1. Later, in a crowd where His disciples and some religious leaders were gathered, Jesus began to teach them about Himself saying:
2. "He who sent Me is true, and the things which He tells Me I speak to the world.
3. "I am the light of the world; whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
4. "For I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak the things My Father has taught Me. He has not left Me orphaned, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.
5. "So it is with you: When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing of My own initiative, but I speak only what the Father has taught Me."
6. Some of the Pharisees said, "You talk about Yourself; therefore, what You say about Yourself is not valid."
7. Jesus answered and said, "Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and to where I am going; but you do not know where I came from, and you do not know where I am going.
8. "You judge according to your flesh, but I judge no one.
9. "When I judge, My judgment is valid, for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me judge together.
10. "I am one who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me, and Our opinion is sufficient in its rendering."
11. So they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?"
12. Jesus said, "You cannot see Me for what I am, so you can not see the Father. If you could see Me, then you could see the Father as well."
13. Then He said to them, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, but you will not find Me, and you will die in your sin, for where I am going you cannot come."
14. So the Jews were saying, "Is He going to kill Himself? What does He mean, 'Where I am going you cannot come?'"
15. Jesus answered, "You are from below, but I am from above. You are of this world, but I am not of this world.
16. "Therefore; I tell you truly, unless you believe in me, you will die in your sin."
17. Then Jesus said to those who believed in Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
18. But they said to Him, "We have never been slaves to anyone. How then can You say we will be set free?"
19. Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, anyone who sins is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever, but the Son remains forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed."
20. Then He said to the Pharisees, "You seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
21. "I speak about the things I have seen with My Father, and you do the things that you have heard from your father.
22. "If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceed forth from God. I have not even come by My own volition, but rather God has sent Me.
23. "Why do you not understand what I am saying? Is it because you cannot hear My words?
24. "You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
25. "Whenever he speaks, he lies. And when he speaks a lie, he is speaking from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
26. "Therefore, because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.
27. "He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason, you do not hear them, because you are not of God."
28. Then the Jews shouted, "You have a demon in You!"
29. But Jesus said, "I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father and you dishonor Me.
30. "Not that I seek to be honored by you, but the Father demands honor and judges accordingly.
31. "For that reason I tell you, if anyone keeps My words they will not taste death."
32. The Jews said, "Now we know you are demon possessed, for everyone dies. Abraham died, the prophets died. Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets who died! Who do you claim to be? For you say, 'If anyone keeps Your word, they will not taste death.'"
33. Jesus said to them, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; rather it is My Father who glorifies Me, the same Father you call your God.
34. "But you have not come to know the Father, but I know Him; and if I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you are, but I do know Him and I keep His word.
35. "The prophets and saints rejoiced to see My day, and they finally saw it."
36. The Jews said, "You are not even fifty years old, and yet You say You have seen the saints and the prophets?"
37. Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, before they were, I am."
38. And at that the Jews were beside themselves and picked up stones to kill Jesus, but He walked past them, hidden, for it was not His time to die.
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