53. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?’
54. Jesus replied, ‘If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.
55. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.
56. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’
57. ‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ they said to him, ‘and you have seen Abraham!’
58. ‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’
59. At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.