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The Unbelief of Jesus’s Brothers

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him.(A) Now the Jewish Festival of Booths[a] was near.(B) So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing,(C) for no one who wants[b] to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” (For not even his brothers believed in him.)(D) Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.(E) The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil.(F) Go to the festival yourselves. I am not[c] going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.” After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

Jesus at the Festival of Booths

10 But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but, as it were,[d] in secret. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the festival and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, “He is a good man,” others were saying, “No, he is deceiving the crowd.”(G) 13 Yet no one would speak openly about him for fear of the Jews.(H)

14 About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15 The Jews were astonished at it, saying, “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?”(I) 16 Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me.(J) 17 Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own.(K) 18 Those who speak on their own seek their own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing unjust in him.(L)

19 “Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?”(M) 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?”(N) 21 Jesus answered them, “I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. 22 Because of this Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.(O) 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man’s whole body on the Sabbath?(P) 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”(Q)

Is This the Christ?

25 Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah?[e] 27 Yet we know where this man is from, but when the Messiah[f] comes no one will know where he is from.”(R) 28 Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him.(S) 29 I know him because I am from him, and he sent me.”(T) 30 Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him because his hour had not yet come.(U) 31 Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, “When the Messiah[g] comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?”[h](V)

Officers Are Sent to Arrest Jesus

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering such things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple police to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me.(W) 34 You will search for me, but you will not find me, and where I am, you cannot come.”(X) 35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?(Y) 36 What does he mean by saying, ‘You will search for me, but you will not find me’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

Rivers of Living Water

37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me,(Z) 38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As[i] the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart[j] shall flow rivers of living water.’ ”(AA) 39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive, for as yet there was no Spirit[k] because Jesus was not yet glorified.(AB)

Division among the People

40 When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.”[l] But some asked, “Surely the Messiah[m] does not come from Galilee, does he?(AC) 42 Has not the scripture said that the Messiah[n] is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”(AD) 43 So there was a division in the crowd because of him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

The Unbelief of Those in Authority

45 Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” 46 The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” 47 Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived, too, have you? 48 Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him?(AE) 49 But this crowd, which does not know the law, they are accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus[o] before and who was one of them, asked, 51 “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?”(AF) 52 They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.”

The Woman Caught in Adultery

[[53 Then each of them went home, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and, making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”(AG) They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”(AH) And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.(AI) 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.”[p] And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”]][q](AJ)

Jesus the Light of the World

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”(AK) 13 Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards;[r] I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid, for it is not I alone who judge but I and the Father[s] who sent me. 17 In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid.(AL) 18 I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.”(AM) 19 Then they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”(AN) 20 He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.(AO)

Jesus Foretells His Death

21 Again he said to them, “I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”(AP) 22 Then the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are from this world, I am not from this world.(AQ) 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.”[t](AR) 25 They said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Why do I speak to you at all?[u] 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”(AS) 27 They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he[v] and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me.(AT) 29 And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.”(AU) 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

True Disciples

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”(AV) 33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”(AW)

34 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.(AX) 35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.(AY) 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham, yet you look for an opportunity to kill me because there is no place in you for my word. 38 I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.”[w](AZ)

Jesus and Abraham

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, you would do[x] what Abraham did,(BA) 40 but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one Father, God himself.”(BB) 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God, and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me.(BC) 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. 44 You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.(BD) 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.[y] 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.”(BE)

48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”(BF) 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.(BG) 51 Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”(BH) 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’(BI) 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?”(BJ) 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’(BK) 55 though you do not know him. But I know him; if I would say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I keep his word.(BL) 56 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.”(BM) 57 Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”[z] 58 Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”(BN) 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.(BO)

Footnotes

  1. 7.2 Or Tabernacles
  2. 7.4 Other ancient authorities read wants it
  3. 7.8 Other ancient authorities add yet
  4. 7.10 Other ancient authorities lack as it were
  5. 7.26 Or the Christ
  6. 7.27 Or the Christ
  7. 7.31 Or the Christ
  8. 7.31 Other ancient authorities read is doing
  9. 7.38 Or come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as
  10. 7.38 Gk out of his belly
  11. 7.39 Other ancient authorities read for as yet the Spirit (others, Holy Spirit) had not been given
  12. 7.41 Or the Christ
  13. 7.41 Or the Christ
  14. 7.42 Or the Christ
  15. 7.50 Gk him
  16. 8.11 Or Lord
  17. 8.11 The most ancient authorities lack 7.53–8.11; other authorities add the passage here or after 7.36 or after 21.25 or after Luke 21.38, with variations of text; some mark the passage as doubtful.
  18. 8.15 Gk according to the flesh
  19. 8.16 Other ancient authorities read he
  20. 8.24 Gk I am
  21. 8.25 Or What I have told you from the beginning
  22. 8.28 Gk I am
  23. 8.38 Other ancient authorities read you do what you have heard from your father
  24. 8.39 Other ancient authorities read you were . . . you would do or you are . . . then do
  25. 8.45 Or You do not believe even though I tell the truth
  26. 8.57 Other ancient authorities read has Abraham seen you?

Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles

After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders(A) there were looking for a way to kill him.(B) But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles(C) was near, Jesus’ brothers(D) said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.(E)

Therefore Jesus told them, “My time(F) is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me(G) because I testify that its works are evil.(H) You go to the festival. I am not[b] going up to this festival, because my time(I) has not yet fully come.” After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus(J) and asking, “Where is he?”

12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”(K) 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.(L)

Jesus Teaches at the Festival

14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.(M) 15 The Jews(N) there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning(O) without having been taught?”(P)

16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.(Q) 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out(R) whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory,(S) but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law?(T) Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”(U)

20 “You are demon-possessed,”(V) the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”

21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle,(W) and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision(X) (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs),(Y) you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”(Z)

Division Over Who Jesus Is

25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?(AA) 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities(AB) really concluded that he is the Messiah?(AC) 27 But we know where this man is from;(AD) when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts,(AE) cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from.(AF) I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true.(AG) You do not know him, 29 but I know him(AH) because I am from him and he sent me.”(AI)

30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him,(AJ) because his hour had not yet come.(AK) 31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him.(AL) They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs(AM) than this man?”

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.

33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time,(AN) and then I am going to the one who sent me.(AO) 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”(AP)

35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered(AQ) among the Greeks,(AR) and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”(AS)

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival,(AT) Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.(AU) 38 Whoever believes(AV) in me, as Scripture has said,(AW) rivers of living water(AX) will flow from within them.”[c](AY) 39 By this he meant the Spirit,(AZ) whom those who believed in him were later to receive.(BA) Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.(BB)

40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”(BC)

41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?(BD) 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants(BE) and from Bethlehem,(BF) the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided(BG) because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.(BH)

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,”(BI) the guards replied.

47 “You mean he has deceived you also?”(BJ) the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?(BK) 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

50 Nicodemus,(BL) who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”(BM)


[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36, John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.]

53 Then they all went home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.(BN)

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.(BO) The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.(BP) Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap,(BQ) in order to have a basis for accusing him.(BR)

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone(BS) at her.”(BT) Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,”(BU) Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”(BV)


Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am(BW) the light of the world.(BX) Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”(BY)

13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”(BZ)

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going.(CA) But you have no idea where I come from(CB) or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards;(CC) I pass judgment on no one.(CD) 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.(CE) 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.(CF) 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”(CG)

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,”(CH) Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”(CI) 20 He spoke these words while teaching(CJ) in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put.(CK) Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.(CL)

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die(CM) in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”(CN)

22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.(CO) 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he,(CP) you will indeed die in your sins.”

25 “Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy,(CQ) and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”(CR)

27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up[d] the Son of Man,(CS) then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.(CT) 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,(CU) for I always do what pleases him.”(CV) 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.(CW)

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,(CX) you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(CY)

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants(CZ) and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.(DA) 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.(DB) 36 So if the Son sets you free,(DC) you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,(DD) because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,(DE) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[e](DF)

39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,”(DG) said Jesus, “then you would[f] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,(DH) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.(DI) Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”(DJ)

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”(DK)

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,(DL) for I have come here from God.(DM) I have not come on my own;(DN) God sent me.(DO) 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil,(DP) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.(DQ) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.(DR) 45 Yet because I tell the truth,(DS) you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.(DT) The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Jesus’ Claims About Himself

48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan(DU) and demon-possessed?”(DV)

49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself;(DW) but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”(DX)

52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!(DY) Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham?(DZ) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,(EA) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.(EB) 55 Though you do not know him,(EC) I know him.(ED) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.(EE) 56 Your father Abraham(EF) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it(EG) and was glad.”

57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born,(EH) I am!”(EI) 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him,(EJ) but Jesus hid himself,(EK) slipping away from the temple grounds.

Footnotes

  1. John 7:1 Some manuscripts not have authority
  2. John 7:8 Some manuscripts not yet
  3. John 7:38 Or me. And let anyone drink 38 who believes in me.” As Scripture has said, “Out of him (or them) will flow rivers of living water.”
  4. John 8:28 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  5. John 8:38 Or presence. Therefore do what you have heard from the Father.
  6. John 8:39 Some early manuscripts “If you are Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then