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Jesus Heals a Lame Man

Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda,[a] with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches.[b] One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

“I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, 10 so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”

11 But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”

12 “Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded.

13 The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14 But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” 15 Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God

16 So the Jewish leaders began harassing[c] Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. 17 But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” 18 So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.

19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. 21 For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. 22 In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, 23 so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.

24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

25 “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 26 The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. 27 And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man.[d] 28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, 29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. 30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.

Witnesses to Jesus

31 “If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. 32 But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. 33 In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. 34 Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. 35 John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. 36 But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, 38 and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.

39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

41 “Your approval means nothing to me, 42 because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. 43 For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. 44 No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.[e]

45 “Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. 46 If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

Footnotes

  1. 5:2 Other manuscripts read Beth-zatha; still others read Bethsaida.
  2. 5:3 Some manuscripts add an expanded conclusion to verse 3 and all of verse 4: waiting for a certain movement of the water, for an angel of the Lord came from time to time and stirred up the water. And the first person to step in after the water was stirred was healed of whatever disease he had.
  3. 5:16 Or persecuting.
  4. 5:27 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
  5. 5:44 Some manuscripts read from the only One.

After meta this houtos there was eimi a festival heortē of the ho Jews Ioudaios, and kai Jesus Iēsous went up anabainō to eis Jerusalem Hierosolyma. Now de in en · ho Jerusalem Hierosolyma by epi the ho Sheep probatikos Gate there is eimi a pool kolymbēthra, in Hebrew Hebraisti · ho called epilegō Bethesda, having echō five pente covered stoa colonnades . In en these houtos lay katakeimai a number plēthos of ho disabled astheneō people blind typhlos, lame chōlos, and paralyzed xēros. One tis man anthrōpos who was eimi · de there ekei had been echō an invalid astheneia for thirty-eight triakonta · kai years etos. · ho When Jesus Iēsous saw him houtos · ho lying katakeimai there and kai learned ginōskō that hoti he had echō been in that condition for a long polys time chronos already ēdē, he said legō to him autos, “ Do you want thelō to be ginomai healed hygiēs?” The ho sick man astheneō answered apokrinomai him autos, “ Sir kyrios, I have echō no ou one anthrōpos to hina put ballō me egō into eis the ho pool kolymbēthra when hotan the ho water hydōr is stirred tarassō up , but de while en hos I egō am on my way erchomai someone allos else steps down katabainō ahead pro of me egō.” Jesus Iēsous said legō to him autos, · ho Get egeirō up , pick airō up · ho your sy mat krabattos and kai walk peripateō.” And kai immediately eutheōs the ho man anthrōpos was ginomai healed hygiēs, and kai he picked airō up · ho his autos mat krabattos and kai started walking peripateō. Now de that ekeinos day hēmera was eimi a Sabbath sabbaton. · ho 10 So oun the ho Jews Ioudaios said legō to the ho man who had been healed therapeuō, “ It is eimi the Sabbath sabbaton, and kai it is not ou lawful for you sy to carry airō · ho your sy mat krabattos. 11 But de he ho answered apokrinomai them autos, “ The ho man ekeinos who made poieō me egō well hygiēs said legō to me egō, ‘ Pick airō up · ho your sy mat krabattos and kai walk peripateō.’” 12 They questioned erōtaō him autos, “ Who tis is eimi the ho man anthrōpos who ho said legō to you sy, ‘ Pick airō up your mat and kai walk peripateō’?” 13 However de, the ho man who had been healed iaomai did not ou know oida who tis it was eimi, · ho for gar Jesus Iēsous had slipped ekneuō away , there being eimi a crowd ochlos in en that ho place topos. 14 Later meta on houtos Jesus Iēsous found heuriskō him autos · ho in en the ho temple hieron and kai said legō to him autos, “ See ide, you have been ginomai healed hygiēs! Do hamartanō not sin hamartanō any mēketi longer , so hina that nothing worse cheirōn happens ginomai to you sy.” 15 The ho man anthrōpos went aperchomai away and kai told anangellō the ho Jews Ioudaios that hoti it was eimi Jesus Iēsous who ho had made poieō him autos well hygiēs. 16 And kai this is why dia the ho Jews Ioudaios were persecuting diōkō · ho Jesus Iēsous, because hoti he was doing poieō these houtos things on en the Sabbath sabbaton. 17 But de Jesus ho answered apokrinomai them autos, · ho My egō Father patēr has been working ergazomai until heōs now arti, and I kagō also am working ergazomai.” 18 This was why dia the ho Jews Ioudaios were seeking zēteō all the more mallon to kill apokteinō him autos, because hoti he not ou only monon used to break lyō the ho Sabbath sabbaton, but alla he legō also kai was calling legō God theos his own idios Father patēr, · ho thus making poieō himself heautou equal isos with ho God theos. 19 Answering apokrinomai, then oun, · ho Jesus Iēsous · kai said legō to them autos, “ I tell legō you hymeis the solemn amēn truth amēn, the ho Son hyios can dynamai do poieō nothing oudeis on apo his heautou own , but only ean what tis he sees blepō the ho Father patēr doing poieō; for gar whatever hos the Father ekeinos does poieō, · kai the ho Son hyios is doing poieō likewise homoiōs. 20 For gar the ho Father patēr loves phileō the ho Son hyios and kai shows deiknymi him autos everything pas that hos he autos is doing poieō; and kai he will show deiknymi him autos greater megas works ergon than these houtos, and hina you hymeis will be amazed thaumazō. 21 For gar as hōsper the ho Father patēr raises egeirō the ho dead nekros and kai gives them life zōiopoieō, so houtōs also kai the ho Son hyios gives life to zōiopoieō those hos he chooses thelō. 22 Furthermore oude gar, the ho Father patēr judges krinō no oudeis one , but alla has given didōmi · ho all pas judgment krisis to the ho Son hyios, 23 so hina that everyone pas should honor timaō the ho Son hyios just kathōs as they honor timaō the ho Father patēr. The ho one who does not honor timaō the ho Son hyios does not ou honor timaō the ho Father patēr who ho sent pempō him autos. 24 I tell legō you hymeis the solemn amēn truth amēn, the ho one who hears akouō · ho my egō message logos and kai believes pisteuō the ho one who sent pempō me egō has echō eternal aiōnios life zōē and kai will erchomai not ou come erchomai into eis judgment krisis, but alla has passed metabainō from ek · ho death thanatos to eis · ho life zōē.

