1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2At sunrise he arrived again in the temple courtyard. All the people gathered around him there. He sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman. She had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of the group. 4They said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who was not her husband. 5In the Law, Moses commanded us to kill such women by throwing stones at them. Now what do you say?” 6They were trying to trap Jesus with that question. They wanted to have a reason to bring charges against him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7They kept asking him questions. So he stood up and said to them, “Has any one of you not sinned? Then you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8He bent down again and wrote on the ground.
9Those who heard what he had said began to go away. They left one at a time, the older ones first. Soon only Jesus was left. The woman was still standing there. 10Jesus stood up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Hasn’t anyone found you guilty?”
11“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then I don’t find you guilty either,” Jesus said. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Challenge to What Jesus Says About Himself
12Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in darkness. They will have that light. They will have life.”
13The Pharisees argued with him. “Here you are,” they said, “appearing as your own witness. But your witness does not count.”
14Jesus answered, “Even if I am a witness about myself, what I say does count. I know where I came from. And I know where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15You judge by human standards. I don’t judge anyone. 16But if I do judge, what I decide is true. This is because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17Your own Law says that the witness of two people proves the truth about something. 18I am a witness about myself. The other witness about me is the Father, who sent me.”
19Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20He spoke these words while he was teaching in the temple courtyard. He was near the place where the offerings were put. But no one arrested him. That’s because the time for him to die had not yet come.
Challenge to Who Jesus Claims to Be
21Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away. You will look for me, and you will die in your sin. You can’t come where I am going.”
22This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘You can’t come where I am going’?”
23But Jesus said, “You are from below. I am from heaven. You are from this world. I am not from this world. 24I told you that you would die in your sins. This will happen if you don’t believe that I am he. If you don’t believe, you will certainly die in your sins.”
25“Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26“I have a lot to say that will judge you. But the one who sent me can be trusted. And I tell the world what I have heard from him.”
27They did not understand that Jesus was telling them about his Father. 28So Jesus said, “You will lift up the Son of Man. Then you will know that I am he. You will also know that I do nothing on my own. I speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.” 30Even while Jesus was speaking, many people believed in him.
Challenge to the Claim to Be Children of Abraham
31Jesus spoke to the Jews who had believed him. “If you obey my teaching,” he said, “you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth. And the truth will set you free.”
33They answered him, “We are Abraham’s children. We have never been slaves of anyone. So how can you say that we will be set free?”
34Jesus replied, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35A slave has no lasting place in the family. But a son belongs to the family forever. 36So if the Son of Man sets you free, you will really be free. 37I know that you are Abraham’s children. But you are looking for a way to kill me. You have no room for my word. 38I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. You are doing what you have heard from your father.”
39“Abraham is our father,” they answered.
Jesus said, “Are you really Abraham’s children? If you are, you will do what Abraham did. 40But you are looking for a way to kill me. I am a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do the things you want to do. 41You are doing what your own father does.”
“We have the right to claim to be God’s children,” they objected. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me. I have come here from God. I have not come on my own. God sent me. 43Why aren’t my words clear to you? Because you can’t really hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil. You want to obey your father’s wishes. From the beginning, the devil was a murderer. He has never obeyed the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his natural language. He does this because he is a liar. He is the father of lies. 45But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me! 46Can any of you prove I am guilty of sinning? Am I not telling the truth? Then why don’t you believe me? 47Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you don’t hear is that you don’t belong to God.”
Jesus Makes Claims About Himself
48The Jews answered Jesus, “Aren’t we right when we say you are a Samaritan? Aren’t you controlled by a demon?”
49“I am not controlled by a demon,” said Jesus. “I honor my Father. You do not honor me. 50I am not seeking glory for myself. But there is one who brings glory to me. He is the judge. 51What I’m about to tell you is true. Whoever obeys my word will never die.”
52Then they cried out, “Now we know you are controlled by a demon! Abraham died. So did the prophets. But you say that whoever obeys your word will never die. 53Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died. So did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54Jesus replied, “If I bring glory to myself, my glory means nothing. You claim that my Father is your God. He is the one who brings glory to me. 55You do not know him. But I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him. And I obey his word. 56Your father Abraham was filled with joy at the thought of seeing my day. He saw it and was glad.”
57“You are not even 50 years old,” they said to Jesus. “And you have seen Abraham?”
58“What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered. “Before Abraham was born, I am!” 59When he said this, they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself. He slipped away from the temple area.
1Koma Yesu anapita ku phiri la Olivi. 2Mmamawa Iye anaonekeranso ku Nyumba ya Mulungu kumene anthu onse anamuzungulira ndipo Iye anakhala pansi nawaphunzitsa. 3Aphunzitsi amalamulo ndi Afarisi anabweretsa mkazi amene anagwidwa akuchita chigololo. Iwo anamuyimiritsa patsogolo pa anthu ndipo 4anati kwa Yesu, “Aphunzitsi, mkazi uyu tinamugwira akuchita chigololo. 5Mʼmalamulo a Mose anatilamulira kuti akazi otere tiwagende ndi miyala. Tsopano Inu mukuti chiyani?” 6Iwo anagwiritsa ntchito funsoli ngati msampha, ndi cholinga choti apeze chifukwa cha kumuneneza Iye.
Koma Yesu anawerama pansi ndi kuyamba kulemba pa dothi ndi chala chake. 7Pamene iwo anapitirira kumufunsa, Iye anaweramuka ndipo anawawuza kuti, “Ngati wina wa inu alipo wopanda tchimo, ayambe iyeyo kumugenda ndi miyala mkaziyu.” 8Iye anaweramanso pansi ndi kulemba pa dothi.
9Iwo atamva izi anayamba kuchoka mmodzimmodzi, akuluakulu poyamba, mpaka Yesu anatsala yekha ndi mkaziyo atayimirira pomwepo. 10Yesu anaweramuka ndipo anamufunsa iye kuti, “Akuluakulu aja ali kuti? Kodi palibe amene wakutsutsa?”
11Iye anati, “Ambuye, palibe ndi mmodzi yemwe.”
“Inenso sindikukutsutsa iwe. Pita kuyambira tsopano usakachimwenso.”
Za Umboni wa Yesu
12Yesu atayankhulanso kwa anthu, anati, “Ine ndine kuwunika kwa dziko lapansi. Aliyense amene anditsata Ine sadzayenda mu mdima, koma adzakhala ndi kuwala kotsogolera anthu ku moyo.”
13Afarisi anamutsutsa Iye nati, “Iwe ukudzichitira umboni wa Iwe mwini, umboni wako siwoona.”
14Yesu anayankha kuti, “Ngakhale Ine ndidzichitire umboni, umboni wangawu ndi woona, pakuti Ine ndikudziwa kumene ndinachokera ndi kumene ndikupita. Koma inu simukudziwa ndi pangʼono pomwe kumene ndinachokera kapena kumene ndikupita. 15Inu mumaweruza potsata maganizo a anthu chabe. Ine sindiweruza munthu wina aliyense. 16Koma Ine ndikati ndiweruze, ndimaweruza molondola, chifukwa Ine sindili ndekha koma ndili ndi Atate amene anandituma. 17Mʼmalamulo anu munalembedwa kuti umboni wa anthu awiri ndi wovomerezeka. 18Ine ndikudzichitira ndekha umboni; ndipo mboni inanso ndi Atate amene anandituma.”
19Kenaka iwo anamufunsa Iye kuti, “Kodi Atate anuwo ali kuti?”
Yesu anayankha kuti, “Inu simundidziwa Ine. Atate anganso simuwadziwa. Mukanandidziwa Ine, mukanawadziwanso Atate anga.” 20Iye anayankhula mawu awa pamene amaphunzitsa Nyumba ya Mulungu pafupi ndi malo amene amaponyapo zopereka. Komabe palibe amene anamugwira Iye, chifukwa nthawi yake inali isanakwane.
Mkangano Woti Yesu Ndani
21Kenakanso Yesu anawawuza kuti, “Ine ndikupita, ndipo mudzandifunafuna, koma mudzafa muli mʼmachimo anu. Kumene ndikupita, inu simungabwereko.”
22Izi zinachititsa Ayuda kufunsa kuti, “Kodi adzadzipha yekha? Kodi ndicho chifukwa chake akuti, ‘Kumene ndikupita, inu simungabwereko?’ ”
23Koma Iye anapitiriza kuti, “Inu ndi ochokera pansi pano. Ine ndine wochokera kumwamba. Inu ndinu anthu a dziko la pansi. Ine sindine wa dziko lapansi lino. 24Ine ndinakuwuzani kuti mudzafera mʼmachimo anu ngati simukhulupirira kuti Ine Ndine. Ndithu inu mudzafera mʼmachimo anu.”
25Iwo anafunsa kuti, “Ndinu ndani?”
Yesu anayankha kuti, “Monga Ine ndakhala ndikunena nthawi yonseyi, 26ndili ndi zambiri zoti ndinene zoweruza inu. Koma Iye amene anandituma ndi woona, ndipo chimene Ine ndamva kuchokera kwa Iye, ndi chimene ndimaliwuza dziko lapansi.”
27Iwo sanazindikire kuti Iye amawawuza za Atate ake. 28Choncho Yesu anati, “Inu mukadzapachika Mwana wa Munthu, pamenepo mudzadziwa kuti Ine Ndine. Mudzadziwa kuti sindichita kalikonse pa Ine ndekha koma ndimayankhula zokhazo zimene Atate anandiphunzitsa. 29Iye amene anandituma Ine ali nane pamodzi. Iye sanandisiye ndekha popeza nthawi zonse ndimachita zomwe zimamukondweretsa Iye.” 30Pamene Iye ankayankhula zimenezi, ambiri anamukhulupirira.
Ana a Abrahamu
31Kwa Ayuda amene anamukhulupirira, Yesu anati, “Ngati inu mutsatira chiphunzitso changa, ndithu ndinu ophunzira anga. 32Tsono mudzadziwa choonadi, ndipo choonadicho chidzakumasulani.”
