This conversation was between Jesus and some people who came to question him; he used the opportunity to tell them some facts about himself-John 8:12-59. The most interesting thing about the conversation is that the words of Jesus Christ are words of life and those who believe him will have everlasting life. May God bless you as you read.
Jesus: I am the light of the world. Those who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
The People: You testify about yourself; your testimony is not true!
Jesus: Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you people do not know where I came from or where I am going. You people judge by outward appearances; I do not judge anyone. But if I judge, my evaluation is accurate, because I am not alone when I judge, but I and the Father who sent me do so together. It is written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I testify about myself and the Father who sent me testifies about me.
The People: Who is your father?
Jesus: You do not know either me or my Father. If you know me, you will know my Father too. I am going away, and you will look for me but will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.
The People: Perhaps he is going to kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’
Jesus: You people are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world. Thus I told you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.
The People: Who are you?
Jesus: What I have told you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the Father who sent me is truthful, and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world. (They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.)When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak just what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do those things that please him. (While he was saying these things, many people believed in him)If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
The People: We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been anyone’s slaves! How can you say, ‘You will become free’?
Jesus: I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the family forever, but the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be really free. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. But you want to kill me, because my teaching makes no progress among you. I am telling you the things I have seen while with the Father; as for you, practice the things you have heard from the Father!
The People: Abraham is our father!
Jesus: If you are Abraham’s children, you would be doing the deeds of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham did not do this! You people are doing the deeds of your father.
The People: We were not born as a result of immorality! We have only one Father, God himself.
Jesus: If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come from God and am now here. I have not come on my own initiative, but he sent me. Why don’t you understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot accept my teaching. You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I am telling you the truth, you do not believe me. Who among you can prove me guilty of any sin? If I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? The one who belongs to God listens and responds to God’s words. You don’t listen and respond, because you don’t belong to God.
The People: Aren’t we correct in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?
Jesus: I am not possessed by a demon, but I honour my Father – and yet you dishonour me. I am not trying to get praise for myself. There is one who demands it, and he also judges. I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death.
The People: Now we know you’re possessed by a demon! Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet you say, ‘If anyone obeys my teaching, he will never experience death.’ You aren’t greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?
Jesus: If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people say, ‘He is our God.’ Yet you do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his teaching. Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.
The People: You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?
Jesus: I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am! Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out from the temple area. He performed some miracles and later declared to them in John 10:17-18 and John 15: 13-14 that:The father loves me because I lay down my life, to receive it back again. No one has robbed me of it; I am laying it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to receive it back again; this charge I have received from my father. There is no greater love than this- that a man should lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, sent to redeem us. Believe in him now and be saved.
