Light, Truth and Jesus' Identity

John 8

¹² Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

¹³ The Pharisees therefore said to him, “You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”

¹⁴ Jesus answered them, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going.

¹⁵ You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

¹⁶ Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.

¹⁷ It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.

¹⁸ I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”

¹⁹ They said therefore to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

²⁰ Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

²¹ Jesus said therefore again to them, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come.”

²² The Jews therefore said, “Will he kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come’ ?”

²³ He said to them, “You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.

²⁴ I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

²⁵ They said therefore to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.

²⁶ I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However, he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world.”

²⁷ They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father.

²⁸ Jesus therefore said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.

²⁹ He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

³⁰ As he spoke these things, many believed in him.

³¹ Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.

³² You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’ ?”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.

³⁵ A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever.

³⁶ If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s offspring, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.

³⁸ I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.”

³⁹ They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.

⁴⁰ But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this.

⁴¹ You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.”

⁴² Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me.

⁴³ Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word.

⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.

⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.

⁴⁶ Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

⁴⁷ He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.”

⁴⁸ Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”

⁴⁹ Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.

⁵⁰ But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.

⁵¹ Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.”

⁵² Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’

⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?”

⁵⁴ Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.

⁵⁵ You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him and keep his word.

⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad.”

⁵⁷ The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?”

⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM. ”

⁵⁹ Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.