The Light of the world at work

1Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ²³²

2And at dawn He went again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; so sitting down He started to teach them.

A dirty deal

3Then the scribes and the Pharisees bring to Him a woman caught in adultery; and placing her in the center

4they say to Him: “Teacher, we found this woman committing adultery, in the very act.

5Now in our law Moses commanded that such women are to be stoned; ²³³so what do you say?”

6They said this to test Him, so that they might have an accusation against Him. But stooping down ²³⁴Jesus began to write on the ground with His finger, taking no notice.

7But since they kept on asking Him, straightening up He said to them, “Let the one without sin among you throw the first stone at her.”

8And stooping down again He continued writing on the ground. ²³⁵

9Now upon hearing this, and being convicted by their conscience, they began to go out one by one, starting with the older ones down to the least. So only Jesus was left, with the woman in the center. ²³⁶

10So straightening up, and not seeing anyone except the woman, Jesus said to her: “Where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

11So she said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said to her: “Neither do I condemn you. ²³⁷Go, and from now on don't sin any more!”

Jesus dialogs with the Pharisees

12Then Jesus spoke to them again, ²³⁸saying: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk around in the darkness, ²³⁹but will have the light of the Life.” ²⁴⁰

13So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about yourself; your testimony is not valid.”

14Jesus answered and said to them: “Even though I testify about myself, my testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going. ²⁴¹But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.

15You are judging according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone.

16Yet even if I do judge, my judging is valid, in that I am not alone in judging, but I and the Father who sent me are together.

17It is written precisely in your law that the testimony of two men is valid:

18I am one testifying concerning myself and the Father who sent me testifies concerning me.”

19Then they said to Him, “Where is your father?” ²⁴²Jesus answered: “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me you would also know my Father.”

20Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, while teaching in the temple; yet no one arrested Him, because His time had not yet come. ²⁴³

“you will die in your sins”

21Then Jesus said to them again: “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” ²⁴⁴

22So the Jews said, “He won't kill himself, will he, since he says, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” ²⁴⁵

23He said to them: “You are from below; I am from Above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴⁶

24That is why I told you that you will die in your sins, because if you do not believe that I am, ²⁴⁷you will die in your sins.” ²⁴⁸

25So they said to Him, “Who are you?” And Jesus said to them: “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.

26I have many things to say and to judge about you, but He who sent me is true, and what I myself have heard from Him—these things I say to the world.” ²⁴⁹

27They did not understand that He was speaking to them about the Father. ²⁵⁰

28Then Jesus said to them: “When you lift up the Son of the Man, then you will know that I am ²⁵¹and that I do nothing from myself; but just as my Father has taught me, these things I speak.

29And the One who sent me is with me. The Father has not left me alone, because I always do the things that please Him.” ²⁵²

“the Truth will make you free”

30While He was saying these things many believed into Him.

31So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed Him: “If you abide in my word, you really are my disciples; ²⁵³

32and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free.” ²⁵⁴

33They answered and said to Him: “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free’?” ²⁵⁵

34Jesus answered them: “I tell you most assuredly that everyone committing sin is a slave of sin. ²⁵⁶

35Now the slave does not remain in the household forever; the son does remain forever. ²⁵⁷

36Therefore, if the Son should make you free, you really will be free.

37I know that you are descendants of Abraham, but you are wanting to kill me because my word finds no place in you. ²⁵⁸

38On my part, I speak what I have observed with my Father, while on your part you do what you have observed with your father.” ²⁵⁹

“your father is the devil”

39They answered and said to Him, “Our father is Abraham!” Jesus says to them: “If you were children of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham;

40but now you are wanting to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. ²⁶⁰This sort of thing Abraham did not do!

41You do the works of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; ²⁶¹we have one Father—God.” ²⁶²

42So Jesus said to them: “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came forth from God and I am here. ²⁶³Further, I have not come on my own, but He sent me.

43Why don't you understand what I say?—because you are not able to really hear my word. ²⁶⁴

44You are of your father the devil, ²⁶⁵and it is the desires of your father that you want to do. He was a murderer ²⁶⁶from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. ²⁶⁷Whenever he speaks the lie he speaks from his own things, because he is a liar and the father of lying. ²⁶⁸

45But since I speak the truth you do not believe me.

46Which of you convicts me of sin? ²⁶⁹So if I speak the truth, why do you not believe me?

47The one who is of God hears God's words; that is why you do not hear, because you are not of God.” ²⁷⁰

48So the Jews answered and said to Him, “We say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon ²⁷¹—are we wrong?”

49Jesus answered: “I do not have a demon; rather, I honor my Father, while you dishonor me.

50Yet I do not seek my glory; there is One who seeks and judges.

51Most assuredly I say to you, if anyone should keep my word he will never ever see death.” ²⁷²

“before Abraham was, I AM”

52So the Jews said to Him: “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died and so did the prophets; yet you say, ‘If anyone should keep my word he will never ever taste death’!

53Surely you aren't greater than our father Abraham, who died? ²⁷³And the prophets are dead. Who do you make yourself out to be?”

54Jesus answered: “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ ²⁷⁴

55Yet you have not known Him, but I do know Him. And if I should say that I do not know Him I would be a liar just like you (pl); ²⁷⁵but I do know Him and I keep His word.

56Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day; ²⁷⁶yes, he saw it and rejoiced.”

57So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, ²⁷⁷and you have seen Abraham?!”

58Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM!” ²⁷⁸

59Then they picked up stones to throw at Him; ²⁷⁹but Jesus was concealed ²⁸⁰and went out of the temple, going through the middle of them; yes, that is how He got away!