8:2 Early in the morning · he came again to the temple. · All the people were coming to him, and he sat down and began to teach them.
8:3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought · a woman who had been caught in adultery, and making her stand before them,
8:4 they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this · woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.
8:5 Moses commanded us in · the law to stone to death · such women. But you, what do you say?”
8:6 (They said this · as a trap, so they could have some basis for accusing him.) · · Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger.
8:7 When · they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “The man among you without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
8:8 · Once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
8:9 At this, those who had heard began to leave one by one, starting with the oldest; and Jesus alone was left, with the woman standing before him.
8:10 Jesus straightened up · · and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”
8:11 She · said, “No one, Lord.” Then Jesus said, · “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from · now on sin no more.”
8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, · saying, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in · darkness, but will have the light of life.”
8:13 Therefore the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; · your testimony is not valid.”
8:14 Jesus answered them, · saying, “Even if I am bearing witness about myself, my testimony is valid, · because I know where I came from and where I am going. You, on the other hand, do not know where I come from or where I am going.
8:15 You judge according to · human standards; I judge no one.
8:16 But even if I do judge, · my judgment · is trustworthy, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.
8:17 · In · your own law · · it is written that the testimony of two men is conclusive.
8:18 I am one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me also bears witness about me.”
8:19 Then they began asking him, “Where is · your father?” Jesus replied, “You know neither me nor · my Father. If you knew me you would know my Father also.” ·
8:20 Jesus spoke these · words near the treasury as he was teaching in the temple. · No one seized him because his hour had not yet come. ·
8:21 Then he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will search for me but will die in · your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
8:22 So the Jews said, “Surely he is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
8:23 · He said to them, “You are from · below; I am from · above. You are of this · world; I am not of · this world.
8:24 This is why I said to you that you would die in · your sins, for if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in · your sins.”
8:25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, · “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. ·
8:26 I have many things to say about you · by way of judgment; but the one who sent me is truthful, and I say to the world only that which I have heard from him.”
8:27 They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father.
8:28 So Jesus said to them, · “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he. · I do nothing on my own, but speak only those things the Father has taught me.
8:29 And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.”
8:30 As he was saying these things, many came to believe in him.
8:31 Jesus therefore said · to the Jews who had put their trust in him, “If you continue in · my word, · you are truly my disciples,
8:32 and you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
8:33 They replied to him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone! How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”
8:34 Jesus answered them, · “I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who commits · sin is a slave to sin.
8:35 A · slave does not remain in the house for all time, but a son remains for all time.
8:36 If therefore the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
8:37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; but you are intent on killing me, because · my teaching · makes no headway in you.
8:38 I speak about the things I have seen while with my Father, but you do that which you have heard from your father.”
8:39 They answered · him, saying, · “Our father is Abraham!” Jesus said to them, · “If you were really Abraham’s children, · you would be doing the deeds of Abraham.
8:40 But now you are intent on killing me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from · God. This is not what Abraham did!
8:41 You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to him, “We have not been born as a result of fornication; we have only one father, · God himself.”
8:42 Jesus said to them, · “If · God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from · God and now I am here. I have not come on my own, but he sent me.
8:43 Why do you not understand the way I speak? · It is because you are unable to grasp · my message. ·
8:44 You belong to your father the devil, and your will is to carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and never did stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, · he is giving expression to · his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
8:45 Yet because I am speaking the truth, you do not believe me.
8:46 Who among you can prove me guilty of any sin? If I am speaking the truth, why don’t you believe me?
8:47 Whoever belongs to · God listens to the words of God. The reason why you do not listen is that you do not belong to · God.”
8:48 The Jews answered · him, saying, “Are we not correct in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
8:49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor · my Father, and you dishonor me.
8:50 I · am not seeking · glory for myself; there is one who seeks it and he is the one who judges.
8:51 I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone keeps · my word, he will never see death.”
8:52 The Jews therefore said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps · my word, he will never taste death.’
8:53 Surely you are not greater than our father Abraham, are you? He died as did the prophets. Who are you making yourself out to be?”
8:54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, · my glory amounts to nothing. It is · my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’
8:55 And you have not known him, but I know him. If I were to say that I did not know him, I would be like you, a liar; but I do know him, and I keep · his word.
8:56 Abraham · your father rejoiced to see · my day; · · he saw it and was glad.
8:57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?”
8:58 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came to be, I am!”
8:59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
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