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The healing of the disabled man

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

In Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, there is a pool which is called, in Hebrew, Bethesda. It has five porticoes, where several sick people were lying. They were blind, lame and paralyzed.

There was a man who had been there, in the same sick state, for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been there a long time already.

“Do you want to get well?” he asked him.

“Well, sir,” the sick man replied, “I don’t have anyone to put me into the pool when the water gets stirred up. While I’m on my way there, someone else gets down before me.”

“Get up,” said Jesus, “pick up your mattress and walk!”

At once the man was healed. He picked up his mattress and walked.

God’s son breaks the sabbath!

The day all this happened was a sabbath. 10 So the Judaeans confronted the man who had been healed.

“It’s the sabbath!” they said. “You shouldn’t be carrying your mattress!”

11 “Well,” he replied, “the man who cured me told me to pick up my mattress and walk!”

12 “Oh, really?” they said. “And who is this man, who told you to pick it up and walk?”

13 But the man who’d been healed didn’t know who it was. Jesus had gone away, and the place was crowded.

14 After this Jesus found the man in the Temple.

“Look!” he said. “You’re better again! Don’t sin anymore, or something worse might happen to you!”

15 The man went off and told the Judaeans that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 That was why the Judaeans began to persecute Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.

17 This was Jesus’ response to them.

“My father,” he said, “is going on working, and so am I!”

18 So for this reason the Judaeans were all the more eager to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath, but spoke of God as his own father, making himself equal to God.

The coming judgment

19 So Jesus made this response to them.

“I’m telling you the solemn truth,” he said. “The son can do nothing by himself. He can only do what he sees the father doing. Whatever the father does, the son does too, and in the same way. 20 The father loves the son, you see, and shows him all the things that he’s doing. Yes: he will show him even greater things than these, and that’ll amaze you! 21 For, just as the father raises the dead and gives them life, in the same way the son gives life to anyone he chooses.

22 “The father doesn’t judge anyone, you see; he has handed over all judgment to the son, 23 so that everyone should honor the son just as they honor the father. Anyone who doesn’t honor the son doesn’t honor the father who sent him.

24 “I’m telling you the solemn truth: anyone who hears my word, and believes in the one who sent me, has the life of God’s coming age. Such a person won’t come into judgment; they will have passed out of death into life. 25 I’m telling you the solemn truth: the time is coming—in fact, it’s here already!—when the dead will hear the voice of God’s son, and those who hear it will live. 26 You see, just as the father has life in himself, in the same way he has given the son the privilege of having life in himself. 27 He has even given him authority to pass judgment, because he is the son of man.

28 “Don’t be surprised at this. The time is coming, you see, when everyone in the tombs will hear his voice. 29 They will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.”

The evidence in support of Jesus

30 “I can’t do anything on my own authority,” Jesus went on. “I judge on the basis of what I hear. And my judgment is just, because I’m not trying to carry out my own wishes, but the wishes of the one who sent me.

31 “If I give evidence about myself, my evidence isn’t true. 32 There is someone else who gives evidence about me, and I know that the evidence he brings about me is true. 33 You sent messengers to John, and he gave evidence about the truth. 34 Not that I need evidence from human beings; but I’m saying this so that you may be saved.

35 “John was a burning, bright lamp, and you were happy to celebrate in his light for a while. 36 But I have greater evidence on my side than that of John. The works which the father has given me to complete—these works, which I’m doing, will provide evidence about me, evidence that the father has sent me. 37 And the father who sent me has given evidence about me. You’ve never heard his voice; you’ve never seen his form. 38 What’s more, you haven’t got his word abiding in you, because you don’t believe in the one he sent.”

Jesus and Moses

39 “You study the Bible,” Jesus continued, “because you suppose that you’ll discover the life of God’s coming age in it. In fact, it’s the Bible which gives evidence about me! 40 But you won’t come to me so that you can have life.

41 “I’m not accepting glory from human beings; 42 but I know that you haven’t got the love of God within you. 43 I have come in the name of my father, and you won’t receive me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him! 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and you’re not looking for the glory which comes from the one and only God?

45 “Don’t think that I’m going to accuse you to the father. There is someone who accuses you, namely Moses, the one you look to in hope! 46 You see, if you’d believed Moses, you would have believed me—because it was me he was writing about. 47 But if you don’t believe his writings, how are you going to believe my words?”

After that, the Jews had a feast and Jesus went to Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, there is a wide water hole. The Jews called this water hole Bethesda. It had five places with roofs for people to stand under.

Many sick people were lying on these places. Some of them were blind. Some were lame. Some were very thin and stiff so that they could not move by themselves. All of them were waiting for the water to move.

An angel came down into the water at a certain time and made it move. The first person who stepped into the water when it moved was healed of any sickness that he had.

