"What do you mean by those words, 'You shall be made free'?" said the people. "We are sprung from Abraham, and have never been slaves. How can we be made free?"
"In very truth, I tell you," answered Jesus, "every one who sins is a slave. Now the slave does not stay in the home always, but the son stays, for it is his home, and he has a right to be there. So, if the Son of the heavenly Father sets you free from sin, you will be free indeed."
As Jesus went on speaking, the people who listened became very angry. At last he said:
"Your great father Abraham longed to see the day when I should come to the earth; and he saw it coming, and it made him glad."
"Why," the Jews said, "you are not fifty years old, and do you say that Abraham saw you?"
"I tell you truly," answered Jesus, "before Abraham was born, I was living!"
At this, they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself from them and left the Temple.
The so-called tower of David in Jerusalem