Study Desk

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!"

Jesus told them, "These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don't know this about me.

You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone.

Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.

Later Jesus said to them again, "I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going."

I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful."

But they still didn't understand that he was talking about his Father.

So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me.

"But we are descendants of Abraham," they said. "We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free'?"

A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.

I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father."

Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.

Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don't listen because you don't belong to God."

The people said, "Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!'

Jesus answered, "If I want glory for myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,'

but you don't even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him.

At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.

But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world."

Some said he was, and others said, "No, he just looks like him!" But the beggar kept saying, "Yes, I am the same one!"

Some of the Pharisees said, "This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath." Others said, "But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?" So there was a deep division of opinion among them.