Open English Translation YHN (JHN) Chapter 8

12 [ref]Because of this, Yeshua told them, “I am the light of the world—whoever follows me won’t walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

13 [ref]Some from the Pharisee party argued, “You are testifying about yourself, so that testimony is invalid.”

14 Yeshua responded, “Even when I am testifying about myself, my testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. 15 You all are judging according to your earthly values. I’m not judging anyone. 16 But even if I was judging, my judgement would be correct, because it wouldn’t just be me judging, but also the father who sent me. 17 [ref]It’s even written in your own laws that the testimony of two men is valid. 18 So that’s me testifying about myself, plus the father who sent me also testifies about me.”

19 “And where is your father?” they asked.

Yeshua answered them, “You don’t know either me or my father. If you did know me, then you’d also know my father.”

20 He explained all this while he was teaching in the treasury part of the temple, but no one arrested him because the time for his suffering had not yet arrived.

21 So he continued, “I will be going away and all of you will be looking for me, but you’ll all just die in your sins and won’t be able to go where I’ll be going.”

22 This puzzled the Jewish teachers, “Surely he’s not going to commit suicide! What else could he mean about ‘you can’t go where I’m going to be going’?”

23 Yeshua explained, “All of you are from the world below, but I’m from the world above. You all are part of this world, but I’m not part of it. 24 That’s why I said that you’ll be dying in your sins, because if you refuse to believe that I am God, you will indeed all be dying in your sins.”

25 “So who are you?” they asked.

And he answered, “Still just the same as I’ve been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have a lot that I need to tell you all and to judge many of your actions, because the one who sent me is true, and it’s what I hear from him that I speak to all people.”

27 (They didn’t realise that he was talking to them about the father in heaven.) 28 So Yeshua told them, “When you all lift up[fn] humanity’s child on a pole, then you will know that I am God, and that I don’t do anything by myself, but I say all this just as the father told me to. 29 And the one who sent me is with me—he didn’t just leave me alone—because I am continually doing what pleases him.”

30 After he’d said all this, many people believed in him.

31 Because of this, Yeshua told all the Jews who believed in him, “If you all continue to believe my message, then you’re my true followers. 32 You will have known the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 [ref]But some queried, “We are Abraham’s descendants and we’ve never been slaves to anyone, so how can you say that we’ll be set free?”

34 “I can assure you all that anyone who sins is a slave to sin,” Yeshua answered. 35 “And the slaves don’t necessarily remain in the family home forever—only the children have that right. 36 So if the son sets you free, then you’ll be truly free.

37 “Yes, I know that you’re all descendants of Abraham, but you’re trying to kill me because my message doesn’t lodge in you. 38 Indeed I talk about what I’ve actually seen with the father, but you all are doing what you’ve heard from your father.”

39 But they retorted, “Abraham is our father.”[fn]

And Yeshua responded, “Well, if you really were descendants of Abraham, you’d behave more like him. 40 But instead you’re trying to find a way to have me killed—to kill the man who has spoken the truth to you—truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did that. 41 You’re doing what your father wants you all do to.”

But they shot back, “It’s not us who was conceived by a couple that weren’t even married! Anyway, we only have one father and that’s God.”

42 “If God was your father you all would be loving me,” Yeshua responded, “because I came from God and for God. I didn’t just come by myself, but God sent me here. 43 Why can’t you comprehend what I’m saying? The reason that you can’t stand listening to my message 44 is because you come from your father, the devil, and you want to do what your father wants. But he was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stick to the truth because there’s no truth in him. Whenever he tells lies, he’s speaking from his own nature, because he’s a liar and the source of lying. 45 But because I’m speaking the truth, you don’t believe in me. 46 Which of you can scold me for my sins? If I am speaking the truth, why don’t you believe I’m from God? 47 Anyone who belongs to God, listens to what God says. But you all can’t even hear the message, because you don’t belong to God.”

48 The Jewish leaders asked, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re from Samaria and that you have a demon?”

49 “No, I don’t have a demon,” Yeshua answered, “but I honour my father and you’re dishonouring me. 50 But I’m not searching greatness for myself—my father is the one searching and the one judging. 51 I can assure you, that anyone who puts my teaching into practice can be certain to avoid death in this age.”

52 “Now we know that you have a demon!” the Jews said. “Abraham and the prophets all died, but you’re saying that those who follow your teaching can be certain to avoid death in this age. 53 How could you be greater than our ancestor Abraham who died? Even the prophets died. Who do you think you are?”

54 Again Yeshua answered, “If I praise myself, my praise is worthless, but it’s my father who praises me—the one who you say is your God 55 although in fact you don’t even know him. But I have known him, and so I can’t say that I haven’t known him or I’d be a liar like all of you. But I have known him and I am putting his desires into practice. 56 Your ancestor Abraham would have been excited to see me here—in fact he did see ahead and was very happy about it.”

57 Because of that, the Jewish leaders asked, “You aren’t even fifty years old yet. How could you have seen Abraham?”[fn]

58 Yeshua answered, “I can assure you that I am[fn] before Abraham ever existed.”

59 When they heard that, they picked up rocks to throw at Yeshua to kill him. But Yeshua became hidden from their sight, and went on out of the temple.