2 Early the next morning, He had come into the temple again, and all the people were gathering around Him. Having sat down, He began to teach them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in adultery. And standing her in the middle,
4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
5 In our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now, what do you say?"
6 They were asking this to trap him so that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped and began to write in the dirt with his finger.
7 When the questioners persisted, Jesus straightened up and said to them, "Let the one of you who is sinless be the first one to cast a stone at her."
8 Then Jesus again stooped and continued writing in the dirt.
9 Having heard, they began to leave one by one, starting with the eldest, until only Jesus was left with the woman.
10 He straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?"
11 And she said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go. Stop sinning from this point on."
12 Then Jesus again addressed them and said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever continues to follow me need never walk in darkness, but he will enjoy the light that means life."
13 The Pharisees then said to Him, "You are testifying to yourself; your testimony is not true."
14 Jesus answered them, "Even if I do testify to myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I have come from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
15 You are judging in accordance with external standards, but I judge nobody.
16 Even if I should judge, my decision is fair, because I am not alone, but there are two of us, I and the Father who has sent me.
17 Even in your own law it is written, 'The testimony of two persons is true.'
18 I do testify to myself, and the Father who has sent me testifies to me."
19 Then they began to say to Him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You do not know either me or my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father too."
20 He said these things in the treasury as He was teaching in the temple, and yet no one ventured to arrest Him, because the time had not yet come for Him.
21 Then Jesus again said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, but you will die under the curse of your sins; for where I am going you can never come."
22 Then the Jews began to say, "He is not going to kill Himself, is He? Is that why He said, 'Where I am going you can never come'?"
23 He continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this present world; I do not belong to this present world.
24 So I have told you that you would die under the curse of your sins, for unless you believe that I am the Christ, you will die under the curse of your sins."
25 Then they asked Him, "Who are you anyway?" Jesus answered them, "Why do I even talk to you at all?
26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn in you, but He who sent me is truthful, and I am telling the world only what I have learned from Him."
27 They did not understand that He was speaking to them about the Father.
28 So Jesus said to them, "When you lift the Son of Man (on the cross), you will know that I am the Christ, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but that I say exactly what my Father has instructed me to say.
29 Yes, He who sent me is ever with me; I am not alone, because I always practice what pleases Him."
30 Even while He was saying this, many believed in Him.
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who believed in Him, "If you live in accordance with what I teach, you are really my disciples,
32 and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and we never have been anybody's slaves. How can you say to us, 'You will be set free'?"
34 Jesus answered them, "I most solemnly say to you, everyone who lives in sin is a slave of sin.
35 Now a slave does not live permanently in a household, but a son does.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be really free.
37 I know that you are Abraham's descendants, and yet you are trying to kill me, because there is no room in you for my teaching.
38 I am telling you what I have seen in my Father's presence, and you are practicing what you have learned from your father."
39 They answered Him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, you must be practicing what Abraham did.
40 But right now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that He has learned from God. Abraham never did that.
41 You are practicing what your real father does." They said to Him, "We are not illegitimate children; we have one Father, even God."
42 Then Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. No, indeed, I have not come on my own authority, but He has sent me.
43 Why is it that you misunderstand what I say? It is because you cannot listen to what I teach.
44 You sprang from the devil, your real father, and you want to practice your father's wishes. He was a murderer from the very start, and he does not stand by the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks out of his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
45 But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me.
46 Who of you can prove me guilty of sin? But if I do tell you the truth, why do you not believe me?
47 Whoever is sprung from God listens to what God says. This is why you do not listen to me: you are not sprung from God."
48 Then the Jews answered Him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and are under the power of a demon?"
49 Jesus answered: "I am not under the power of a demon; on the other hand, I am honoring my Father, but you are dishonoring me.
50 However, I am not seeking honor for myself; there is One who is seeking it for me, and He is judge.
51 I most solemnly say to you, if anyone follows my teaching, he will never experience death."
52 Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that you are under the power of a demon. Abraham is dead; the prophets too, and yet you say, 'If anyone follows my teaching, he will never experience death.'
53 You are not greater than our forefather Abraham, are you? He is dead and the prophets are dead. Who do you claim to be?"
54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, such glory amounts to nothing. It is the Father who glorifies me; and you claim that He is your God.
55 And yet you have not learned to know Him; but I know Him, and if I say I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you. On the other hand, I do know Him and I do follow His teaching.
56 Your forefather Abraham exulted in the hope of seeing my day. He has seen it and is glad of it."