12ONCE AGAIN JESUS addressed the people: 'I am the light of the world. No follower of mine shall wander in the dark; he shall have the light of life.' 13The Pharisees said to him, 'You are witness in your own cause; your testimony is not valid.' 14Jesus replied, 'My testimony is valid, even though I do bear witness about myself; because I know where I come from, and where I am going. You do not know either where I come from or where I am going. 15You judge by worldly standards. I pass judgement on no man, 16but if I do judge, my judgement is valid because it is not I alone who judge, but I and he who sent me. 17In your own law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. 18Here am I, a witness in my own cause, and my other witness is the Father who sent me.' They asked, 19'Where is your father?' Jesus replied, 'You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me you would know my Father as well.'
20These words were spoken by Jesus in the treasury as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
21Again he said to them, 'I am going away. You will look for me, but you will die in your sin; where I am going you cannot come.' 22The Jews then said, 'Perhaps he will kill himself: is that what he means when he says, "Where I am going you cannot come"?' 23So Jesus continued, 'You belong to this world below, I to the world above. Your home is in this world, mine is not. 24That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. If you do not believe that I am what I am, you will die in your sins.' 25They asked him, 'Who are you?' Jesus answered, 'Why should I speak to you at all? 26I have much to say about you—and in judgement. But he who sent me speaks the truth, and what I heard from him I report to the world.'
27They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. 28So Jesus said to them, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man you will know that I am what I am. I do nothing on my own authority, but in all that I say, I have been taught by my Father. 29He who sent me is present with me, and has not left me alone; for I always do what is acceptable to him.' 30As he said this, many put their faith in him.
31Turning to the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you dwell within the revelation I have brought, you are indeed my disciples; 32you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' 33They replied, 'We are Abraham's descendants; we have never been in slavery to any man. What do you mean by saying, "You will become free men"?' 34'In very truth I tell you', said Jesus, 'that everyone who commits sin is a slave. 35The slave has no permanent standing in the household, but the son belongs to it for ever. 36If then the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.
37'I know that you are descended from Abraham, but you are bent on killing me because my teaching makes no headway with you. 38I am revealing in words what I saw in my Father's presence; and you are revealing in action what you learned from your father.'
39They ' retorted, 'Abraham is our father.' 'If you were Abraham's children', Jesus replied, 'you would do as Abraham did. 40As it is, you are bent on killing me, a man who told you the truth, as I heard it from God. ' 41That is not how Abraham acted. You are doing your own father's work.'
They said, 'We are not base-born; God is our father, and God alone.' 42Jesus said, 'If God were your father, you would love me, for God is the source of my being, and from him I come. I have not come of my own accord; he sent me. 43Why do you not understand my language? It is because my revelation is beyond your grasp.
44'Your father is the devil and you choose to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and is not rooted in the truth; there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie he is speaking his own language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But I speak the truth and therefore you do not believe me. 46Which of you can prove me in the wrong? If what I say is true, why do you not believe me? 47He who has God for his father listens to the words of God. You are not God's children; that is why you do not listen.'
48The Jews answered, 'Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan, and that you are possessed?' 49'I am not possessed,' said Jesus; 'the truth is that I am honouring my Father, but you dishonour me. 50I do not so care about my own glory; there is one who does care, and he is judge. 51In very truth I tell you, if anyone obeys my teaching he shall never know what it is to die.'
52The Jews said, 'Now we are certain that you are possessed. Abraham is dead; the prophets are dead; and yet you say, "If anyone obeys my teaching he shall not know what it is to die." 53Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets are dead too. What do you claim to be?'
54Jesus replied, 'If I glorify myself, that glory of mine is worthless. It is the Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, "He is our God", 55though you do not know him. But I know him; if I said that I did not know him I should be a liar like you. But in truth I know him and obey his word.
56'Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day; he saw it and was glad.' 57The Jews protested, 'You are not yet fifty years old. How can you have seen Abraham?' 58Jesus said, 'In very truth I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am.'
59They picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was not to be seen; and he left the temple.
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