John 5

A Paralytic Is Healed

1 After these [things] [there] was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool called in Aramaic Bethzatha, which has five porticoes.

3 In these were lying a large number of those who were sick, blind, lame, paralyzed.

5 And a certain man was there who had [been] thirty-eight years in his sickness.

6 Jesus, [when he] saw this one lying [there] and knew that he had [been sick] a long time already, said to him, "Do you want to become well?"

7 The one who was sick answered him, "Sir, I do not have anyone that, whenever the water is stirred up, could put me into the pool. But {while} I am coming, another goes down before me."

8 Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!"

9 And immediately the man became well and picked up his mat and began to walk. (Now it was the Sabbath on that day.)

10 So the Jews were saying to the one who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not permitted for you to pick up the mat!"

11 But he answered them, "The one who made me well--that one said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk!'"

12 So they asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Pick up [your mat] and walk?'"

13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn [while] a crowd was in the place.

Equal with God

14 After these [things] Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "Look, you have become well! Sin no longer, lest something worse happen to you."

15 The man went and reported to the Jews that Jesus was the one who made him well.

16 And on account of this the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because he was doing these [things] on the Sabbath.

17 But he answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."

18 So on account of this the Jews were seeking even more to kill him, because he not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God his own Father, [thus] making himself equal with God.

The Authority of the Son

19 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing from himself except what he sees the Father doing. For whatever that one does, these [things] also the Son does likewise.

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself is doing. And greater works than these he will show him, so that you will be astonished.

21 For just as the Father raises the dead and makes [them] alive, thus also the Son makes alive whomever he wishes.

22 For the Father does not judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son,

23 in order that all [people] 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.

24 Truly, truly I say to you that the one who hears my word and who believes the one who sent me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

25 "Truly, truly I say to you, that an hour is coming--and now is [here]--when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the ones who hear will live.

26 For just as the Father has life in himself, thus also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself.

27 And he has granted him authority to carry out judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

28 "Do not be astonished [at] this, because an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear his voice

29 and they will come out--those who have done good [things] to a resurrection of life, but those who have practiced evil [things] to a resurrection of judgment.

30 I am able to do nothing from myself. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my [own] will, but the will of the one who sent me.

Further Testimony About the Son

31 "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.

32 There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.

33 You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.

34 (And I do not receive testimony from people, but I say these [things] in order that you may be saved.)

35 That one was the lamp [which was] burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice for an hour in his light.

36 "But I have a testimony greater than John's, for the works which the Father has given to me that I should complete them--the very works which I am doing--[these] testify about me, that the Father has sent me.

37 And the Father who sent me, that one has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his form.

38 And you do not have his word residing in yourselves, because the one whom that one sent, in this one you do not believe.

39 You search the scriptures because you think that you have eternal life in them, and it is these that testify about me.

40 And you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.

41 "I do not accept glory from people,

42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.

43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me. If another should come in his own name, you would accept that one!

44 How are you able to believe, [if you] accept glory from one another, and do not seek the glory [which is] from the only God?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father! The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have put your hope!

46 For if you had believed Moses, you would believe me, for that one wrote about me.

47 But if you do not believe that one's writings, how will you believe my words?"

John 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

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)

Verses 1-9 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.

Verses 10-16 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!

Verses 17-23 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.

Verses 24-29 Our Lord declared his authority and character, as the Messiah. The time was come when the dead should hear his voice, as the Son of God, and live. Our Lord first refers to his raising those who were dead in sin, to newness of life, by the power of the Spirit, and then to his raising the dead in their graves. The office of Judge of all men, can only be exercised by one who has all knowledge, and almighty power. May we believe His testimony; thus our faith and hope will be in God, and we shall not come into condemnation. And may His voice reach the hearts of those dead in sin; that they may do works meet for repentance, and prepare for the solemn day.

Verses 30-38 Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that of John; his works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had no abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father had sent, according to his ancient promises. The voice of God, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus made effectual to the conversion of sinners, still proclaims that this is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased. But when the hearts of men are full of pride, ambition, and the love of the world, there is no room for the word of God to abide in them.

Verses 39-44 The Jews considered that eternal life was revealed to them in their Scriptures, and that they had it, because they had the word of God in their hands. Jesus urged them to search those Scriptures with more diligence and attention. "Ye do search the Scriptures," and ye do well to do so. They did indeed search the Scriptures, but it was with a view to their own glory. It is possible for men to be very studious in the letter of the Scriptures, yet to be strangers to its power. Or, "Search the Scriptures," and so it was spoken to them in the nature of an appeal. Ye profess to receive and believe the Scripture, let that be the judge. It is spoken to us as advising or commanding all Christians to search the Scriptures. Not only read them, and hear them, but search them; which denotes diligence in examining and studying them. We must search the Scriptures for heaven as our great end; For in them ye think ye have eternal life. We must search the Scriptures for Christ, as the new and living Way, that leads to this end. To this testimony Christ adds reproofs of their unbelief and wickedness; their neglect of him and his doctrine. Also he reproves their want of the love of God. But there is life with Jesus Christ for poor souls. Many who make a great profession of religion, yet show they want the love of God, by their neglect of Christ and contempt of his commandments. It is the love of God in us, the love that is a living, active principle in the heart, which God will accept. They slighted and undervalued Christ, because they admired and overvalued themselves. How can those believe, who make the praise and applause of men their idol! When Christ and his followers are men wondered at, how can those believe, the utmost of whose ambition is to make a fair show in the flesh!

