So the Jewish leaders said ‘Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets too, yet you say “If someone keeps my teaching, they will never ever experience death.” Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who was mortal?’ What is more the prophets died. Who are you making yourself out to be?’
Jesus answered: ‘If I glorify myself, my glory amounts to nothing. It is my Father who is the one who glorifies me – about whom you say “He is our God”. And yet you do not know him.
‘If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like yourselves. But I know him and keep his word. Abraham, your father was overjoyed at the prospect of seeing my day, and he saw it and rejoiced.’
Then the Jewish leaders said to him ‘You are not yet 50, and you have seen Abraham, have you?’
Jesus said to them: ‘Truly, truly I say to you before Abraham was born, I am.’
So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus hid himself and left the temple.
Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.
Thomas More (c.1478-1535