John 8:21-59

New International Version

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

²¹ Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die^(A) in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”^(B)

²² This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

²³ But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.^{(C) 24} I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he,^(D) you will indeed die in your sins.”

²⁵ “Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. ²⁶ “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy,^(E) and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”^(F)

²⁷ They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up^[a] the Son of Man,^(G) then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.^{(H) 29} The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,^(I) for I always do what pleases him.”^{(J) 30} Even as he spoke, many believed in him.^(K)

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,^(L) you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”^(M)

³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants^(N) and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.^{(O) 35} Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.^{(P) 36} So if the Son sets you free,^(Q) you will be free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,^(R) because you have no room for my word. ³⁸ I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,^(S) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.^[b]”^(T)

³⁹ “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,”^(U) said Jesus, “then you would^[c] do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰ As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,^(V) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.^(W) Abraham did not do such things. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your own father.”^(X)

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”^(Y)

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,^(Z) for I have come here from God.^(AA) I have not come on my own;^(AB) God sent me.^{(AC) 43} Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil,^(AD) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.^(AE) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.^{(AF) 45} Yet because I tell the truth,^(AG) you do not believe me! ⁴⁶ Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? ⁴⁷ Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.^(AH) The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Jesus’ Claims About Himself

⁴⁸ The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan^(AI) and demon-possessed?”^(AJ)

⁴⁹ “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ I am not seeking glory for myself;^(AK) but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹ Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”^(AL)

⁵² At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!^(AM) Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham?^(AN) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

⁵⁴ Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,^(AO) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.^{(AP) 55} Though you do not know him,^(AQ) I know him.^(AR) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.^{(AS) 56} Your father Abraham^(AT) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it^(AU) and was glad.”

⁵⁷ “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

⁵⁸ “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born,^(AV) I am!”^{(AW) 59} At this, they picked up stones to stone him,^(AX) but Jesus hid himself,^(AY) slipping away from the temple grounds.