Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 427
8:40–9:2
John
415
“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you
would follow his example. Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told
you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.
No, you are imitating your real father.”
They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true
Father.”
Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because
I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.
Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even
hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love
to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He
has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies,
it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So
when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! Which of you can
truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t
you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of
God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”
The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that
you were possessed by a demon?”
“No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and
you dishonor me. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is
going to glorify me. He is the true judge. I tell you the truth, anyone who
obeys my teaching will never die!”
The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even
Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my
teaching will never die!’ Are you greater than our father Abraham? He
died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my
Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ but you don’t even
know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as
you! But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as
he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”
The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you
have seen Abraham?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I
Am!” At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was
hidden from them and left the Temple.
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.
“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it
because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”
