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John chapter 5

English Standard Version

1After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 4 5One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.
10So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
18This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
25“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
30“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41I do not receive glory from people. 42But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
New International Version

1Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3Here a great number of disabled people used to lie--the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 4 5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?'
7Sir,' the invalid replied, 'I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.'
8Then Jesus said to him, 'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.'
9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, 'It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.'
11But he replied, 'The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.' '
12So they asked him, 'Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?'
13The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, 'See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.' 15The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
16So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17In his defense Jesus said to them, 'My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.' 18For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19Jesus gave them this answer: 'Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
24Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29and come out--those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
31If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
33You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
36I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish--the very works that I am doing--testify that the Father has sent me. 37And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
41I do not accept glory from human beings, 42but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
45But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?'
New American Standard Bible

1After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2Now in Jerusalem, by the Sheep Gate, there is a pool which in Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porticoes. 3In these porticoes lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, limping, or paralyzed. 4 5Now a man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6Jesus, upon seeing this man lying there and knowing that he had already been in that condition for a long time, *said to him, 'Do you want to get well?' 7The sick man answered Him, 'Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.' 8Jesus *said to him, 'Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.'
9Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was a Sabbath on that day. 10So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, 'It is a Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.' 11But he answered them, 'He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’' 12They asked him, 'Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick it up and walk’?' 13But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. 14Afterward, Jesus *found him in the temple and said to him, 'Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.' 15The man went away, and informed the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on a Sabbath. 17But He answered them, 'My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.'
18For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
19Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23so that all will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
25Truly, truly, I say to you, a time is coming and even now has arrived, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
30I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.
31If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. 32There is another who testifies about Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.
33You have sent messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34But the testimony I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35He was the lamp that was burning and shining, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
36But the testimony I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.
37And the Father who sent Me, He has testified about Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38Also you do not have His word remaining in you, because you do not believe Him whom He sent.
39You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me; 40and yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41I do not receive glory from people; 42but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? 45Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have put your hope. 46For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?'
Christian Standard Bible

1After this, a Jewish festival took place, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2By the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool, called Bethesda in Aramaic, which has five colonnades. 3Within these lay a large number of the disabled--blind, lame, and paralyzed. 4
5One man was there who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and realized he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to get well? "
7"Sir," the disabled man answered, "I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, someone goes down ahead of me."
8"Get up," Jesus told him, "pick up your mat and walk."
9Instantly the man got well, picked up his mat, and started to walk.Now that day was the Sabbath, 10and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "This is the Sabbath. The law prohibits you from picking up your mat."
11He replied, "The man who made me well told me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.' "
12"Who is this man who told you, 'Pick up your mat and walk'? " they asked. 13But the man who was healed did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14After this, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn't happen to you." 15The man went and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
17Jesus responded to them, "My Father is still working, and I am working also." 18This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill him: Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
19Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him greater works than these so that you will be amazed. 21And just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom he wants. 22The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
24"Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.
25"Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. 27And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice 29and come out--those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation.
30"I can do nothing on my own. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
31"If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony he gives about me is true. 33You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. 34I don't receive human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35John was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
36"But I have a greater testimony than John's because of the works that the Father has given me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about me that the Father has sent me. 37The Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You have not heard his voice at any time, and you haven't seen his form. 38You don't have his word residing in you, because you don't believe the one he sent. 39You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. 40But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
41"I do not accept glory from people, 42but I know you--that you have no love for God within you. 43I have come in my Father's name, and yet you don't accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44How can you believe, since you accept glory from one another but don't seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47But if you don't believe what he wrote, how will you believe my words? "
New Living Translation

1Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. 2Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. 3Crowds of sick people — blind, lame, or paralyzed — lay on the porches. 4 5One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, 'Would you like to get well?'
7I can’t, sir,' the sick man said, 'for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.'
8Jesus told him, 'Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!'
9Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, 10so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, 'You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!'
11But he replied, 'The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’'
12Who said such a thing as that?' they demanded.
13The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, 'Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.' 15Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.
16So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. 17But Jesus replied, 'My Father is always working, and so am I.' 18So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.
19So Jesus explained, 'I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. 21For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. 22In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, 23so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.
24I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
25And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice — the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 26The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. 27And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. 28Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, 29and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. 30I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.
31If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. 32But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. 33In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. 34Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. 35John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. 36But I have a greater witness than John — my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. 37And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, 38and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me — the one he sent to you.
39You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.
41Your approval means nothing to me, 42because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. 43For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. 44No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.
45Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. 46If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?'
King James Version

1After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. 10The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. 11He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. 12Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? 13And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. 14Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. 15The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. 16And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 37And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41I receive not honour from men. 42But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

What does John chapter 5 mean?

