Jesus Predicts His Departure

²¹ Then he said to them again, “I’m going away; ^(A) you will look for me, and you will die in your sin.^(B) Where I’m going, you cannot come.”^(C)

²² So the Jews said again, “He won’t kill himself, will he, since he says, ‘Where I’m going, you cannot come’^(D)?”

²³ “You are from below,” he told them, “I am from above.^(E) You are of this world; ^(F) I am not of this world.^{(G) 24} Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

²⁵ “Who are you?” they questioned.

“Exactly what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. ²⁶ “I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the one who sent me^(H) is true, and what I have heard from him—these things I tell the world.”^(I)

²⁷ They did not know he was speaking to them about the Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man,^(J) then you will know that I am^(K) he, and that I do nothing on my own.^(L) But just as the Father taught me, I say these things. ²⁹ The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone,^(M) because I always do what pleases him.”

Truth and Freedom

³⁰ As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

³¹ Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word,^[a](N) you really are my disciples. ³² You will know the truth,^(O) and the truth will set you free.”

³³ “We are descendants^[b] of Abraham,”^(P) they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”

³⁴ Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.^{(Q) 35} A slave does not remain in the household forever,^(R) but a son does remain forever.^{(S) 36} So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.