106 lines
6.8 KiB
Markdown
106 lines
6.8 KiB
Markdown
A Woman Caught in Adultery
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# Chapter 8
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1. Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives,
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2. but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.
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3. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
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4. "Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
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5. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?"
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6. They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.
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7. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, *"All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!"*
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8. Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
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9. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.
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10. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, *"Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?"*
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11. "No, Lord," she said.
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And Jesus said, *"Neither do I. Go and sin no more."*
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Jesus, the Light of the World
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12. Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, *"I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."*
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13. The Pharisees replied, "You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid."
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14. Jesus told them, *"These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don't know this about me.*
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15. *You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone.*
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16. *And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me.*
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17. *Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact.*
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18. *I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other."*
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19. "Where is your father?" they asked.
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Jesus answered, *"Since you don't know who I am, you don't know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father."*
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20. Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.
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The Unbelieving People Warned
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21. Later Jesus said to them again, *"I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going."*
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22. The people asked, "Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, 'You cannot come where I am going'?"
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23. Jesus continued, *"You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not.*
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24. *That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am* who I claim to be, you will die in your sins."
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25. "Who are you?" they demanded.
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Jesus replied, *"The one I have always claimed to be.*
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26. *I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful."*
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27. But they still didn't understand that he was talking about his Father.
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28. So Jesus said, *"When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am* he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me.
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29. *And the one who sent me is with me--he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him."*
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30. Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
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Jesus and Abraham
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31. Jesus said to the people who believed in him, *"You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.*
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32. *And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."*
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33. "But we are descendants of Abraham," they said. "We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, 'You will be set free'?"
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34. Jesus replied, *"I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.*
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35. *A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.*
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36. *So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.*
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37. *Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there's no room in your hearts for my message.*
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38. *I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father."*
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39. "Our father is Abraham!" they declared.
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*
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"No," Jesus replied, "for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example.*
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40. *Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.*
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41. *No, you are imitating your real father."*
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They replied, "We aren't illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father."
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42. Jesus told them, *"If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.*
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43. *Why can't you understand what I am saying? It's because you can't even hear me!*
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44. *For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.*
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45. *So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me!*
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46. *Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me?*
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47. *Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don't listen because you don't belong to God."*
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48. The people retorted, "You Samaritan devil! Didn't we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?"
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49. *
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"No," Jesus said, "I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father--and you dishonor me.*
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50. *And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge.*
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51. *I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!"*
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52. The people said, "Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, 'Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!'
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53. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
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54. Jesus answered, *"If I want glory for myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, 'He is our God,'*
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55. *but you don't even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him.*
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56. *Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad."*
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57. The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?"
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58. Jesus answered, *"I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am*!"
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59. At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.
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