. I have not come on my own. He sent me.
43 "Why aren't my words clear to you? Because you can't really hear what I say.44 You belong to your father, the devil. You want to obey your father's wishes.
"From the beginning, the devil was a murderer. He has never obeyed the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his natural language. He does this because he is a liar. He is the father of lies.
45 "But because I tell the truth, you don't believe me!46 Can any of you prove I am guilty of sinning? Am I not telling the truth? Then why don't you believe me?
47 "Everyone who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you don't hear is that you don't belong to God."

Jesus Makes Claims About Himself

48 The Jews answered Jesus, "Aren't we right when we say you are a Samaritan? Aren't you controlled by a demon?"
49 "I am not controlled by a demon," said Jesus. "I honor my Father. You do not honor me.50 I am not seeking glory for myself. But there is One who brings glory to me. He is the judge.51 What I'm about to tell you is true. Anyone who obeys my word will never die."
52 Then the Jews cried out, "Now we know you are controlled by a demon! Abraham died. So did the prophets. But you say that anyone who obeys your word will never die.53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died. So did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
54 Jesus replied, "If I bring glory to myself, my glory means nothing. You claim that my Father is your God. He is the one who brings glory to me.55 You do not know him. But I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him. And I obey his word.
56 "Your father Abraham was filled with joy at the thought of seeing my day. He saw it and was glad."
57 "You are not even 50 years old," the Jews said to Jesus. "And you have seen Abraham?"
58 "What I'm about to tell you is true," Jesus answered. "Before Abraham was born, I am!"
59 When he said this, they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself. He slipped away from the temple area.

John 8

1 but Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.3 And the scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery; and having set her in the midst,4 they say unto him, Teacher, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act.5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such: what then sayest thou of her?6 And this they said, trying him, that they might have whereof to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.7 But when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.8 And again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.9 And they, when they heard it, went out one by one, beginning from the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst.10 And Jesus lifted up himself, and said unto her, Woman, where are they? did no man condemn thee?11 And she said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn thee: go thy way; from henceforth sin no more.12 Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest witness of thyself; thy witness is not true.14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye know not whence I come, or whither I go.15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.16 Yea and if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.17 Yea and in your law it is written, that the witness of two men is true.18 I am he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.19 They said therefore unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye know neither me, nor my Father: if ye knew me, ye would know my Father also.20 These words spake he in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man took him; because his hour was not yet come.21 He said therefore again unto them, I go away, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sin: whither I go, ye cannot come.22 The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come?23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.25 They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? Jesus said unto them, Even that which I have also spoken unto you from the beginning.26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you: howbeit he that sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these speak I unto the world.27 They perceived not that he spake to them of the Father.28 Jesus therefore said, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as the Father taught me, I speak these things.29 And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him.30 As he spake these things, many believed on him.31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples;32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.33 They answered unto him, We are Abraham’s seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin.35 And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever.36 If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed: yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you.38 I speak the things which I have seen with my Father: and ye also do the things which ye heard from your father.39 They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham.41 Ye do the works of your father. They said unto him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I came forth and am come from God; for neither have I come of myself, but he sent me.43 Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word.44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.45 But because I say the truth, ye believe me not.46 Which of you convicteth me of sin? If I say truth, why do ye not believe me?47 He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God.48 The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?49 Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me.50 But I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.52 The Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died: whom makest thou thyself?54 Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father that glorifieth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God;55 and ye have not known him: but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar: but I know him, and keep his word.56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.57 The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.59 They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.