18. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take possession of it again. This commandment I received from my Father.”
19. Again there was a division among the Jews because of these words.
20. And many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is out of his mind! Why do you listen to him?”
21. Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who is possessed by a demon! A demon is not able to open the eyes of the blind, is it?”
22. Then the feast of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,
23. and Jesus was walking in the temple in the Portico of Solomon.
24. So the Jews surrounded him and began to say to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly!”
25. Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe! The deeds that I do in the name of my Father, these testify about me.
26. But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep!
27. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28. And I give them eternal life, and they will never perish forever, and no one will seize them out of my hand.
29. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can seize them from the Father’s hand.
30. The Father and I are one.”
31. Then the Jews picked up stones again so that they could stone him.