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The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
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No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
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The Jews who heard these words were again divided.
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Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
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But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication[a] at Jerusalem. It was winter,
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and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.
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The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
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Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,
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but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
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My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
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I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
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My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[b]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
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Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him,
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but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
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“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
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Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’[c]?
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If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—
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what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?
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Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.