John 5
47 verses
At the Pool of Bethesda, Jesus heals a man sick for thirty-eight years on the Sabbath, commanding him to "rise, take up your pallet, and walk," an act that becomes the flashpoint for a profound conflict about Jesus' authority and relation to God. The Jewish authorities' outrage at Sabbath-breaking opens into Jesus' extended self-disclosure: "The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise," establishing an inseparable unity of action and will between Father and Son. Jesus claims that the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he does, and has given him authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of Man—words that scandalize the listeners who perceive that Jesus is making himself equal to God. The chapter introduces the complex Johannine notion of witness (marturia): the Father himself bears witness to the Son, along with John the Baptist's witness, the works (erga) that Jesus does, and the Scripture itself. Jesus confronts his opponents with the charge that they do not believe Moses because they do not believe the words Moses wrote, yet they claim to believe Moses—revealing that rejection of Jesus is rejection of the God who sent him. The theological structure reveals Jesus as the one through whom the Father acts, judges, and gives life, with belief in Jesus constituting belief in God himself.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
0 1Open verse page →
2
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
0 11Open verse page →
3
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
0 0Open verse page →
4
For 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.
0 0Open verse page →
5
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
0 0Open verse page →
6
When 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?
0 0Open verse page →
7
The 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.
0 0Open verse page →
8
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
0 1Open verse page →
9
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
0 0Open verse page →
10
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
0 1Open verse page →
11
He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
0 0Open verse page →
12
Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
0 0Open verse page →
13
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
0 0Open verse page →
14
Afterward 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.
0 0Open verse page →
15
The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
0 0Open verse page →
16
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
0 0Open verse page →
17
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
0 0Open verse page →
18
Therefore 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.
0 0Open verse page →
19
Then 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.
0 0Open verse page →
20
For 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.
0 0Open verse page →
21
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
0 0Open verse page →
22
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
0 0Open verse page →
23
That 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.
0 0Open verse page →
24
Verily, 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.
0 0Open verse page →
25
Verily, 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.
0 0Open verse page →
26
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
0 0Open verse page →
27
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
0 0Open verse page →
28
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
0 0Open verse page →
29
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
0 0Open verse page →
30
I 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.
0 0Open verse page →
31
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
0 0Open verse page →
32
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
0 0Open verse page →
33
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
0 0Open verse page →
34
But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
0 0Open verse page →
35
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
0 0Open verse page →
36
But 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.
0 0Open verse page →
37
And 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.
0 0Open verse page →
38
And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
0 0Open verse page →
39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
0 0Open verse page →
40
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
0 0Open verse page →
41
I receive not honour from men.
0 0Open verse page →
42
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
0 0Open verse page →
43
I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
0 0Open verse page →
44
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
0 0Open verse page →
45
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
0 0Open verse page →
46
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
0 0Open verse page →
47
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
0 0Open verse page →
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
No notes on this chapter yet. Be the first to write one!