8:2 He awoke early in the morning to return to the temple. When He arrived, the people surrounded Him, so He sat down and began to teach them.
8:3 While He was teaching, the scribes and Pharisees brought in a woman who was caught in the act of adultery; and they stood her before Jesus.
8:4 Pharisees: Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
8:5 Moses says in the law that we are to kill such women by stoning. What do You say about it?
8:6 This was all set up as a test for Jesus; His answers would give them grounds to accuse Him of crimes against Moses’ law. Jesus bent over and wrote something in the dirt with His finger.
8:7 They persisted in badgering Jesus, so He stood up straight. Jesus: Let the first stone be thrown by the one among you who has not sinned.
8:8 Once again Jesus bent down to the ground and resumed writing with His finger.
8:9 The Pharisees who heard Him stood still for a few moments and then began to leave slowly, one by one, beginning with the older men. Eventually only Jesus and the woman remained,
8:10 and Jesus looked up. Jesus: Dear woman, where is everyone? Are we alone? Did no one step forward to condemn you?
8:11 Woman Caught in Adultery: Lord, no one has condemned me. Jesus: Well, I do not condemn you either; all I ask is that you go and from now on avoid the sins that plague you.]
8:12 On another occasion, Jesus spoke to the crowds again. Jesus: I am the light that shines through the cosmos; if you walk with Me, you will thrive in the nourishing light that gives life and will not know darkness.
8:13 Pharisees: Jesus, what You are claiming about Yourself cannot possibly be true. The only person bearing witness is You.
8:14 Jesus: Even if I am making bold claims about Myself—who I am, what I have come to do—I am speaking the truth. You see, I know where I came from and where I will go when I am done here. You know neither where I come from nor where I will go.
8:15 You spend your time judging by the wrong criteria, by human standards; but I am not here to judge anyone.
8:16 If I were to judge, then My judgment would be based on truth; but I would not judge anyone alone. I act in harmony with the One who sent Me.
8:17 Your law states that if the testimonies of two witnesses agree, their testimony is true.
8:18 Well, I testify about Myself, and so does the Father who sent Me here.
8:19 Pharisees: Where is the Father who testifies on Your behalf? Jesus: You don’t know the Father or Me. If you knew Me, then you would also know the Father.
8:20 Jesus said all of these things in the treasury while He was teaching in the temple; followers and opponents alike gathered to hear Him, but none of His enemies tried to seize Him because His time had not yet come.
8:21 Jesus (to the crowds): I am leaving this place, and you will look for Me and die in your sin. For where I am going, you are unable to come.
8:22 Jews: Is He suicidal? He keeps saying, “Where I am going, you are unable to come.”
8:23 Jesus: You originate from the earth below, and I have come from the heavens above. You are from this world, and I am not.
8:24 That’s why I told you that you will die here as a result of your sins. Unless you believe I am who I have said I am, your sins will lead to your death.
8:25 Jews: Who exactly are You? Jesus: From the beginning of My mission, I have been telling you who I am.
8:26 I have so much to say about you, so many judgments to render; but if you hear one thing, hear that the One who sent Me is true, and all the things I have heard from Him I speak into the world.
8:27 The people had not understood that Jesus was teaching about the Father.
8:28 Jesus: Whenever the day comes and you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He. It will be clear then that I am not acting alone, but that I am speaking the things I have learned directly from the Father.
8:29 The One who sent Me is with Me; He has not abandoned Me because I always do what pleases Him.
8:30 As Jesus was speaking, many in the crowd believed in Him.
8:31 Jesus (to the new Jewish believers): If you hear My voice and abide in My word, you are truly My disciples;
8:32 you will know the truth, and that truth will give you freedom.
8:33 Jewish Believers: We are Abraham’s children, and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say to us, “You will be set free”?
8:34 Jesus: I tell you the truth: everyone who commits sin surrenders his freedom to sin. He is a slave to sin’s power.
8:35 Even a household slave does not live in the home like a member of the family, but a son belongs there forever.
8:36 So think of it this way: if the Son comes to make you free, you will really be free.
8:37 I know you are descendants of Abraham, but here you are plotting to murder Me because you do not welcome My voice into your lives.
8:38 As I speak, I am painting you a picture of what I have seen with My Father; here you are repeating the things you have seen from your father.
8:39 Jews: Abraham is our father. Jesus: If you are truly Abraham’s children, then act like Abraham!
8:40 From what I see you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that comes from the Father. This is not something Abraham would do,
8:41 but you are doing what you have learned from your father. Jews: We were not born from adulterous parents; we have one Father: God.
8:42 Jesus: I come from the one True God, and I’m not here on My own. He sent Me on a mission. If God were your Father, you would know that and would love Me.
8:43 You don’t even understand what I’m saying. Do you? Why not? It is because You cannot stand to hear My voice.
8:44 You are just like your true father, the devil; and you spend your time pursuing the things your father loves. He started out as a killer, and he cannot tolerate truth because he is void of anything true. At the core of his character, he is a liar; everything he speaks originates in these lies because he is the father of lies.
8:46 If I speak the truth, why don’t you believe Me? If you belong to God’s family, then why can’t you hear God speak? The answer is clear; you are not in God’s family. I speak truth, and you don’t believe Me. Can any of you convict Me of sin?
8:47 If I speak the truth, why don’t you believe Me? If you belong to God’s family, then why can’t you hear God speak? The answer is clear; you are not in God’s family. I speak truth, and you don’t believe Me. Can any of you convict Me of sin?
8:48 Jews: We were right when we called You a demon-possessed Samaritan.
8:49 Jesus: I’m not taken by demons. You dishonor Me, but I give all glory and honor to the Father. But I am not pursuing My own fame. There is only One who pursues and renders justice.
8:50 Jesus: I’m not taken by demons. You dishonor Me, but I give all glory and honor to the Father. But I am not pursuing My own fame. There is only One who pursues and renders justice.
8:51 I tell you the truth, anyone who hears My voice and keeps My word will never experience death.
8:52 Jews: We are even more confident now that You are demon-possessed. Just go down the list: Abraham died, the prophets all died. Yet You say, “If you keep My word, you will never taste death.”
8:53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died; remember? Prophets—are any of them still alive? No. Who do You think You are?
8:54 Jesus: If I were trying to make Myself somebody important, it would be a waste of time. That kind of fame is worth nothing. It is the Father who is behind Me, urging Me on, giving Me praise. You say, “He is our God,”
8:55 but you are not in relationship with Him. I know Him intimately; even if I said anything other than the truth, I would be a liar, like you. I know Him, and I do as He says.
8:56 Your father Abraham anticipated the time when I would come, and he celebrated My coming.
8:57 Jews: You aren’t even 50 years old, yet You have seen and talked with Abraham?
8:58 Jesus: I tell you the truth; I AM before Abraham was born.
8:59 The people picked up stones to hurl at Him, but Jesus slipped out of the temple. Their murderous rage would have to wait.
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