John5
World English Bible · Public Domain
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 is called in Hebrew, “Bethesda”, having five porches.
3In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water;
4for an angel went down at certain times into the pool and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.
5A certain man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years.
6When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, another steps down before me.”
8Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.”
9Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked. Now that day was a Sabbath.
10So the Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.”
11He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’ ”
12Then they asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your mat and walk’?”
13But he who was healed didn’t know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.
14Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you.”
15The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
16For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.
17But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.”
18For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.
20For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.
22For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,
23that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
24“Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
25Most certainly I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live.
26For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.
27He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.
28Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
30I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is righteous, because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
31“If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.
32It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.
33You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
34But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.
35He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
36But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.
37The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.
38You don’t have his word living in you, because you don’t believe him whom he sent.
39“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.
40Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.
41I don’t receive glory from men.
42But I know you, that you don’t have God’s love in yourselves.
43I have come in my Father’s name, and you don’t receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
44How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?
45“Don’t think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
46For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.
47But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The cure at the pool of Bethesda. (1–9). The Jews' displeasure. (10–16). Christ reproves the Jews. (17–23). Christ's discourse. (24–47).
vv1-9
We are all by nature impotent folk in spiritual things, blind, halt, and withered; but full provision is made for our cure, if we attend to it. An angel went down, and troubled the water; and what disease soever it was, this water cured it, but only he that first stepped in had benefit. This teaches us to be careful, that we let not a season slip which may never return. The man had lost the use of his limbs thirty-eight years. Shall we, who perhaps for many years have scarcely known what it has been to be a day sick, complain of one wearisome night, when many others, better than we, have scarcely known what it has been to be a day well? Christ singled this one out from the rest. Those long in affliction, may comfort themselves that God keeps account how long. Observe, this man speaks of the unkindness of those about him, without any peevish reflections. As we should be thankful, so we should be patient. Our Lord Jesus cures him, though he neither asked nor thought of it. Arise, and walk. God's command, Turn and live; Make ye a new heart; no more supposes power in us without the grace of God, his distinguishing grace, than this command supposed such power in the impotent man: it was by the power of Christ, and he must have all the glory. What a joyful surprise to the poor cripple, to find himself of a sudden so easy, so strong, so able to help himself! The proof of spiritual cure, is our rising and walking. Has Christ healed our spiritual diseases, let us go wherever he sends us, and take up whatever he lays upon us; and walk before him.
vv10-16
Those eased of the punishment of sin, are in danger of returning to sin, when the terror and restraint are over, unless Divine grace dries up the fountain. The misery believers are made whole from, warns us to sin no more, having felt the smart of sin. This is the voice of every providence, Go, and sin no more. Christ saw it necessary to give this caution; for it is common for people, when sick, to promise much; when newly recovered, to perform only something; but after awhile to forget all. Christ spoke of the wrath to come, which is beyond compare worse than the many hours, nay, weeks and years of pain, some wicked men have to suffer in consequence of their unlawful indulgences. And if such afflictions are severe, how dreadful will be the everlasting punishment of the wicked!
vv17-23
The Divine power of the miracle proved Jesus to be the Son of God, and he declared that he worked with, and like unto his Father, as he saw good. These ancient enemies of Christ understood him, and became more violent, charging him not only with sabbath-breaking, but blasphemy, in calling God his own Father, and making himself equal with God. But all things now, and at the final judgment, are committed to the Son, purposely that all men might honour the Son, as they honour the Father; and every one who does not thus honour the Son, whatever he may think or pretend, does not honour the Father who sent him.
Key Words
μετά (metá): properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 (ἀπό) or G1537 (ἐκ) and G1519 (εἰς) or G4314 (πρός); less intimate than G1722 (ἐν) and less close than G4862 (σύν))
ταῦτα (taûta): these things
ἦν (ēn): I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
ἑορτή (heortḗ): a festival
Ἰουδαῖος (Ioudaîos): Judæan, i.e. belonging to Jehudah
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
ἀναβαίνω (anabaínō): to go up (literally or figuratively)
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
Ἱεροσόλυμα (Hierosólyma): Hierosolyma (i.e. Jerushalaim), the capitol of Palestine
Cross References
John 5Explicitly clarifies Christ's claim of equality and unity with the Father, which Jews sought to punish.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Direct Old Testament background for the dual resurrection of life and resurrection of damnation/contempt.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The prime messianic prophecy written by Moses, predicting the Prophet whom the people must hear.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Establishes the location of the pool near the 'sheep gate' (sheep market) rebuilt by Eliashib.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Old Testament Sabbath law regarding carrying burdens, which the Jews accused the healed man of breaking.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The Son of man receiving authority and dominion to execute judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Contrasts receiving praise from men with seeking the praise that comes from God alone.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Parallel diagnosis of unbelief: loving the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Confirms Christ's principle: if they do not hear Moses, they will not be persuaded by miracles.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
The Law commanding Jewish men to go up to Jerusalem for the major annual feasts.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallel command to 'rise, take up thy bed, and walk' demonstrating immediate divine authority to heal.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel controversy where the Jews accuse Jesus of blasphemy for making Himself God.
Supported by John Calvin
Demonstrates the perfect operational unity where seeing the Son's work is seeing the Father's work.
Supported by John Calvin
Verbal echo of the Father's love for His Son and showing Him all things.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Believing in the Son grants immediate possession of everlasting life.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Spiritual quickening of those dead in trespasses and sins hearing His voice.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels the Son having inherent life in himself as the Source of life.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The historical record of the Jews sending to John and his witness to Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Christ expounding in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Moses wrote of Christ, illustrating how Scriptures testify of Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Christ reiterates that His own self-honor is nothing; the Father is the One who honors Him.
Supported by John Calvin
Fulfillment of Christ's warning that the Jews would reject Him but receive false messiahs.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Exposes the hypocrisy of resting and trusting in the Law while failing to keep it.
Supported by John Calvin
Philip's confession matches Christ's claim: Moses in the Law and the prophets wrote of Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Christ's post-resurrection practice of expounding things concerning Himself beginning at Moses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Another instance of Sabbath controversy sparked by Jesus healing on the Sabbath day.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus directly references this specific Sabbath healing of Bethesda in later defense.
Supported by JFB
Shows the typical ruler-of-the-synagogue outrage over healing performed on the Sabbath day.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel solemn warning by Jesus to 'sin no more' after experiencing His saving mercy.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The last Adam was made a quickening spirit, raising up the dead.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Father's divine prerogative to kill and make alive, shared by the Son.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
God will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He ordained.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Father serves as the second witness alongside the Son's self-testimony.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The works of Christ bear witness of his union with the Father.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
No man has seen God at any time; the Son declares Him.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The Father's audible, direct witness to His beloved Son at baptism.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole