New Believer's Bible Sample - Flipbook - Page 55
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say only what I have heard from the one who
sent me, and he is completely truthful.” 27 But
they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father.
28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up
the Son of Man on the cross, then you will
understand that I Am he.* I do nothing on my
own but say only what the Father taught me.
29And the one who sent me is with me—he has
not deserted me. For I always do what pleases
him.” 30 Then many who heard him say these
things believed in him.
Jesus and Abraham
said to the people who believed in
him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain
faithful to my teachings. 32And you will know
the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 “But we are descendants of Abra
ham,”
they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, every
one who sins is a slave of sin. 35A slave is not
a permanent member of the family, but a son
is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son
sets you free, you are truly free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham.
And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my
message. 38 I am telling you what I saw when
I was with my Father. But you are following
the advice of your father.”
39 “Our father is Abraham!” they declared.
“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really
the children of Abraham, you would follow
his example.* 40 Instead, you are trying to kill
me because I told you the truth, which I heard
from God. Abraham never did such a thing.
41 No, you are imitating your real father.”
They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”
42 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. 43 Why can’t you understand what
I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear
me! 44 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. 45 So when I tell the truth,
you just naturally don’t believe me! 46 Which
31
Jesus
J ohn 9
of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And
since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you
believe me? 47Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t
listen because you don’t belong to God.”
48 The people retorted, “You Sa
maritan
devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were
possessed by a demon?”
49 “No,” J
esus said, “I have no demon in me.
For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me.
50And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true
judge. 51 I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys
my teaching will never die!”
52 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!’ 53Are you
greater than our father Abraham? He died,
and so did the prophets. Who do you think
you are?”
54 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,’* 55 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. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward
to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”
57 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty
years old. How can you say you have seen
Abraham?*”
58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!*” 59At that
point they picked up stones to throw at him.
But Jesus was hidden from them and left the
Temple.
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
As J esus was walking along, he saw a man
who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,”
his disciples asked him, “why was this man
born blind? Was it because of his own sins or
his parents’ sins?”
3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened
so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We
must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us
by the one who sent us.* The night is coming,
and then no one can work. 5 But while I am
here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud
with the saliva, and spread the mud over the
blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash
9
:28 Greek When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am. “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
8
8:39 Some manuscripts read if you are really the children of Abraham, follow his example.
8:54 Some manuscripts read You
say he is your God.
8:57 Some manuscripts read How can you say Abraham has seen you?
8:58 Or before Abraham was even
born, I have always been alive; Greek reads before Abraham was, I am. See Exod 3:14. 9:4 Other manuscripts read I must
quickly carry out the tasks assigned me by the one who sent me; still others read We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us
by the one who sent me.
