John 8:1-59 CEB

[1] And Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. [2] Early in the morning he returned to the temple. All the people gathered around him, and he sat down and taught them. [3] The legal experts and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery. Placing her in the center of the group, [4] they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. [5] In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone women like this. What do you say?” [6] They said this to test him, because they wanted a reason to bring an accusation against him. Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. [7] They continued to question him, so he stood up and replied, “Whoever hasn’t sinned should throw the first stone.” [8] Bending down again, he wrote on the ground. [9] Those who heard him went away, one by one, beginning with the elders. Finally, only Jesus and the woman were left in the middle of the crowd. [10] Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Is there no one to condemn you?” [11] She said, “No one, sir.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on, don’t sin anymore.” [12] Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” [13] Then the Pharisees said to him, “Because you are testifying about yourself, your testimony isn’t valid.” [14] Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, since I know where I came from and where I’m going. You don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. [15] You judge according to human standards, but I judge no one. [16] Even if I do judge, my judgment is truthful, because I’m not alone. My judgments come from me and from the Father who sent me. [17] In your Law it is written that the witness of two people is true. [18] I am one witness concerning myself, and the Father who sent me is the other.” [19] They asked him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You don’t know me and you don’t know my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” [20] He spoke these words while he was teaching in the temple area known as the treasury. No one arrested him, because his time hadn’t yet come. [21] Jesus continued, “I’m going away. You will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I’m going, you can’t come.” [22] The Jewish leaders said, “He isn’t going to kill himself, is he? Is that why he said, ‘Where I’m going, you can’t come’?” [23] He said to them, “You are from below; I’m from above. You are from this world; I’m not from this world. [24] This is why I told you that you would die in your sins. If you don’t believe that I Am, you will die in your sins.” [25] “Who are you?” they asked. Jesus replied, “I’m exactly who I have claimed to be from the beginning. [26] I have many things to say in judgment concerning you. The one who sent me is true, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” [27] They didn’t know he was speaking about his Father. [28] So Jesus said to them, “When the Human One is lifted up, then you will know that I Am. Then you will know that I do nothing on my own, but I say just what the Father has taught me. [29] He who sent me is with me. He doesn’t leave me by myself, because I always do what makes him happy.” [30] While Jesus was saying these things, many people came to believe in him. [31] Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teaching. [32] Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [33] They responded, “We are Abraham’s children; we’ve never been anyone’s slaves. How can you say that we will be set free?” [34] Jesus answered, “I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. [35] A slave isn’t a permanent member of the household, but a son is. [36] Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you really will be free. [37] I know that you are Abraham’s children, yet you want to kill me because you don’t welcome my teaching. [38] I’m telling you what I’ve seen when I am with the Father, but you are doing what you’ve heard from your father.” [39] They replied, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus responded, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do Abraham’s works. [40] Instead, you want to kill me, though I am the one who has spoken the truth I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. [41] You are doing your father’s works.” They said, “Our ancestry isn’t in question! The only Father we have is God!” [42] Jesus replied, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God. Here I am. I haven’t come on my own. God sent me. [43] Why don’t you understand what I’m saying? It’s because you can’t really hear my words. [44] Your father is the devil. You are his children, and you want to do what your father wants. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has never stood for the truth, because there’s no truth in him. Whenever that liar speaks, he speaks according to his own nature, because he’s a liar and the father of liars. [45] Because I speak the truth, you don’t believe me. [46] Who among you can show I’m guilty of sin? Since I speak the truth, why don’t you believe me? [47] God’s children listen to God’s words. You don’t listen to me because you aren’t God’s children.” [48] The Jewish opposition answered, “We were right to say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon, weren’t we?” [49] “I don’t have a demon,” Jesus replied. “But I honor my Father and you dishonor me. [50] I’m not trying to bring glory to myself. There’s one who is seeking to glorify me, and he’s the judge. [51] I assure you that whoever keeps my word will never die.” [52] The Jewish opposition said to Jesus, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham and the prophets died, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never die.’ [53] Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died and the prophets died, so who do you make yourself out to be?” [54] Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is meaningless. My Father, who you say is your God, is the one who glorifies me. [55] You don’t know him, but I do. If I said I didn’t know him, I would be like you, a liar. But I do know him, and I keep his word. [56] Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see my day. He saw it and was happy.” [57] “You aren’t even 50 years old!” the Jewish opposition replied. “How can you say that you have seen Abraham?” [58] “I assure you,” Jesus replied, “before Abraham was, I Am.” [59] So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the temple.