John 8:21-38

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

25 “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied.

26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.

28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up ^[a] the Son of Man, 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.

29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants 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.

35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.

38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.^[b] ”

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Cross References 20

1. Ezekiel 3:18
2. John 7:34; John 13:33
3. John 3:31; John 17:14
4. John 4:26; John 13:19
5. John 7:28
6. John 3:32; John 15:15
7. S John 3:14; John 5:19; John 12:32
8. S John 14:24
9. ver 16; John 16:32
10. Isaiah 50:5; John 4:34; John 5:30; John 6:38
11. S John 7:31
12. John 15:7; 2 John 9
13. ver 36; Romans 8:2; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:1,13; James 2:12
14. ver 37,39; Matthew 3:9; S Luke 3:8
15. S Romans 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19
16. Galatians 4:30
17. ver 32
18. ver 39,40
19. John 5:19,30; John 14:10,24
20. ver 41,44

Footnotes 2

[a]. The Greek for "lifted up" also means "exalted" .
[b]. Or "presence. Therefore do what you have heard from the Father."