John 5

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

 

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market, a pool having five porches, in the city called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda (meaning the place of mercy and grace).

 

3 In these porches lay a great multitude of those who were ailing (and without strength), blind, lame, and paralyzed folk, waiting for the movement of the water.

 

4 Because (in those days they believed a fable that) during certain feasts an angel went down into the pool and stirred up the water: (and it was said that) whoever was the first one to step in after the stirring of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had.

 

5 And a certain man was there, who had an ailment for thirty and eight years.

 

6 When Jesus saw him lying there, (without strength) unable to move (or help) himself, and knowing that he had been there a long time in that state, He said to him, do you desire to be made whole?

 

7 The man who was (laying) ill (and without strength) answered Him, Sir, I have no man to help me when the water is stirred for me to get into the pool: but while I am still on my way, another steps down before me.

 

8 Jesus said to him, rise, pick up your bed, and walk.

 

9 And immediately the man (received strength and) was made whole and picked up his bed, and walked: and on this same day, it was the Sabbath.

 

10 The Jews therefore said to him that was cured, it is the sabbath day: it is not permissible (according to our law) for you to carry your bed.

 

11 He answered them, He that made me whole, also said to me, pick up your bed, and walk.

 

12 Then they asked him, who is this man that said to you, pick up your bed, and walk?

 

13 And the man that was healed did not know who it was that had healed him: for Jesus had moved Himself away because of the large crowd being in that place.

 

14 Afterward, Jesus found the man in the temple, and said to him, Behold, how you have been made whole (by the strength of God the Father): no longer look to (men and) the strength contained in your own hand (to care for your life), lest (the death in the world overtake you and) a worse thing come upon you.

 

15 The man departed and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him whole.

 

16 And because of this the Jews aggressively pursued Jesus and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the sabbath day.

 

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father (ever) works, and so must I work (the works of Him that sent Me to bring eternal life).

 

18 Therefore the Jews sought to kill Him even more, because He not only had broken their sabbath but called God His Father, making Himself equal with God.

 

19 Then answered Jesus and said to them, with absolute certainty I say to you, the Son (who is the express image of the Father) can do nothing of Himself, but only what He sees the Father do: And whatever things the Father does, the Son does also.

 

20 Because the Father loves the Son, He shows Him all things that He Himself does: and He will show Him even greater works than these which you have seen so that you might marvel (and believe upon the One whom He has sent).

 

21 Because just as the Father can raise the dead and give them life, so also does the Son restore life to whoever He will.

 

22 For the Father judges no man but (instead) has given the judgment of all things unto the Son (pertaining to the way unto eternal life).

 

23 So that all men should honor the Son (assigning the same weight and value to the work and judgment of the Son), even as they would the Father. He that does not honor the Son (in this way, not believing in His works) has also not honored (or believed in the work of) the Father who has sent Him.

 

24 With absolute certainty  I say to you, He that hears My word (and is persuaded that I and the Father are One), and believes (on My testimony which rests) in the Father who sent Me (to care for their lives), has everlasting life, and no longer finds their heart condemned by death, but seeing (the Father is with them to preserve their lives eternally even unto immortality in their flesh) he is free from death (and the fear of death) and is thereby passed from death to life (unto immortality in his flesh on the last day).

 

25 With absolute certainty I say to you, The time is coming and now is (at hand) when the dead  (who were dead and under the reign of death with their deeds animated by the death contained in their flesh) will hear the voice of the Son of God (crying out to the Father in His affliction and raised from the dead immortal): and they that hear (the faith of the Son of God and call upon the name of the Father) will live (in the same power of His endless life).

26 For as the Father has eternal life in Himself; so also has He given to the Son to have eternal life in Himself;

27 And has given Him authority (over all flesh) to execute judgment (pertaining to the way unto life and immortality in the flesh) because He is the Son of man (and since death entered through man, so also must the resurrection from the dead come through a man, and the Son of man is the testimony of all men).

28 Marvel not at this: because the time is coming, in which all that are in the graves will hear His voice,

29 And will come forth out of the graves in the resurrection of the dead; both they that have done good (who have believed on the testimony of the Son) unto the resurrection of eternal life (appearing in the same life and likeness as in the Son); and also those that have done evil (who have rejected the testimony of the Son for their own testimony) unto the resurrection of damnation (where the fear of death and punishment will consume their hearts causing them to run unto their own destruction).

30 I cannot do anything of Myself: as I hear from the Father, I judge: and My judgment is the true justice (from the Father); for I do not seek My own will, but the will of the Father who has sent Me.

31 If I bear witness of Myself My witness is not true.

32 There is another that bears witness of Me (the Father), and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.

 

33 You sent those to John to ask him and he bore witness to the truth.

 

34 But I do not receive testimony from man (but from My Father in heaven): but the things which I say are so that you might (believe upon Me and) be saved.

 

35 John was a burning candle that shined a light (on the truth): and for a while, you even rejoiced in his light.

 

36 But I have greater witness than that of John: because the works which the Father (has desired from the beginning, eternal life) He has given Me to finish, these are the same works that I do, they bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

 

37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has borne witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form (that you might know Him).

 

38 And you do not have His word abiding in you: for (since you do not hear or know His voice) you do not believe in (or recognize) the One whom He sent.

 

39 You search the scriptures; because in them you think you (will find and) have eternal life: and they are the very scriptures which (speak and) testify of Me.

 

40 And (yet you do not recognize Me so) you will not come to Me so that you might have eternal life.

 

41 I do not receive honor (and glory in the good opinions) of men.

 

42 But I know you (who look to the opinions of men), that you have not (received) the love of God in yourselves.

 

43 I am come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me: if another would come in his own name, him you will receive.

 

44 How can you believe (in Me who has come in the Father’s name, seeking only the glory that comes from Him) when all you want is the honor (and good opinions) from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from God alone?

 

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you (of your unbelief), even Moses, the one (you say) you trust.

 

46 For if you truly (heard and) believed Moses, you would believe Me; because he wrote (and testified) of Me, (the One that God would raise up from among your brethren, to whom you should hearken).

 

47 But if you do not believe his writings (that testify about Me), how will you believe My words?