Chapter 5 presents John's first record of Jesus directly confronting His enemies. Most of this passage is taken up by the words of Christ Himself, responding to Jewish critics. Many of John's recurring themes are found in this passage. Among these are the miraculous "signs" of Jesus, His claims of divinity, and the warped perspective of those who reject Him.

This chapter also continues John's frequent use of contrast. So far, John has described Jesus attending a quiet, friendly wedding, followed by His aggressive clearing of the temple (John 2). This public debacle was followed by a one-on-one conversation with Nicodemus (John 3). After speaking with the educated, confident, respected Nicodemus, Jesus is next seen speaking with the unlearned, outcast Samaritan woman (John 4).

Jesus' miracles are also presented with a sense of contrast. When Jesus turned water into wine, it was practically a secret (John 2:9), and the couple who benefitted from it didn't even know it had happened. In the second "sign" John records, Jesus heals from a distance, for a man who went to great effort to seek out a miracle (John 4:46–54). Here, in chapter 5, Jesus will heal in person, for a man who wasn't really looking for anything in particular.

The Bible gives us limited details on the conversation Jesus has with the crippled man. However, it's interesting to see the man's response when Jesus asks about healing. Rather than saying, "yes, I want to be healed," he makes excuses about nobody helping him into the water. The same man, later, pushes blame for his breaking of the Sabbath on Jesus (John 5:1–11). And, he never seems to express any particular gratitude to Christ. Maybe he'd given up hope. Maybe we're just not told every detail. However, there are those who actually revel in their afflictions—they are a source of pity and emotional leverage against others. One wonders if the crippled man was in that category.

We should note that there were many, many other people looking for healing at the pool that day. Jesus did not heal every single one of them. This is a reminder that miracles were not the real purpose of His ministry. And, they are not the real purpose of our Christian lives. True miracles, the "signs" John records in this book, are extremely rare and unexpected events.

When John uses the phrase "the Jews," he typically means the religious leadership of Jerusalem. In this case, the Jews seem more upset that Jesus has disturbed the Sabbath than amazed at His miracle! They also object to Jesus' claiming to be equal to God. This will become a major accusation used against Him at His sham trial, later in this Gospel (John 5:12–18).

Jesus' response in this chapter comes in two major parts. First, He describes the authority which He was been given by God (John 5:19–29). In doing so, Jesus lays claim to many of the same rights, attributes, and abilities as God. Jesus claims equality with God in works (John 5:19), in love (John 5:20), in judgment (John 5:22), and in honor (John 5:23). He also points out that eternal life comes only to those who believe in Him (John 5:23–24). Jesus' words foreshadow the resurrection of Lazarus, as well as the final resurrection of all men (John 5:28–29).

In the second part of Jesus' response, He focuses on evidence (John 5:30–47). This is a crucial passage to turn to when dealing with accusations of "blind faith." Jesus never says, "believe Me because I said so." Nor does He appeal to mystery, or sincerity, or tradition. Rather, Jesus gives three specific lines of evidence which prove the truth of His claims. These are human witness (John 5:33), the miracles He is performing (John 5:36), and the written Scriptures (John 5:39). According to Jesus, these all point to Him as the fulfillment of prophecy.

Jesus closes this discussion with an interesting point. Namely, that those who won't accept the message of the written Word aren't going to come to faith, no matter what. The Pharisees had extensive knowledge of the Scriptures, but rejected Jesus in favor of their own traditions (John 5:39–47). This echoes the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. There, Christ also points out that even miracles cannot convince those who reject the written words which God has given (Luke 16:27–31).
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