John — Chapter 5

Loading ESV text...

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?

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

2Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep [gate] a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches.

3In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered, [waiting for the moving of the water.]

4[for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the waters stepped in was made whole, with whatsoever disease he was holden.]

5And a certain man was there, who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity.

6When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wouldest thou be made whole?

7The sick 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, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the sabbath on that day.

10So the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.

11But he answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

12They asked him, Who is the man that said unto thee, Take up [thy bed], and walk?

13But he that was healed knew not who it was; for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in the place.

14Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee.

15The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole.

16And for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.

17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work.

18For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

19Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner.

20For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel.

21For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.

22For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;

23that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.

24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.

25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, 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, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:

27and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.

28Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs 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 judgment.

30I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

31If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

32It is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

33Ye have sent unto John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth.

34But the witness which I receive is not from man: howbeit I say these things, that ye may be saved.

35He was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light.

36But the witness which I have is greater than [that of] John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

37And the Father that sent me, he hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.

38And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he sent, him ye believe not.

39Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me;

40and ye will not come to me, that ye may have life.

41I receive not glory from men.

42But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yourselves.

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, who receive glory one of another, and the glory that [cometh] from the only God ye seek not?

45Think not that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, [even] Moses, on whom ye have set your hope.

46For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me; for he wrote of me.

47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

1After this there was a Jewish feast, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool called Bethzatha in Aramaic, which has five covered walkways.

3A great number of sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed people were lying in these walkways.

4[This verse is not included in the NET; see KJV/ASV for the traditional rendering.]

5Now a man was there who had been disabled for 38 years.

6When Jesus saw him lying there and when he realized that the man had been disabled a long time already, he said to him, “Do you want to become well?”

7The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get into the water, someone else goes down there before me.”

8Jesus said to him, “Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.”

9Immediately the man was healed, and he picked up his mat and started walking. (Now that day was a Sabbath.)

10So the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to carry your mat.”

11But he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”

12They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’?”

13But the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped out, since there was a crowd in that place.

14After this Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “Look, you have become well. Don’t sin any more, lest anything worse happen to you.”

15The man went away and informed the Jewish leaders that Jesus was the one who had made him well.

16Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began persecuting him.

17So he told them, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working.”

18For this reason the Jewish leaders were trying even harder to kill him because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was also calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God.

19So Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.

20For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does, and will show him greater deeds than these, so that you will be amazed.

21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes.

22Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,

23so 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“I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life.

25I tell you the solemn truth, a time 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, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself,

27and he has granted the Son authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of Man.

28“Do not be amazed at this because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice

29and will come out—the ones who have done what is good to the resurrection resulting in life, and the ones who have done what is evil to the resurrection resulting in condemnation.

30I can do nothing on my own initiative. 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.

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

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

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

34(I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved.)

35He was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time in his light.

36“But I have a testimony greater than that from John. For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete—the deeds I am now doing—testify about me that the Father has sent me.

37And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time,

38nor do you have his word residing in you because you do not believe the one whom he sent.

39You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me,

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

41“I do not accept praise from people,

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

43I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.

44How can you believe, if you accept praise from one another and don’t seek the praise that comes from the only God?

45“Do not suppose that I will accuse you before the Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope.

46If you believed Moses, you would believe me because he wrote about me.

47But if you do not believe what Moses wrote, how will you believe my words?”

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 it was the Sabbath on that day.

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, the same 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 that 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?”

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Jesus heals a man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, provoking persecution, and delivers a discourse on His divine authority — "the Son can do nothing by Himself" yet has authority to give life and execute judgment.

Authorship & Background

Author: The Apostle John (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 5 marks a turning point in John's Gospel — from this point forward, the Jewish religious leaders actively seek to kill Jesus. The chapter opens with a healing at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, which triggers a Sabbath controversy, which leads to Jesus' most extensive discourse on His relationship with the Father and the witnesses that testify to His identity.
Pool of Bethesda: Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem have confirmed the existence of this pool near the Sheep Gate (modern St. Anne's Church area). It had five covered colonnades (porches) and was believed to have healing properties when the water was stirred. The pool was used by the sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed who waited for the water's movement.
The Sabbath Controversy: Jewish law prohibited carrying objects on the Sabbath. When Jesus healed the man and told him to carry his mat, the religious leaders focused on the law violation rather than the miracle. Jesus' response — "My Father is working until now, and I am working" (v.17) — was understood as a claim to equality with God, intensifying their desire to kill Him.

Map & Geography

  • Jerusalem / the Pool of Bethesda (v.2): Located near the Sheep Gate in northeast Jerusalem. The pool had five covered porticoes where the sick gathered. Archaeological remains confirm this five-portico structure.
  • The Temple (implied): Jesus healed on the Sabbath in Jerusalem, provoking the Jewish leaders.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the significance of the 38-year illness, the four witnesses Jesus presents (John the Baptist, His works, the Father, and Scripture), and the irony of Moses accusing those who trusted in Moses.
  • Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?" (MTP Vol. 34, No. 2006) "Thirty-eight years of suffering — and Jesus asks 'Do you want to be healed?' It seems an unnecessary question. But many men are so accustomed to their condition that they have stopped wanting to be different. Christ asks the question because He requires the will to be engaged." Sermon: "Passed from Death unto Life" on v.24 (MTP Vol. 10, No. 563) "Hath everlasting life — not shall have, not may have — hath. Present tense. The moment a man believes, he possesses eternal life. It is not a future reward; it is a present possession."

Videos

David Guzik — Enduring Word Video Series (John)

YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_QIfO0mxbX4zgQH4vuK6q1q7gu8Ok6tz John 5:1-9 - Opposed by Hopelessness: John 5:10-18 - Opposed by Religious Tradition: John 5:19-47 - Opposed by Unbelief:

Reflection

  • 1. Jesus asked the man "Do you want to be made whole?" (v.6). The man's answer was full of excuses — no one to help him, others get there first. Jesus healed him anyway. Are there areas of your life where you've given up wanting to change? What excuses are you hiding behind?
  • 2. After healing the man, Jesus found him in the Temple and said "sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (v.14). Physical healing and spiritual wholeness are connected. Is there a sin pattern in your life that is producing consequences you keep experiencing?
  • 3. Jesus said the religious leaders searched the Scriptures but missed the One the Scriptures pointed to (v.39-40). It's possible to be very familiar with the Bible and still not know Christ personally. How is your Bible reading leading you to a deeper relationship with Jesus, not just more knowledge?
  • 4. "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another?" (v.44). Living for human approval is one of the greatest obstacles to genuine faith. Where in your life are you making decisions based on what others will think rather than what God says?
  • 5. The man at the pool had been ill for 38 years. That's a long time to wait. Is there something in your life you've been waiting on God for so long that you've stopped expecting Him to act? How does this story speak to that?
  • 6. Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath, knowing it would cause controversy. He didn't ask permission from the religious establishment. Are there times when doing the right thing will cost you socially or professionally? How do you navigate that?
  • 7. Jesus presents four witnesses to His identity: John the Baptist, His miracles, the Father's voice, and the Scriptures (vv.33-47). Which of these is most compelling to you personally, and why?
  • 8. Verse 44 identifies the desire for human approval as a barrier to faith. In what specific relationships or settings do you find yourself most tempted to seek man's approval over God's? What would it look like to break that pattern?
  • 9. Jesus told the religious leaders that Moses — the very one they trusted — would accuse them (v.45). What is the danger of trusting in religious heritage or tradition rather than in Christ Himself?