Study Desk

Now the scribes and the Pharisees ^(*)brought a woman caught in the act of adultery, and after placing her in the center of the courtyard,

they ^(*)said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of committing adultery.

"Now in the Law, ^(C1)Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?"

Now they were saying this to ^(C1)test Him, ^(C2)so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.

When they persisted in asking Him, ^(C1)He straightened up and said to them, "^(C2)He who is without sin among you, let him be the ^(C3)first to throw a stone at her."

And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

Now when they heard this, they began leaving, one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman where she was, in the center of the courtyard.

And ^(C1)straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?"

She said, "No one, ^(F1)Lord." And Jesus said, "^(C1)I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on do not ^(C2)sin any longer."]]

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "^(C1)I am the Light of the world; ^(C2)the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

So the Pharisees said to Him, "^(C1)You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not ^(F1)true."

Jesus answered and said to them, "^(C1)Even if I am testifying about Myself, My testimony is ^(F1)true, because I know ^(C2)where I came from and where I am going; but ^(C3)you do not know where I come from or where I am going.

"^(C1)You judge ^(F1)according to the flesh; ^(C2)I am not judging anyone.

"But even ^(C1)if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.

"Even in ^(C1)your Law it has been written that the testimony of ^(C2)two people is ^(F1)true.

"I am He who testifies about Myself, and ^(C1)the Father who sent Me testifies about Me."

So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; ^(C1)if you knew Me, you would know My Father also."

These words He spoke ^(F1)in ^(C1)the treasury, as ^(C2)He taught in the temple area; and no one arrested Him, because ^(C3)His hour had not yet come.

Then He said again to them, "I am going away, and ^(C1)you will look for Me, and ^(C2)will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come."

So ^(C1)the Jews were saying, "Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, '^(C2)Where I am going, you cannot come'?"

And He was saying to them, "^(C1)You are from below, I am from above; ^(C2)you are of this world, ^(C3)I am not of this world.

"Therefore I said to you that you ^(C1)will die in your sins; for unless you believe that ^(F1)(C2)I am, ^(C1)you will die in your sins."

Then they were saying to Him, "Who are You?" Jesus said to them, "^(F1)What have I even been saying to you from the beginning?

"I have many things to say and to judge regarding you, but ^(C1)He who sent Me is true; and ^(C2)the things which I heard from Him, these I say to the world."

They did not realize that He was speaking to them about the Father.

So Jesus said, "When you ^(C1)lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that ^(F1)(C2)I am, and ^(C3)I do nothing ^(F2)on My own, but I say these things as the Father instructed Me.

"And He who sent Me is with Me; ^(C1)He ^(F1)has not left Me alone, for ^(C2)I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."

As He said these things, ^(C1)many came to believe in Him.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "^(C1)If you continue in My word, then you are truly My ^(C2)disciples;

and ^(C1)you will know the truth, and ^(C2)the truth will set you free."

They answered Him, "^(C1)We are Abraham's descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You will become free'?"

Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly I say to you, ^(C1)everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.

"Now ^(C1)the slave does not remain in the house forever; ^(C2)the son does remain forever.

"So if the Son ^(C1)sets you free, you really will be free.