26. I have much to say about you, much to condemn you for. The one who sent me, however, is truthful, and I tell the world only what I have heard from him.”
27. They did not understand that Jesus was talking to them about the Father.
28. So he said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, you will know that ‘I Am Who I Am’; then you will know that I do nothing on my own authority, but I say only what the Father has instructed me to say.
29. And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.”
30. Many who heard Jesus say these things believed in him.
31. So Jesus said to those who believed in him, “If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples;
32. you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33. “We are the descendants of Abraham,” they answered, “and we have never been anybody's slaves. What do you mean, then, by saying, ‘You will be free’?”
34. Jesus said to them, “I am telling you the truth: everyone who sins is a slave of sin.
35. A slave does not belong to a family permanently, but a son belongs there for ever.
36. If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free.
37. I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me, because you will not accept my teaching.
38. I talk about what my Father has shown me, but you do what your father has told you.”
39. They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” “If you really were Abraham's children,” Jesus replied, “you would do the same things that he did.
40. All I have ever done is to tell you the truth I heard from God, yet you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like this!
41. You are doing what your father did.”“God himself is the only Father we have,” they answered, “and we are his true children.”
42. Jesus said to them, “If God really were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own authority, but he sent me.
43. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message.