New Testament · Gospels and Acts

John chapter 8

But Jesus went to the .Early the next morning he showed up at the again, and all the people came crowding around him. So he sat down and started teaching them.Then the and the dragged in a woman who had been caught in the act of . They made her stand in front of everyoneand said to him, “, this woman was caught right in the middle of committing adultery. to women like this to death. So what do you say about it?”They were using this question as a to get something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started with his finger.When they kept pressing him for an answer, he stood up and said to them, “Whoever among you has — let him throw the first stone at her.”Then he bent down again and kept writing on the ground.When they heard this, they started leaving one by one, beginning with , until only Jesus was left there with the woman still standing in front of him.Jesus stood up and said to her, “, where did they all go? Didn’t anyone stay to you?”“No one, sir,” she said. Jesus told her, “I don’t condemn you either. Go, and from now on .”Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the . Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness — they’ll have .”The Pharisees pushed back: “You’re just making claims about yourself. Your doesn’t count.”Jesus answered them, “Even though I am testifying about myself, my testimony is valid because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I’m headed.You . I’m not here to judge anyone.But even if I do judge, my judgment is trustworthy because I’m not doing this alone — stands with me.In it says that the testimony of two witnesses is valid.I am one witness testifying about myself, and the Father who sent me is the other witness.”They asked him, “So where is this father of yours?” Jesus replied, “You don’t know me and you don’t know my Father either. .”He said all this while teaching near the in the temple. But no one arrested him because .Then he said to them again, “I’m going away, and you’ll look for me, but you’ll die stuck in your . Where I’m going, you can’t come.”So the started saying, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by ‘Where I’m going, you can’t come’?”He continued, “You belong to what’s down here; I belong to what’s up there. You’re part of ; I’m not part of this world’s system.That’s why I told you that you’ll die in your . Because if you don’t trust that , you’ll die in your failures.”“Who are you, then?” they demanded. Jesus said, “Exactly what I’ve been telling you from the start.I have a lot I could say about you — a lot I could judge. But the one who sent me is trustworthy, and I only tell the world what I’ve heard from him.”They didn’t understand that he was talking about the Father.So Jesus told them, “When you’ve the , then you’ll know that , and that I don’t do anything on my own — I only say what the Father taught me.The one who sent me is right here with me. He hasn’t left me on my own, because I always do .”As he was saying these things, many people him.So Jesus said to the Jewish people who had trusted him, “If you what I’m teaching you, you’re truly my .And you’ll discover what’s true, and the will .”They fired back, “We’re ! We’ve never been anyone’s slaves. What do you mean, ‘You’ll be set free’?”Jesus replied, “: everyone who keeps failing is actually a .A slave doesn’t have a permanent place in the family. But a belongs there forever.So if the Son sets you free, you’re .I know you’re Abraham’s descendants. But you’re trying to kill me because my message .I’m telling you what I’ve seen with my Father. And you’re doing what you’ve heard from your father.”They answered him, “Abraham is our father!” Jesus said to them, “If you were really , you’d be doing what Abraham did.But instead, you’re trying to kill me — a man who told you the truth I heard directly from God. Abraham never did anything like that.You’re doing exactly what your real father does.” They protested, “We’re not ! We have one Father — God himself!”Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you’d me, because I came from God. I’m here because of him. I didn’t come on my own — he sent me.Why can’t you understand what I’m saying? Because you can’t even my message.You belong to your father, , and you want to carry out what your father desires. He was a from the very beginning. He never had any connection to the truth, because there’s no truth in him at all. When he lies, he’s speaking his native language, because he’s a liar and the .But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.Can any of you prove that I’ve ? If I’m telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?Anyone who belongs to God listens to what God says. The reason you don’t listen is that you don’t belong to God.”The Jewish leaders shot back at him, “Aren’t we right that you’re a and you’re ?”Jesus answered, “I’m not possessed by a demon. I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.I’m not looking to build up my own . But there is one who is looking out for it, and he’s the judge.I’m telling you the straight truth: if anyone , they will never .”The Jewish leaders said, “Now we know for sure you’re possessed by a demon! Abraham died. The prophets died. And you’re saying, ‘If anyone holds on to my message, they’ll never ’?Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died! The prophets died! Who do you think you are?”Jesus answered, “If I’m promoting myself, my self-promotion means nothing. My Father is the one who honors me — the one you claim is your God.You don’t actually . But I know him. If I said I didn’t know him, I’d be a liar just like you. But I do know him, and I hold on to his message.Your father Abraham was at the thought of seeing . He saw it and was thrilled.”The Jewish leaders said to him, “You’re not even fifty years old, and you’ve seen Abraham?!”Jesus answered them, “I’m telling you the straight truth: .”At that, they to throw at him. But Jesus and left the temple.