Verses 45-47 Many trust in some form of doctrines or some parties, who no more enter into the real meaning of those doctrines, or the views of the persons whose names they bear, than the Jews did into those of Moses. Let us search and pray over the Scriptures, as intent on finding eternal life; let us observe how Christ is the great subject of them, and daily apply to him for the life he bestows.

Footnotes

• [a]. The majority of later manuscripts read "Bethesda," while other early manuscripts read "Bethsaida"
• [b]. The majority of later manuscripts add the following words: "waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel of the Lord from time to time went down in the pool and stirred up the water. So the one who went in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he suffered."
• [c]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [d]. *The phrase "[been sick]" is not in the Greek text, but is supplied from the context
• [e]. Literally "during which [time]"
• [f]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to walk")
• [g]. Some manuscripts have "your mat"
• [h]. Some manuscripts have "They asked him"
• [i]. *In Greek the direct object ("[your mat]") is not in the Greek text but the repetition is implied from the previous verse
• [j]. *Here "[while]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was")
• [k]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to persecute")
• [l]. Some manuscripts have "Jesus answered"
• [m]. *Here "[thus]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("making") which is understood as result
• [n]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [o]. *The word "[people]" is not in the Greek text but is implied
• [p]. Or "Search" (an imperative)
• [q]. Or "honor"
• [r]. *Here "[if]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("accept") which is understood as conditional

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 JOHN 5

In this chapter the apostle treats of the nature of faith and love; of Christ the object of both, and of the witness that is bore to him; of the necessity of believing the testimony concerning him; of the confidence of prayer being heard, and concerning whom it should be made; of the happiness of regenerate persons, and of their duty to keep themselves from idols. Faith in Christ is the evidence of regeneration, and where that is, there will be love to the author of regeneration, and to them that are regenerated; and love to them is known by love to God, and keeping his commandments; and keeping the commandments of God, and which are not grievous, is a proof of love to God, 1Jo 5:1-3; and whereas every regenerate man overcomes the world, it is by his faith, the evidence of his regeneration, that this victory is obtained; nor can any other man be pointed out that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God, 1Jo 5:4,5; and Christ, the Son of God, the object of this victorious faith, is described by his coming by water and blood, of which the spirit is witness, who is a true one; and six witnesses of the truth of this and his divine sonship are produced, three in heaven, the Father, Word, and Spirit, who are the one God, and three on earth, the Spirit, water, and blood, who agree in their testimony, 1Jo 5:6-8; wherefore this testimony concerning the Son of God ought to be received, since it is the testimony of God, which is greater than that of men; besides, he that believes in Christ has a witness of this in himself, and honours God, whereas he that believes not makes God a liar, not giving credit to his record concerning his Son; the sum of which is, that God has made a grant of eternal life to some persons, which is in his Son, which those that believe in the Son of God have, but those that do not believe in him have it not: all which show the necessity of receiving the above testimony; and the ends proposed in writing these things were, to believe in Christ, and that it might be known they had eternal life in him, 1Jo 5:9-13, and from faith in Christ the apostle passes to confidence in prayer, as a particular effect and fruit of it: as, that whatever is asked according to the will of God is heard; and that such who are satisfied of this, that they are heard, may be assured that they have the petitions they desire to have, 1Jo 5:14,15, and whereas it is one branch of prayer to pray for others as well as for ourselves, the apostle directs who we should pray for; for the brethren in general, and in particular for such who have sinned, but not unto death, and life shall be given to such: but as for those who have sinned unto death, he does not say prayer should be made for them, for though all unrighteousness in general is sin, yet there is a particular sin which is unto death, and is not to be prayed for, 1Jo 5:16,17; but happy are those who are born of God, for they do not sin this sin; and through the use of the armour of God, and the power of divine grace, they keep themselves from the evil one, and he cannot come at them, to draw them into this sin; also they know that they are of God, and are distinguished from the world, which lies in wickedness; yea, they know that the Son of God is come in the flesh, and hath given them an understanding of the true God, by which they know that they are in him, and in his Son Jesus Christ, who is with him, and the divine Spirit, the one true God, and the author and giver of eternal life, 1Jo 5:18-20; and the chapter, and with it the epistle, is concluded with an exhortation to these regenerate ones, as they had kept themselves from Satan, that they would also keep themselves from idols of all sorts, 1Jo 5:21.