Jesus replied,

“If I glorify myself,

my glory means nothing.

My Father, whom you claim as your God,

is the one who glorifies me. 

Though you do not know him, I know him.

If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you,

but I do know him and keep his word.

Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day,

he saw it and was glad.”

“You are not yet fifty years old,”

the Jews said to him,

“and you have seen Abraham!”

“I tell you the truth,”

Jesus answered,

“before Abraham was born, I am!”

John 8:54-57

When Jesus spoke again to the people,

he said,

“I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,

But will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

To those who listen to my teaching,

more understanding will be given,

and they will have an abundance of knowledge.

But for those who are not listening,

even what little understanding they have

will be taken away from them. 

Matthew 13:12

Then a demon-possessed man,

who was blind and couldn’t speak,

was brought to Jesus.

He healed the man so that he could both speak and see.

The crowd was amazed and asked,

“Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David,

the Messiah?”

Matthew 12:22-23

Later, 

Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples

to his home as dinner guests,

along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.

But when the Pharisees saw this,

they asked his disciples,

“Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

When Jesus heard this, he said,

“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—

sick people do.”

Matthew 9:10-12

The Spirit of the sovereign LORD is upon me,

for the LORD has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted

and to proclaim that captives will be released

and prisoners will be freed.

He has sent me to tell those who mourn

that the time of the LORD’s favor has come…

Isaiah 61:1-2