Study Desk

Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die^(z) in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come."^(aa)

This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come' ?"

But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.^(ab)

I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he,^(ac) you will indeed die in your sins."

"Who are you?" they asked. "Just what I have been telling you from the beginning," Jesus replied.

"I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy,^(ad) and what I have heard from him I tell the world."^(ae)

They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.

So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up^[a] the Son of Man,^(af) then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.^(ag)

The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,^(ah) for I always do what pleases him."^(ai)

Even as he spoke, many believed in him.^(aj)

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching,^(ak) you are really my disciples.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."^(al)

They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants^(am) and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.^(an)

Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.^(ao)

So if the Son sets you free,^(ap) you will be free indeed.

I know that you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,^(aq) because you have no room for my word.

I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence,^(ar) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.^[b]"^(as)

"Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you were Abraham's children,"^(at) said Jesus, "then you would^[c] do what Abraham did.

As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,^(au) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.^(av) Abraham did not do such things.

You are doing the works of your own father."^(aw) "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."^(ax)

Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me,^(ay) for I have come here from God.^(az) I have not come on my own;^(ba) God sent me.^(bb)

Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.

You belong to your father, the devil,^(bc) and you want to carry out your father's desires.^(bd) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.^(be)

Yet because I tell the truth,^(bf) you do not believe me!

Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?

Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.^(bg) The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."