John 8:48-59 : Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus Talks About Himself and Abraham
48The Jews answered, "We say you are a Samaritan.* We say a demon* has come into you [and made you crazy]! Are we not right when we say these things?" 49Jesus answered, "I have no demon* in me. I give honor to my Father. But you give no honor to me. 50I am not trying to get honor for myself. There is One who wants this honor for me. He is the judge. 51I tell you the truth. If a person obeys my teaching, then that person will never die." 52The Jews said to Jesus, "Now we know that you have a demon* in you! Even Abraham* and the prophets* died. But you say, 'The person that obeys my teaching will never die.' 53Do you think you are greater than our father Abraham? Abraham died. And the prophets died too. Who do you think you are?" 54Jesus answered, "If I give honor to myself, then that honor is worth nothing. The One that gives me honor is my Father. And you say that he is your God. 55But you don't really know him. I know him. If I said I did not know him, then I would be a liar like you are liars. But I do know him. And I obey what he says. 56Your father* Abraham* was very happy that he would see the day when I came. He saw that day and was happy." 57The Jews said to Jesus, "What? You have never seen Abraham! You are not even 50 years old!" 58Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth. Before Abraham* was born, I AM.*" 59When Jesus said this, the people picked up rocks to throw at him. But Jesus hid, and then he left the temple* area.
Samaritan From Samaria. Samaritans were part Jewish, but some Jews did not accept them as pure Jews. demon(s) Demons are evil spirits from the devil. Abraham The most respected ancestor of the Jews. prophets People that spoke for God. Some of them wrote books that are part of the Old Testament. fathers Important ancestors of the Jews, especially the leaders of the twelve Jewish family groups. I AM This is like the name of God used in Ex. 3:14, but it can also mean "I am he (the Christ)." temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship.