…When Jesus’ brothers were gone up, then went Jesus also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews looked for him at the feast, and said, "Where is he?" And there was much murmuring among the people concerning Jesus: for some said, "He is a good man": others said, "No; but he deceives the people." However, no man spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.

Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, "How knows this man the sacred writings, having never learned?"

Jesus answered them, and said, "My doctrine is not mine, but the Father’s that sent me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

"He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks the Father’s glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keep the law? Why go you about to kill me?"

The people answered and said, "You have a devil: who goes about to kill you?"

Jesus answered and said unto them, "I have done one work, and you all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers) and you on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are you angry at me, because I have made a man completely whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

Then said some of them of Jerusalem, "Is not this he, whom the rulers seek to kill? But, lo, he speaks boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? However, we know this man from where he is: but when Christ comes, no man knows from where he is."

Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, "You both know me, and you know from where I am: and I am not come of myself, but the Father that sent me is true, whom you know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he has sent me."

Then they sought to take Jesus: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. And many of the people believed on him, and said, "When Christ comes, will he do more miracles than these which this man has done?"

The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning Jesus; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. Then said Jesus unto them, "Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. You shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, there you cannot come."

Then said the Jews among themselves," Where will he go, that we shall not find him? Will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? What kind of saying is this that he said, ‘you shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, there you cannot come?’"

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his being shall flow rivers of living water." (But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, "Of a truth this is the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the scripture said that Christ comes of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?"

So there was a division among the people because of Jesus. And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, "Why have you not brought him?"

The officers answered, "Never man spoke like this man."

Then answered them the Pharisees, "Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people who knows not the law are cursed."

Nicodemus said unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) "Does our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he does?"

They answered and said unto Nicodemus, "Are you also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee arises no prophet." And every man went unto his own house.

Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they said unto him, "Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

"Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what say you?" This they said, testing him that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, "He that is without sin among you let him first throw a stone at her." And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, "Woman, where are those your accusers? Has no man condemned you?"

She said, "No man, Lord."

And Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more."

Then spoke Jesus again unto the crowd, saying, "I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

The Pharisees therefore said unto him, "You bear record of yourself; your record is not true."

Jesus answered and said unto them, "Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know from where I came, and where I go; but you cannot tell from where I come, and where I go.

"You judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

"It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me.

Then said they unto him, "Where is your Father?"

Jesus answered, "You neither know me, nor my Father: if you had known me, you should have known my Father also." These words spoke Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him, for his hour was not yet come.

Then said Jesus again unto them, "I go my way, and you shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: where I go, you cannot come."

Then said the Jews, "Will he kill himself? Because he said, ‘Where I go, you cannot come.’ "

And Jesus said unto them, "You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I AM*…you shall die in your sins."

Then said they unto him, "Who are you?"

And Jesus said unto them, "Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him." They understood not that he spoke to them of the Father.

Then said Jesus unto the Pharisees, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I AM…, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." As he spoke these words, many believed on him.

Then said Jesus to those Jews, which, believed on him, "If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

They answered him, "We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how say you, ‘You shall be made free?’"

Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant remains not in the house forever: but the Son remains ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

"I know that you are Abraham's seed; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you have seen with your father."
They answered and said unto him, "Abraham is our father."

Jesus said unto them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. You do the deeds of your father."

Then said they to him, "We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God."

Jesus said unto them, "If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stood not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not.

"Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me? He that is of God hears God's words: you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God."

Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, "Say we not well that you are a Samaritan, and have a devil?"

Jesus answered, "I have not a devil; but I honor my Father, and you do dishonor me. And I seek not my own glory: there is one that seeks and judges. Truly, truly, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."

Then said the Jews unto him, "Now we know that you have a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? And the prophets are dead: whom make you yourself?"

Jesus answered, "If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honors me; of whom you say, that he is your God: Yet you have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad."

Then said the Jews unto him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"

Jesus said unto them, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I AM." Then took they up stones to throw at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the middle of them, and so passed by.

* In the original Greek the word "he" is omitted in almost every case where Jesus makes the statement "I AM." This is significant because the title "I AM" is the ultimate name God gave for Himself in the Old Testament. Exodus 3:14. By using it Jesus stated He was God.

REFERENCES

John 7:10-53; John 8:1-59.

CHAPTER 76