The Healing at the Pool

5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. ² Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate^(A) a pool, which in Aramaic^(B) is called Bethesda^[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. ³ Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. ^{[4] [b] 5} One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

⁷ “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

⁸ Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”^{(C) 9} At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,^{(D) 10} and so the Jewish leaders^(E) said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”^(F)

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

¹² So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

¹³ The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

¹⁴ Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning^(G) or something worse may happen to you.” ¹⁵ The man went away and told the Jewish leaders^(H) that it was Jesus who had made him well.

The Authority of the Son

¹⁶ So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. ¹⁷ In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father^(I) is always at his work^(J) to this very day, and I too am working.” ¹⁸ For this reason they tried all the more to kill him;^(K) not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.^(L)

¹⁹ Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;^(M) he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son^(N) and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these,^(O) so that you will be amazed. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,^(P) even so the Son gives life^(Q) to whom he is pleased to give it. ²² Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,^{(R) 23} that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.^(S)

²⁴ “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me^(T) has eternal life^(U) and will not be judged^(V) but has crossed over from death to life.^{(W) 25} Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come^(X) when the dead will hear^(Y) the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life^(Z) in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to judge^(AA) because he is the Son of Man.

²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming^(AB) when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.^{(AC) 30} By myself I can do nothing;^(AD) I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just,^(AE) for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.^(AF)

Testimonies About Jesus

³¹ “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.^{(AG) 32} There is another who testifies in my favor,^(AH) and I know that his testimony about me is true.

³³ “You have sent to John and he has testified^(AI) to the truth. ³⁴ Not that I accept human testimony;^(AJ) but I mention it that you may be saved.^{(AK) 35} John was a lamp that burned and gave light,^(AL) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

³⁶ “I have testimony weightier than that of John.^(AM) For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing^(AN)—testify that the Father has sent me.^{(AO) 37} And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.^(AP) You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,^{(AQ) 38} nor does his word dwell in you,^(AR) for you do not believe^(AS) the one he sent.^{(AT) 39} You study^[c] the Scriptures^(AU) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.^(AV) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,^{(AW) 40} yet you refuse to come to me^(AX) to have life.

⁴¹ “I do not accept glory from human beings,^{(AY) 42} but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. ⁴³ I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. ⁴⁴ How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God^[d]?^(AZ)

⁴⁵ “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses,^(BA) on whom your hopes are set.^{(BB) 46} If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.^{(BC) 47} But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”^(BD)

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand^(BE)

6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), ² and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs^(BF) he had performed by healing the sick. ³ Then Jesus went up on a mountainside^(BG) and sat down with his disciples. ⁴ The Jewish Passover Festival^(BH) was near.

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip,^(BI) “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

⁷ Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages^[e] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

⁸ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,^(BJ) spoke up, ⁹ “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”^(BK)

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks,^(BL) and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴ After the people saw the sign^(BM) Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”^{(BN) 15} Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king^(BO) by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.^(BP)

Jesus Walks on the Water^(BQ)

¹⁶ When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, ¹⁷ where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. ¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. ¹⁹ When they had rowed about three or four miles,^[f] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water;^(BR) and they were frightened. ²⁰ But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”^{(BS) 21} Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

²² The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake^(BT) realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.^{(BU) 23} Then some boats from Tiberias^(BV) landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.^{(BW) 24} Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

Jesus the Bread of Life

²⁵ When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi,^(BX) when did you get here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,^(BY) not because you saw the signs^(BZ) I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures^(CA) to eternal life,^(CB) which the Son of Man^(CC) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal^(CD) of approval.”

²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe^(CE) in the one he has sent.”^(CF)

³⁰ So they asked him, “What sign^(CG) then will you give that we may see it and believe you?^(CH) What will you do? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna^(CI) in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’^[g]”^(CJ)

³² Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven^(CK) and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”^(CL)

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am^(CM) the bread of life.^(CN) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes^(CO) in me will never be thirsty.^{(CP) 36} But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me^(CQ) will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven^(CR) not to do my will but to do the will^(CS) of him who sent me.^{(CT) 39} And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,^(CU) but raise them up at the last day.^{(CV) 40} For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son^(CW) and believes in him shall have eternal life,^(CX) and I will raise them up at the last day.”

⁴¹ At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” ⁴² They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph,^(CY) whose father and mother we know?^(CZ) How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”^(DA)

⁴³ “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. ⁴⁴ “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them,^(DB) and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’^[h](DC) Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. ⁴⁶ No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God;^(DD) only he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.^{(DE) 48} I am the bread of life.^{(DF) 49} Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.^{(DG) 50} But here is the bread that comes down from heaven,^(DH) which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread^(DI) that came down from heaven.^(DJ) Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”^(DK)

⁵² Then the Jews^(DL) began to argue sharply among themselves,^(DM) “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh^(DN) of the Son of Man^(DO) and drink his blood,^(DP) you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.^{(DQ) 55} For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.^{(DR) 57} Just as the living Father sent me^(DS) and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”^{(DT) 59} He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

⁶⁰ On hearing it, many of his disciples^(DU) said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”^(DV)

⁶¹ Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?^{(DW) 62} Then what if you see the Son of Man^(DX) ascend to where he was before!^{(DY) 63} The Spirit gives life;^(DZ) the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit^[i] and life. ⁶⁴ Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known^(EA) from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.^{(EB) 65} He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”^(EC)

⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples^(ED) turned back and no longer followed him.

⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.^(EE)

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him,^(EF) “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.^{(EG) 69} We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”^(EH)

⁷⁰ Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you,^(EI) the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”^{(EJ) 71} (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot,^(EK) who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)^(EL)

The High Priest of a New Covenant

8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,^(A) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,^{(B) 2} and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle^(C) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

³ Every high priest^(D) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,^(E) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.^{(F) 4} If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.^{(G) 5} They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy^(H) and shadow^(I) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned^(J) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”^{[a](K) 6} But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant^(L) of which he is mediator^(M) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.^{(N) 8} But God found fault with the people and said^[b]:

¹³ By calling this covenant “new,”^(W) he has made the first one obsolete;^(X) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.^{(Y) 2} A tabernacle^(Z) was set up. In its first room were the lampstand^(AA) and the table^(AB) with its consecrated bread;^(AC) this was called the Holy Place.^{(AD) 3} Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,^{(AE) 4} which had the golden altar of incense^(AF) and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.^(AG) This ark contained the gold jar of manna,^(AH) Aaron’s staff that had budded,^(AI) and the stone tablets of the covenant.^{(AJ) 5} Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,^(AK) overshadowing the atonement cover.^(AL) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

⁶ When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly^(AM) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. ⁷ But only the high priest entered^(AN) the inner room,^(AO) and that only once a year,^(AP) and never without blood,^(AQ) which he offered for himself^(AR) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.^{(AS) 8} The Holy Spirit was showing^(AT) by this that the way^(AU) into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ⁹ This is an illustration^(AV) for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered^(AW) were not able to clear the conscience^(AX) of the worshiper. ¹⁰ They are only a matter of food^(AY) and drink^(AZ) and various ceremonial washings^(BA)—external regulations^(BB) applying until the time of the new order.

The Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest^(BC) of the good things that are now already here,^[d](BD) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle^(BE) that is not made with human hands,^(BF) that is to say, is not a part of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;^(BG) but he entered the Most Holy Place^(BH) once for all^(BI) by his own blood,^(BJ) thus obtaining^[e] eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls^(BK) and the ashes of a heifer^(BL) sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit^(BM) offered himself^(BN) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(BO) from acts that lead to death,^[f](BP) so that we may serve the living God!^(BQ)

¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator^(BR) of a new covenant,^(BS) that those who are called^(BT) may receive the promised^(BU) eternal inheritance^(BV)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.^(BW)

¹⁶ In the case of a will,^[g] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, ¹⁷ because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸ This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.^{(BX) 19} When Moses had proclaimed^(BY) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,^(BZ) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.^{(CA) 20} He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^{[h](CB) 21} In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. ²² In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,^(CC) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(CD)

²³ It was necessary, then, for the copies^(CE) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;^(CF) he entered heaven itself,^(CG) now to appear for us in God’s presence.^{(CH) 25} Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place^(CI) every year with blood that is not his own.^{(CJ) 26} Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.^(CK) But he has appeared^(CL) once for all^(CM) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.^{(CN) 27} Just as people are destined to die once,^(CO) and after that to face judgment,^{(CP) 28} so Christ was sacrificed once^(CQ) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,^(CR) not to bear sin,^(CS) but to bring salvation^(CT) to those who are waiting for him.^(CU)

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 The law is only a shadow^(CV) of the good things^(CW) that are coming—not the realities themselves.^(CX) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect^(CY) those who draw near to worship.^{(CZ) 2} Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.^{(DA) 3} But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.^{(DB) 4} It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats^(DC) to take away sins.^(DD)

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world,^(DE) he said:

⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”^(DI)—though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”^(DJ) He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy^(DK) through the sacrifice of the body^(DL) of Jesus Christ once for all.^(DM)

¹¹ Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,^(DN) which can never take away sins.^{(DO) 12} But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,^(DP) he sat down at the right hand of God,^{(DQ) 13} and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.^{(DR) 14} For by one sacrifice he has made perfect^(DS) forever those who are being made holy.^(DT)

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies^(DU) to us about this. First he says:

¹⁷ Then he adds:

¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

A Call to Persevere in Faith

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence^(DX) to enter the Most Holy Place^(DY) by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way^(DZ) opened for us through the curtain,^(EA) that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest^(EB) over the house of God,^{(EC) 22} let us draw near to God^(ED) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,^(EE) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience^(EF) and having our bodies washed with pure water.^{(EG) 23} Let us hold unswervingly to the hope^(EH) we profess,^(EI) for he who promised is faithful.^{(EJ) 24} And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,^{(EK) 25} not giving up meeting together,^(EL) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another^(EM)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.^(EN)

²⁶ If we deliberately keep on sinning^(EO) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,^(EP) no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷ but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire^(EQ) that will consume the enemies of God. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.^{(ER) 29} How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God^(ES) underfoot,^(ET) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant^(EU) that sanctified them,^(EV) and who has insulted the Spirit^(EW) of grace?^{(EX) 30} For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[l](EY) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”^{[m](EZ) 31} It is a dreadful thing^(FA) to fall into the hands^(FB) of the living God.^(FC)

³² Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,^(FD) when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.^{(FE) 33} Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;^(FF) at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.^{(FG) 34} You suffered along with those in prison^(FH) and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.^{(FI) 35} So do not throw away your confidence;^(FJ) it will be richly rewarded.

³⁶ You need to persevere^(FK) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.^{(FL) 37} For,

³⁸ And,

³⁹ But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.