Daily Reader's Bible - Flipbook - Page 24
know who my Father is. If you
knew me, you would also know
my Father.” Jesus made these
statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple
known as the Treasury. But
he was not arrested, because
his time had not yet come.
Later Jesus said to them
again, “I am going away. You
will search for me but will
die in your sin. You cannot
come where I am going.”
The people asked, “Is he
planning to commit suicide?
What does he mean, ‘You cannot
come where I am going’?”
Jesus continued, “You are
from below; I am from above.
You belong to this world; I do
not. That is why I said that you
will die in your sins; for unless
you believe that I AM who I claim
to be, you will die in your sins.”
“Who are you?” they
demanded.
Jesus replied, “The one I have
always claimed to be. I have
much to say about you and much
to condemn, but I won’t. For I
say only what I have heard from
the one who sent me, and he is
completely truthful.” But they
still didn’t understand that he
was talking about his Father.
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. And
the one who sent me is with
me—he has not deserted me.
For I always do what pleases
him.” Then many who heard him
say these things believed in him.
Jesus said to the people who
believed in him, “You are truly
my disciples if you remain
faithful to my teachings. And
you will know the truth, and
the truth will set you free.”
“But we are descendants
of Abraham,” they said. “We
have never been slaves to
anyone. What do you mean,
‘You will be set free’?”
Jesus replied, “I tell you
the truth, everyone who sins
is a slave of sin. A slave is not
a permanent member of the
family, but a son is part of the
family forever. So if the Son sets
you free, you are truly free. 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. I am telling you
what I saw when I was with my
Father. But you are following
the advice of your father.”
“Our father is Abraham!” they declared.
“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
MY PEOPLE HAVE NO SHEPHERD
10
Ask the LORD for rain in the spring,
for he makes the storm clouds.
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.
[ZECHARIAH 10:1–11:3]
And he will send showers of rain
so every field becomes a lush pasture.
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