Jesus Is Rejected by the Jews

²² At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.^{(A) 24} So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah,^[a] tell us plainly.” ²⁵ Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me,^{(B) 26} but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep.^{(C) 27} My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.^{(D) 28} I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.^{(E) 29} My Father, in regard to what he has given me, is greater than all,^[b] and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand.^{(F) 30} The Father and I are one.”

³¹ The Jews took up stones again to stone him. ³² Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” ³³ The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human, are making yourself God.”^{(G) 34} Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law,^[c] ‘I said, you are gods’?^{(H) 35} If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’—and the scripture cannot be annulled— ³⁶ can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?^{(I) 37} If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me.^{(J) 38} But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand^[d] that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”^{(K) 39} Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.^(L)