38. I am telling you what my Father has shown me. But you do what your father has told you.”
39. They answered, “Our father is Abraham.”Jesus said, “If you were really Abraham’s children, you would do the things that Abraham did.
40. I am a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. But you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that.
41. So you are doing the things that your own father did.”But they said, “We are not like children who never knew who their father was. God is our Father. He is the only Father we have.”
42. Jesus said to them, “If God were really your Father, you would love me. I came from God and now I am here. I did not come by my own authority. God sent me.
43. You don’t understand what I say because you cannot accept my teaching.
44. Your father is the devil. You belong to him and want to do what he wants. He was a murderer from the beginning. He was against the truth, for there is no truth in him. He is a liar, and he is like the lies he tells. He is the father of lies.
45. But I speak the truth. That is why you don’t believe me.
46. Can any of you prove that I am guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?
47. He who belongs to God accepts what God says. But you don’t accept what God says, because you don’t belong to God.”
48. The Jews answered, “We say you are a Samaritan! We say a demon has come into you. Are we not right?”
49. Jesus answered, “I have no demon in me. I give honor to my Father, but you dishonor me.
50. I am not trying to get honor for myself. There is One who wants this honor for me, and he is the judge.
51. I tell you the truth. If anyone obeys my teaching, he will never die.”
52. The Jews said to Jesus, “Now we know that you have a demon in you! Even Abraham and the prophets died. But you say, ‘Whoever obeys my teaching will never die.’
53. Do you think that you are greater than our father Abraham? Abraham died. And the prophets died, too. Who do you think you are?”
54. Jesus answered, “If I give honor to myself, that honor is worth nothing. The One who gives me honor is my Father. And you say that he is your God.
55. But you don’t really know him. I know him. If I said I did not know him, then I would be a liar as you are liars. But I do know him, and I obey what he says.
56. Your father Abraham was very happy that he would see my day. He saw that day and was glad.”
57. The Jews said to him, “What? You have never seen Abraham! You are not even 50 years old!”
58. Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth. Before Abraham was born, I am!”