33Iwo anamuyankha Iye kuti, “Ife ndife zidzukulu za Abrahamu ndipo sitinakhalepo akapolo a wina aliyense. Kodi mukunena bwanji kuti, ‘Ife tidzamasulidwa?’ ”
34Yesu anayankha kuti, “Zoonadi, Ine ndikukuwuzani kuti aliyense wochita tchimo ndi kapolo wa tchimolo. 35Pajatu kapolo alibe malo wokhazikika mʼbanja, koma mwana ndi wa mʼbanjamo nthawi zonse. 36Nʼchifukwa chake ngati Mwana adzakumasulani, mudzakhala mfulu ndithu. 37Ine ndikudziwa kuti inu ndinu zidzukulu za Abrahamu. Chonsecho inu mwakonzeka kundipha Ine, chifukwa mawu anga alibe malo mwa inu. 38Ine ndikukuwuzani zimene ndaziona pamaso pa Atate, ndipo inu mukuchita zimene mwazimva kwa abambo anu.”
39Iwo anayankha kuti, “Ife abambo athu ndi Abrahamu.”
Yesu anati, “Inu mukanakhala ana a Abrahamu, bwenzi mukuchita zinthu zimene Abrahamuyo ankachita. 40Koma mmene zililimu, inu mwatsimikiza kundipha Ine, munthu amene ndinakuwuzani choonadi chimene Ine ndinachimva kuchokera kwa Mulungu. Abrahamu sanachite zinthu zoterezi. 41Inu mukuchita zinthu zimene abambo anu amachita.”
Iwo anatsutsa kuti, “Ife si ana amʼchigololo, Atate amene tili nawo ndi Mulungu yekha.”
Ana a Mdierekezi
42Yesu anawawuza kuti, “Mulungu akanakhala Atate anu, inu mukanandikonda Ine, pakuti Ine ndinachokera kwa Mulungu ndipo tsopano ndili pano. Ine sindinabwere mwa Ine ndekha. 43Nʼchifukwa chiyani simukumvetsetsa mawu anga? Chifukwa chake nʼchakuti simungathe kumva zoyankhula zanga. 44Inu ndinu ana a mdierekezi. Iye ndiye abambo anu ndipo mukufuna kuchita zimene abambo anuwo amakhumba. Iye anali wakupha kuyambira pachiyambi, sanasunge choonadi, pakuti mwa iye mulibe choonadi. Pamene Iye anena bodza, amayankhula chiyankhulo chobadwa nacho, popeza ndi wabodza ndipo ndi bambo wa mabodza. 45Koma chifukwa ndikuwuzani choonadi, inu simukundikhulupirira Ine! 46Ndani mwa inu angatsimikize kuti ndine wochimwa? Ngati Ine ndikunena choonadi, nʼchifukwa chiyani simukundikhulupirira? 47Munthu wochokera kwa Mulungu amamva zimene Mulungu amanena. Chifukwa chimene simumvera nʼchakuti, inuyo sindinu ochokera kwa Mulungu.”
Zomwe Yesu Ananena za lye Mwini
48Ayuda anamuyankha Iye kuti, “Kodi ife sitikulondola ponena kuti Inu ndi Msamariya ndi wogwidwa ndi chiwanda?”
49Yesu anati, “Ine sindinagwidwe ndi chiwanda, koma ndimalemekeza Atate anga, koma inu mukundinyoza. 50Ine sindidzifunira ndekha ulemu; koma alipo wina amene amandifunira, ndipo Iyeyo ndiye woweruza. 51Ine ndikukuwuzani choonadi, munthu akasunga mawu anga, sadzafa konse.”
52Pamenepo Ayuda anafuwula kuti, “Tsopano ife tadziwadi kuti Inu ndi wogwidwa ndi chiwanda! Abrahamu anafa ndiponso aneneri, koma Inu mukunena kuti, ‘Ngati munthu asunga mawu anga, sadzafa.’ 53Kodi ndinu wa mkulu kuposa abambo athu Abrahamu? Iye anafa, ndiponso aneneri onse. Inu mukuganiza kuti ndinu yani?”
54Yesu anayankha kuti, “Ngati Ine ndidzilemekeza ndekha, ulemu wangawo ndi wosatanthauza kanthu. Atate anga amene inu mukuti ndi Mulungu wanu, ndiye amene amandilemekeza Ine. 55Ngakhale kuti inuyo simukumudziwa, Ineyo ndikumudziwa. Ngati Ine nditanena kuti sindikumudziwa, Ineyo nditha kukhala wabodza ngati inuyo, koma Ine ndimamudziwa ndipo ndimasunga mawu ake. 56Abambo anu Abrahamu anakondwera poyembekezera kubwera kwanga. Iwo anandiona ndipo anasangalala.”
57Ayuda anati kwa Iye, “Inu sumunafike nʼkomwe zaka makumi asanu, ndipo mukuti munamuona Abrahamu!”
58Yesu anayankha kuti, “Ine ndikukuwuzani choonadi, Abrahamu asanabadwe, Ine Ndine!” 59Pamenepo iwo anatola miyala kuti amugende, koma Yesu anabisala, nachoka mozemba mʼNyumba ya Mulungu.
