John 8
A Woman Caught in Adultery
[[ 7:531 And each one departed to his own house. 8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.2 8:2 Early in the morning he came to the temple courts again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach3 them. 8:3 The experts in the law4 and the Pharisees5 brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of them 8:4 and said to Jesus,6 “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. 8:5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone to death7 such women.8 What then do you say?” 8:6 (Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against9 him.)10 Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger.11 8:7 When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight12 and replied,13 “Whoever among you is guiltless14 may be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8:8 Then15 he bent over again and wrote on the ground.
8:9 Now when they heard this, they began to drift away one at a time, starting with the older ones,16 until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 8:10 Jesus stood up straight17 and said to her, “Woman,18 where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 8:11 She replied, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”]]19
Jesus as the Light of the World
8:12 Then Jesus spoke out again,20 “I am the light of the world.21 The one who follows me will never22 walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 8:13 So the Pharisees23 objected,24 “You testify about yourself; your testimony is not true!”25 8:14 Jesus answered,26 “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you people27 do not know where I came from or where I am going.28 8:15 You people29 judge by outward appearances;30 I do not judge anyone.31 8:16 But if I judge, my evaluation is accurate,32 because I am not alone when I judge,33 but I and the Father who sent me do so together.34 8:17 It is written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.35 8:18 I testify about myself36 and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”
8:19 Then they began asking37 him, “Who is your father?” Jesus answered, “You do not know either me or my Father. If you knew me you would know my Father too.”38 8:20 (Jesus39 spoke these words near the offering box40 while he was teaching in the temple courts.41 No one seized him because his time42 had not yet come.)43
Where Jesus Came From and Where He is Going
8:21 Then Jesus44 said to them again,45 “I am going away, and you will look for me46 but will die in your sin.47 Where I am going you cannot come.” 8:22 So the Jewish leaders48 began to say,49 “Perhaps he is going to kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’” 8:23 Jesus replied,50 “You people51 are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world. 8:24 Thus I told you52 that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he,53 you will die in your sins.”
8:25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus replied,54 “What I have told you from the beginning. 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge55 about you, but the Father56 who sent me is truthful,57 and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world.”58 8:27 (They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.)59
8:28 Then Jesus said,60 “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he,61 and I do nothing on my own initiative,62 but I speak just what the Father taught me.63 8:29 And the one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone,64 because I always do those things that please him.” 8:30 While he was saying these things, many people65 believed in him.
Abraham’s Children and the Devil’s Children
8:31 Then Jesus said to those Judeans66 who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching,67 you are really68 my disciples 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”69 8:33 “We are descendants70 of Abraham,” they replied,71 “and have never been anyone’s slaves! How can you say,72 ‘You will become free’?” 8:34 Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth,73 everyone who practices74 sin is a slave75 of sin. 8:35 The slave does not remain in the family76 forever, but the son remains forever.77 8:36 So if the son78 sets you free, you will be really free. 8:37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants.79 But you want80 to kill me, because my teaching81 makes no progress among you.82 8:38 I am telling you the things I have seen while with the83 Father;84 as for you,85 practice the things you have heard from the86 Father!”
8:39 They answered him,87 “Abraham is our father!”88 Jesus replied,89 “If you are90 Abraham’s children, you would be doing91 the deeds of Abraham. 8:40 But now you are trying92 to kill me, a man who has told you93 the truth I heard from God. Abraham did not do this!94 8:41 You people95 are doing the deeds of your father.”
Then96 they said to Jesus,97 “We were not born as a result of immorality!98 We have only one Father, God himself.” 8:42 Jesus replied,99 “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come from God and am now here.100 I101 have not come on my own initiative,102 but he103 sent me. 8:43 Why don’t you understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot accept104 my teaching.105 8:44 You people106 are from107 your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires.108 He109 was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth,110 because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies,111 he speaks according to his own nature,112 because he is a liar and the father of lies.113 8:45 But because I am telling you114 the truth, you do not believe me. 8:46 Who among you can prove me guilty115 of any sin?116 If I am telling you117 the truth, why don’t you believe me? 8:47 The one who belongs to118 God listens and responds119 to God’s words. You don’t listen and respond,120 because you don’t belong to God.”121
8:48 The Judeans122 replied,123 “Aren’t we correct in saying124 that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?”125 8:49 Jesus answered, “I am not possessed by a demon,126 but I honor my Father – and yet127 you dishonor me. 8:50 I am not trying to get128 praise for myself.129 There is one who demands130 it, and he also judges.131 8:51 I tell you the solemn truth,132 if anyone obeys133 my teaching,134 he will never see death.”135
8:52 Then136 the Judeans137 responded,138 “Now we know you’re possessed by a demon!139 Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet140 you say, ‘If anyone obeys141 my teaching,142 he will never experience143 death.’144 8:53 You aren’t greater than our father Abraham who died, are you?145 And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?” 8:54 Jesus replied,146 “If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless.147 The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people148 say, ‘He is our God.’ 8:55 Yet149 you do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him,150 I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey151 his teaching.152 8:56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed153 to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.”154
8:57 Then the Judeans155 replied,156 “You are not yet fifty years old!157 Have158 you seen Abraham?” 8:58 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth,159 before Abraham came into existence,160 I am!”161 8:59 Then they picked up162 stones to throw at him,163 but Jesus hid himself and went out from the temple area.164