John 8:43-59

⁴³Why are my words not clear to you? It is because your ears are shut to my teaching.

⁴⁴You are the children of your father the Evil One and it is your pleasure to do his desires. From the first he was a taker of life; and he did not go in the true way because there is no true thing in him. When he says what is false, it is natural to him, for he is false and the father of what is false.

⁴⁵But because I say what is true, you have no belief in me.

⁴⁶Which of you is able truly to say that I am a sinner? If I say what is true, why have you no belief in me?

⁴⁷He who is a child of God gives ear to the words of God: your ears are not open to them because you are not from God.

⁴⁸The Jews said to him in answer, Are we not right in saying that you are of Samaria and have an evil spirit?

⁴⁹And this was the answer of Jesus: I have not an evil spirit; but I give honour to my Father and you do not give honour to me.

⁵⁰I, however, am not in search of glory for myself: there is One who is searching for it and he is judge.

⁵¹Truly I say to you, If a man keeps my word he will never see death.

⁵²The Jews said to him, Now we are certain that you have an evil spirit. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead; and you say, If a man keeps my word he will never see death.

⁵³Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets are dead: who do you say that you are?

⁵⁴Jesus said in answer, If I take glory for myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father who gives me glory, of whom you say that he is your God.

⁵⁵You have no knowledge of him, but I have knowledge of him; and if I said I have no knowledge of him I would be talking falsely like you: but I have full knowledge of him, and I keep his word.

⁵⁶Your father Abraham was full of joy at the hope of seeing my day: he saw it and was glad.

⁵⁷Then the Jews said to him, You are not fifty years old; have you seen Abraham?

⁵⁸Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, Before Abraham came into being, I am.

⁵⁹So they took up stones to send at him: but Jesus got secretly out of their way and went out of the Temple.