28. So he said to them, “You will lift up the Son of Man. Then you will know that I AM. You will know that whatever I do is not by my own authority. You will know that I say only what the Father has taught me.
29. The one who sent me is with me. I always do what pleases him. So he has not left me alone.”
30. While he was saying these things, many people believed in him.
31. So Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “If you continue to accept and obey my teaching, you are really my followers.
32. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
33. They answered, “We are Abraham’s descendants. And we have never been slaves. So why do you say that we will be free?”
34. Jesus said, “The truth is, everyone who sins is a slave—a slave to sin.
35. A slave does not stay with a family forever. But a son belongs to the family forever.
36. So if the Son makes you free, you are really free.
37. I know you are Abraham’s descendants. But you want to kill me, because you don’t want to accept my teaching.
38. I am telling you what my Father has shown me. But you do what your father has told you.”
39. They said, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said, “If you were really Abraham’s descendants, you would do what Abraham did.
40. I am someone who has told you the truth I heard from God. But you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that.
41. So you are doing what your own father did.” But they said, “We are not like children who never knew who their father was. God is our Father. He is the only Father we have.”