8:2 But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them.
8:3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle.
8:4 They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.
8:5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?"
8:6 They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
8:7 But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."
8:8 Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
8:9 And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him.
8:10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
8:11 She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go,
8:12 Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
8:13 So the Pharisees said to him, "You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified."
8:14 Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
8:15 You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.
8:16 And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me.
8:17 Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified.
8:18 I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me."
8:19 So they said 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."
8:20 He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area. But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
8:21 He said to them again, "I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come."
8:22 So the Jews said, "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 belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.
8:24 That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins."
8:25 So they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "What I told you from the beginning.
8:26 I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world."
8:27 They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father.
8:28 So Jesus said (to them), "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me.
8:29 The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him."
8:30 Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.
8:31 Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
8:33 They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, 'You will become free'?"
8:34 Jesus answered them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
8:35 A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains.
8:36 So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free.
8:37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you.
8:38 I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father."
8:39 They answered and said to him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham.
8:40 But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this.
8:41 You are doing the works of your father!" (So) they said to him, "We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God."
8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.
8:43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? Because you cannot bear to hear my word.
8:44 You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
8:45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me.
8:46 Can any of you charge me with sin? If I am telling the truth, why do you not believe me?
8:47 Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not listen, because you do not belong to God."
8:48 The Jews answered and said to him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed?"
8:49 Jesus answered, "I am not possessed; I honor my Father, but you dishonor me.
8:50 I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and he is the one who judges.
8:51 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death."
8:52 (So) the Jews said to him, "Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.'
8:53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?"
8:54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'
8:55 You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do 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, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM."
8:59 So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.