19. Another sharp division took place among the Jewish people because of these words.
20. Many of them were saying, “He is possessed by a demon and has lost his mind! Why do you listen to him?”
21. Others said, “These are not the words of someone possessed by a demon. A demon cannot cause the blind to see, can it?”
22. Then came the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem.
23. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Portico.
24. The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25. Jesus replied, “I told you and you do not believe. The deeds I do in my Father’s name testify about me.
26. But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep.
27. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand.
29. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand.
30. The Father and I are one.”
31. The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death.
32. Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?”
33. The Jewish leaders replied, “We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God.”
34. Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?