Chapter 8

But Jesus continued on to the Mount of Olives.

And early in the morning, he went again to the temple; and all the people came to him. And sitting down, he taught them.

Now the scribes and Pharisees brought forward a woman caught in adultery, and they stood her in front of them.

And they said to him: “Teacher, this woman was just now caught in adultery.

And in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such a one. Therefore, what do you say?”

But they were saying this to test him, so that they might be able to accuse him. Then Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the earth.

And then, when they persevered in questioning him, he stood upright and said to them, “Let whoever is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”

And bending down again, he wrote on the earth.

But upon hearing this, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, with the woman standing in front of him.

Then Jesus, raising himself up, said to her: “Woman, where are those who accused you? Has no one condemned you?”

And she said, “No one, Lord.” Then Jesus said: “Neither will I condemn you. Go, and now do not choose to sin anymore.”

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me does not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

And so the Pharisees said to him, “You offer testimony about yourself; your testimony is not true.”

Jesus responded and said to them: “Even though I offer testimony about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going.

You judge according to the flesh. I do not judge anyone.

And when I do judge, my judgment is true. For I am not alone, but it is I and he who sent me: the Father.

And it is written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.

I am one who offers testimony about myself, and the Father who sent me offers testimony about me.”

Therefore, they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered: “You know neither me, nor my Father. If you did know me, perhaps you would know my Father also.”

Jesus spoke these words at the treasury, while teaching in the temple. And no one apprehended him, because his hour had not yet come.

Therefore, Jesus again spoke to them: “I am going, and you shall seek me. And you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you are not able to go.”

And so the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself, for he said: ‘Where I am going, you are not able to go?’ ”

And he said to them: “You are from below. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.

Therefore, I said to you, that you will die in your sins. For if you will not believe that I am, you will die in your sin.”

And so they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them: “The Beginning, who is also speaking to you.

I have much to say about you and to judge. But he who sent me is true. And what I have heard from him, this I speak within the world.”

And they did not realize that he was calling God his Father.

And so Jesus said to them: “When you will have lifted up the Son of man, then you shall realize that I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but just as the Father has taught me, so do I speak.

And he who sent me is with me, and he has not abandoned me alone. For I always do what is pleasing to him.”

As he was speaking these things, many believed in him.

Therefore, Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him: “If you will abide in my word, you will truly be my disciples.

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”

They answered him: “We are the offspring of Abraham, and we have never been a slave to anyone. How can you say, ‘You shall be set free?’ ”

Jesus answered them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.

Now the slave does not abide in the house for eternity. Yet the Son does abide in eternity.

Therefore, if the Son has set you free, then you will truly be free.

I know that you are sons of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill me, because my word has not taken hold in you.

I speak what I have seen with my Father. And you do what you have seen with your father.”

They responded and said to him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them: “If you are the sons of Abraham, then do the works of Abraham.

But now you are seeking to kill me, a man who has spoken the truth to you, which I have heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.

You do the works of your father.” Therefore, they said to him: “We were not born out of fornication. We have one father: God.”

Then Jesus said to them: “If God were your father, certainly you would love me. For I proceeded and came from God. For I did not come from myself, but he sent me.

Why do you not recognize my speech? It is because you are not able to hear my word.

You are of your father, the devil. And you will carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning. And he did not stand in the truth, because the truth is not in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks it from his own self. For he is a liar, and the father of lies.

But if I speak the truth, you do not believe me.

Which of you can convict me of sin? If I speak the truth to you, why do you not believe me?

Whoever is of God, hears the words of God. For this reason, you do not hear them: because you are not of God.”

Therefore, the Jews responded and said to him, “Are we not correct in saying that you are a Samaritan, and that you have a demon?”

Jesus responded: “I do not have a demon. But I honor my Father, and you have dishonored me.

But I am not seeking my own glory. There is One who seeks and judges.

Amen, amen, I say to you, if anyone will have kept my word, he will not see death for eternity.”

Therefore, the Jews said: “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham is dead, and the Prophets; and yet you say, ‘If anyone will have kept my word, he shall not taste death for eternity.’

Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. So who do you make yourself to be?”

Jesus responded: “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me. And you say about him that he is your God.

And yet you have not known him. But I know him. And if I were to say that I do not know him, then I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and I keep his word.

Abraham, your father, rejoiced that he might see my day; he saw it and was glad.”

And so the Jews said to him, “You have not yet reached fifty years, and you have seen Abraham?”

Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am.”

Therefore, they took up stones to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself, and he departed from the temple.