17
For this reason my Father loves me, because I am laying down my life in order to receive it back again.
18
No one is taking it away from me, but I myself am laying it down. I am authorized to lay it down, and I am authorized to receive it back again. This is the command I received from my Father."
19
Again there arose a division among the Jews because of these words.
20
Many of them said, "He is possessed by a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to him?"
21
Others argued, "That is not the language of a demoniac: and can a demon open blind men's eyes?"
22
The Dedication Festival came on in Jerusalem. It was winter,
23
and Jesus was walking in the Temple in Solomon's Portico,
24
when the Jews gathered round Him and kept asking Him, "How long do you mean to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us so plainly."
25
"I have told you," answered Jesus, "and you do not believe. The deeds that I do in my Father's name--they give testimony about me.
26
But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep.
27
My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28
I give them the Life of the Ages, and they shall never, never perish, nor shall any one wrest them from my hand.
29
What my Father has given me is more precious than all besides; and no one is able to wrest anything from my Father's hand.
30
I and the Father are one."
31
Again the Jews brought stones with which to stone Him.
32
Jesus remonstrated with them. "Many good deeds," He said, "have I shown you as coming from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?"
33
"For no good deed," the Jews replied, "are we going to stone you, but for blasphemy, and because you, who are only a man, are making yourself out to be God."
34
"Does it not stand written in your Law," replied Jesus, "`I said, you are gods'?
35
If those to whom God's word was addressed are called gods (and the Scripture cannot be annulled),
36
how is it that you say to one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, `You are blaspheming,' because I said, `I am God's Son'?
37
If the deeds I do are not my Father's deeds, do not believe me.
38
But if they are, then even if you do not believe me, at least believe the deeds, that you may know and see clearly that the Father is in me, and that I am in the Father."
39
This made them once more try to arrest Him, but He withdrew out of their power.
40
Then He went away again to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John had been baptizing at first; and there He stayed.
41
Large numbers of people also came to Him. Their report was, "John did not work any miracle, but all that John said about this Teacher was true."
42
And many became believers in Him there.