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John 8:28-59
Amplified Bible
John 8:28-59
Amplified Bible
28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man [on the cross], you will know then [without any doubt] that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own authority, but I say these things just as My Father taught Me. 29 And He who sent Me is [always] with Me; He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.” 30 As He said these things, [a]many believed in Him.
The Truth Will Make You Free
31 So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone. [b]What do You mean by saying, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, everyone who practices sin habitually is a slave of sin. 35 Now the slave does not remain in a household forever; the son [of the master] does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you plan to kill Me, because My word has no place [to grow] in you [and it makes no change in your heart]. 38 I tell the things that I have seen at My Father’s side [in His very presence]; so you also do the things that you heard from your father.”
39 They answered, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are [truly] Abraham’s children, then do the works of Abraham and follow his example. 40 But as it is, you want to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. This is not the way Abraham acted. 41 You are doing the works of your [own] father.” They said to Him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one [spiritual] Father: God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father [but He is not], you would love and recognize Me, for I came from God [out of His very presence] and have arrived here. For I have not even come on My own initiative [as self-appointed], but He [is the One who] sent Me. 43 Why do you misunderstand what I am saying? It is because [your spiritual ears are deaf and] you are unable to hear [the truth of] My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me [and continue in your unbelief]. 46 Which one of you [has proof and] convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 Whoever is of God and belongs to Him hears [the truth of] God’s words; for this reason you do not hear them: because you are not of God and you are not in fellowship with Him.”
48 The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right when we say You are a [c]Samaritan and [that You] have a demon [and are under its power]?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon. On the contrary, I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 However, I am not seeking glory for Myself. There is One who seeks [glory for Me] and judges [those who dishonor Me]. 51 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if anyone keeps My word [by living in accordance with My message] he will indeed never, ever see and experience [d]death.” 52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon [and are under its power]. Abraham died, and also the prophets; yet You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never, ever taste of death.’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too! Whom do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is [worth] nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 Yet you do not know Him, but I know Him fully. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham [greatly] rejoiced to see My day (My incarnation). [e]He saw it and was delighted.”(A) 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not even fifty years old, and You [claim to] have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus replied, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, before Abraham was born, [f]I Am.”(B) 59 So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus concealed Himself and left the temple.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 8:30 The response of the people in some of the following verses casts doubt on the validity of their belief.
- John 8:33 The Jews did not grasp the difference between being enslaved physically and being enslaved spiritually because of sin.
- John 8:48 This was a slur intended to incite hatred toward Jesus among Jews, who as a people were in an ancient feud with the Samaritans.
- John 8:51 I.e. spiritual death and separation from God.
- John 8:56 How Abraham saw the incarnation of Jesus is unclear. Some suggest it was simply by faith, others suggest it was through Isaac and the promise of the covenant, but more likely, he saw it from Paradise.
- John 8:58 I.e. I Am the One who is—the Lord, Heb Yahweh.
John 8:28-59
New International Version
John 8:28-59
New International Version
28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up[a] the Son of Man,(A) then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.(B) 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,(C) for I always do what pleases him.”(D) 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.(E)
Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,(F) you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(G)
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants(H) and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.(I) 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.(J) 36 So if the Son sets you free,(K) you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,(L) because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,(M) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[b]”(N)
39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,”(O) said Jesus, “then you would[c] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,(P) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.(Q) Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”(R)
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”(S)
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,(T) for I have come here from God.(U) I have not come on my own;(V) God sent me.(W) 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil,(X) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.(Y) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.(Z) 45 Yet because I tell the truth,(AA) you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.(AB) The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Jesus’ Claims About Himself
48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan(AC) and demon-possessed?”(AD)
49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself;(AE) but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”(AF)
52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!(AG) Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham?(AH) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,(AI) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.(AJ) 55 Though you do not know him,(AK) I know him.(AL) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.(AM) 56 Your father Abraham(AN) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it(AO) and was glad.”
57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born,(AP) I am!”(AQ) 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him,(AR) but Jesus hid himself,(AS) slipping away from the temple grounds.
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