John 8

Christ forgives a sinful woman

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he returned to the temple. And all the people came to him, and he sat down, and taught them.

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had made her stand in the center, 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the Law commanded us to stone such women, but what do you say?”

6 They said this, testing him, that they might have some reason to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger, as though he did not hear them.

7 So when they kept on asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”. 8 And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 And those who heard that, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one after the other, beginning with the oldest and on to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the center. 10 When Jesus straightened up and saw no one except the woman, he said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord”. And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more”.

Christ reasons with the religious leaders

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

13 Then the Pharisees said to him, “You testify for yourself. Your testimony is not valid”.

From heaven to heaven

14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Though I testify for myself, my testimony is still valid, because I know from where I have come and where I am going. But you cannot tell where I have come from and where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh. I am judging no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent me judge together. 17 It is also written in your Law that the testimony of two men is valid. 18 I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me gives testimony about me”.

19 Then they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You do not know me, or my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also”.

20 Jesus spoke these words near the treasury, as he was teaching in the temple. And no one laid a hand on him, for his time had not yet come.

21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going my way, and you will look for me and will die in your sins. You cannot come where I am going”.

22 Then the Jews said, “Will he kill himself? For he says, ‘You cannot come where I am going.’ ”

23 And he said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins”.

25 Then they said to him, “Who are you?” And Jesus said to them, “Just who I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say, and to judge concerning you. But he who sent me is faithful, and I speak to the world those things which I have heard from him”.

27 They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father.

28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things just as my Father has taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. The Father has not left me alone, for I always do those things that please him”.

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

Christ sets people free

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free”.

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and were never in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free?’”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, whoever sins is a slave of sin. 35 And the slave does not remain in the house forever, but the Son remains forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are seeking to kill me, because my word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have seen with your father”.

39 They answered and said to him, “Abraham is our father”. Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the deeds of Abraham. 40 But now you are seeking to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I have heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You are doing the deeds of your father”.

Then they said to him, “We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, God Himself”.

Children of the devil

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I set out and came from God. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand my speech? Because you cannot hear my word. 44  You are of your father the devil, and you want to fulfill the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not remain in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar, and the father of lies. 45 And because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me.

46 “Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears God’s words. So you do not hear them, because you do not belong to God”.

48 Then the Jews answered and said to him, “Do we not rightly say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

49 Jesus answered, “I have no demon, but I honour my Father, and you dishonour me. 50 And I do not seek my own glory. There is one who seeks it, and judges. 51 Truly, truly I say to you, if a man keeps my word, he will never see death”.

52 Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham is dead, and the prophets also, and you say, If a man keeps my word, he will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham who is dead? And the prophets are dead. What are you making yourself out to be?”

Christ is Jehovah, the great “I am”

54 Jesus answered, “If I honour myself, my honour is nothing. It is my Father who honours me, concerning whom you say that he is your God. 55 And you have not known him. But I know him, and if I should say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. And he saw it, and was glad”.

57 Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am”.

59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the temple, passing through among them, and so went out.