25  I tell legō you hymeis the solemn amēn truth amēn, the hour hōra is coming erchomai and kai is eimi now nyn here, when hote the ho dead nekros will hear akouō the ho voice phōnē of the ho Son hyios of ho God theos, and kai those ho who hear akouō will live zaō. 26 For gar as hōsper the ho Father patēr has echō life zōē in en himself heautou, so houtōs also kai has he granted didōmi the ho Son hyios to have echō life zōē in en himself heautou; 27 and kai he has given didōmi him autos authority exousia to execute poieō judgment krisis because hoti he is eimi the Son hyios of Man anthrōpos. 28 Do not be amazed thaumazō at this houtos, because hoti the hour hōra is coming erchomai in en which hos all pas who ho are in en their ho graves mnēmeion will hear akouō · ho his autos voice phōnē 29 and kai will come ekporeuomai out those ho who have done poieō · ho good agathos, to eis a resurrection anastasis unto life zōē, and de those ho who have practiced prassō · ho evil phaulos, to eis a resurrection anastasis unto condemnation krisis. 30 I egō can dynamai do poieō nothing oudeis on apo my own emautou; I judge krinō only as kathōs I hear akouō, and kai · ho my emos judgment krisis · ho is eimi just dikaios because hoti I seek zēteō not ou · ho my own emos will thelēma · ho but alla the ho will thelēma of ho him who sent pempō me egō.

31  If ean I egō bear witness martyreō about peri myself emautou, · ho my egō testimony martyria is eimi not ou deemed true alēthēs. 32 There is eimi another allos who ho bears witness martyreō about peri me egō, and kai I know oida that hoti the ho witness martyria that hos he bears martyreō about peri me egō is eimi true alēthēs. 33 You hymeis have sent apostellō messengers to pros John Iōannēs, and kai he has borne witness martyreō to the ho truth alētheia. 34 ( Not ou that I egō · de accept lambanō such para human anthrōpos · ho testimony martyria, but alla I say legō these houtos things so hina that you hymeis may be saved sōzō.) 35 He ekeinos was eimi a ho lamp lychnos that ho was burning kaiō and kai giving light phainō, and de you hymeis were willing thelō for pros a time hōra to rejoice agalliaō in en · ho his autos light phōs. 36 But de I egō have echō a ho witness martyria greater megas than that ho of John Iōannēs; for gar the ho works ergon that hos the ho Father patēr has given didōmi me egō to hina complete teleioō, the ho very autos works ergon that hos I am doing poieō, bear witness martyreō about peri me egō that hoti the ho Father patēr has sent apostellō me egō. 37 And kai the ho Father patēr who sent pempō me egō has himself ekeinos borne witness martyreō about peri me egō. His autos voice phōnē you have never pōpote heard akouō, his autos form eidos you have never oute seen horaō, 38 and kai · ho his autos word logos you do not ou have echō residing menō in en you hymeis, because hoti you hymeis do pisteuō not ou believe pisteuō the houtos one ekeinos whom hos he sent apostellō.

39  You study eraunaō the ho Scriptures graphē because hoti you hymeis think dokeō that by en them autos you will have echō eternal aiōnios life zōē; and kai it is eimi they ekeinos that ho bear witness martyreō about peri me egō, 40 but kai you refuse ou to come erchomai to pros me egō that hina you may have echō life zōē. 41 I do lambanō not ou accept lambanō praise doxa from para people anthrōpos, 42 but alla I know ginōskō you hymeis—I know that hoti you do echō not ou have echō the ho love agapē of ho God theos in en you heautou. 43 I egō have come erchomai in en the ho name onoma of ho my egō Father patēr and kai you do not ou accept lambanō me egō. If ean someone allos else comes erchomai in en · ho his own idios name onoma, · ho him ekeinos you will accept lambanō. 44 How pōs can dynamai you hymeis believe pisteuō, when you accept lambanō praise doxa from para one allēlōn another but kai do zēteō not ou seek zēteō the ho praise doxa that ho comes from para the ho only monos God theos? 45 Do not think dokeō that hoti I egō will accuse katēgoreō you hymeis before pros the ho Father patēr; the ho one who accuses katēgoreō you hymeis is eimi Moses Mōysēs, on eis whom hos you hymeis have set elpizō your hope . 46 If ei you believed pisteuō Moses Mōysēs, you would an believe pisteuō me egō, for gar he ekeinos wrote graphō about peri me egō. 47 But de if ei you do pisteuō not ou believe pisteuō · ho his ekeinos writings gramma, how pōs will you believe pisteuō · ho my emos words rhēma?”