A man was there who had been sick for thirty eight years.

Jesus saw the man lying there. He knew that he had been sick for a long time. He said to him, `Do you want to be healed?'

The sick man said to him, `Sir, I have no man to put me into the water when it moves. While I am trying to get in, some other person comes and gets in before me.'

Jesus said, `Get up. Take up your bed and walk!'

The man was healed right away. He took up his bed and walked. This happened on the Sabbath day.

10 So the leaders of the Jews talked to the man who was healed. They said, `It is the Sabbath day. It is not right for you to carry your bed.'

11 But he answered them, `The man who healed me said to me, "Take up your bed and walk." '

12 They asked him, `Who is the man who told you to take up your bed and walk?'

13 The man who was healed said, `I do not know who he is.' Many people were at the place and Jesus had gone away.

14 After that, Jesus saw the man in the temple. He said to him, `See, you are healed. Do no more wrong things. If you do, something worse may happen to you.'

15 The man went away and told the leaders of the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

16 The Jewish leaders made trouble for Jesus because he did this on the Sabbath day.

17 But Jesus answered them, `My Father is still working and I am working also.'

18 This was why the leaders of the Jews tried much more to kill Jesus. He had broken the law of the Sabbath day. And also he called God his Father. In that way, he was making himself equal with God.

19 Jesus said to them, `l tell you the truth. The Son cannot do anything alone. He sees what his Father is doing and he does the same.

20 My Father loves his Son. He shows him all that he himself is doing. He will show his Son bigger works than these so that you may be surprised.

21 My Father raises people who were dead, and gives them life. So his Son gives life to anyone he wants to.

22 My Father judges no one, but he has made his Son to be the judge of everything.

23 He did this so that all people would respect the Son, just as they respect his Father. My Father has sent his Son. Anyone who does not respect his Son does not respect the Father.

24 `I tell you the truth. The person who hears what I say and believes in him that sent me will live for ever. He will not be judged. He has already passed from death to life.

25 `I tell you the truth. The time is coming. Yes, the time is here when the dead people will hear the voice of the Son of God. Those who hear his voice will live.

26 My Father has life in himself. And so he has made his Son to have life in himself.

27 He has given his Son power also to judge because he is the Son of Man.

28 Do not be surprised at what I say. The time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice.

29 They will come out of the graves. Those who have done what is good will come out to live. But those who have done what is wrong will come out to be punished.

30 `I have no right to do anything myself. I judge the way I am told to judge. The way I judge people is right. I do not do what I myself want to do, but I do what my Father wants me to do. He sent me.

31 `If I talk about myself, then what I say is not true.

32 But someone else also speaks about me. I know what he says about me is true.

33 You sent someone to John and he has told you the truth about me.

34 I do not need to listen to what a person says about me. But I tell you this so that you may be saved.

35 John was a light burning and shining. For a while you were happy to be in his light.

36 But I have something greater than John to talk for me. It is the works that I do. My Father has given me works to finish. The works that I do tell that he sent me.

37 And my Father who sent me has himself talked about me. You have never heard him speak and you do not know what he is like.

38 The word he talks is not in your hearts, because you do not believe the one he sent to you.

39 `You read holy writings carefully. You think that there you will find out how to live for ever. In the same writings you will read about me.

40 And yet you will not come to me for that life.

41 I do not want people to call me great.

42 But I know that you do not love God in your hearts.

43 I have come in my Father's name, but you will not receive me. If another person comes in his own name, then you will receive him.

44 How can you believe? You are always calling each other great, but you do not want the only God to make you great.

45 Do not think that I will carry a complaint against you to my Father. Moses has already carried the complaint against you. He is the very one you trust.

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

47 But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?'

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

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

For 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.

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

When 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?

The 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.

Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

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

12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

14 Afterward 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.

15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

18 Therefore 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.

19 Then 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.

20 For 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.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That 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.

24 Verily, 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.

25 Verily, 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.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

30 I 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.

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

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

33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

36 But 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.

37 And 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.

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

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

41 I receive not honour from men.

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

43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.

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

Jesús sana al paralítico de Betzatá

Algún tiempo después, los judíos celebraban una fiesta, y Jesús volvió a Jerusalén. En Jerusalén, cerca de la puerta llamada de las Ovejas, hay un estanque que en hebreo se llama Betzatá. Tiene cinco pórticos, en los cuales se encontraban muchos enfermos, ciegos, cojos y tullidos echados en el suelo. Había entre ellos un hombre que estaba enfermo desde hacía treinta y ocho años. Cuando Jesús lo vio allí acostado y se enteró del mucho tiempo que llevaba así, le preguntó:

—¿Quieres recobrar la salud?

El enfermo le contestó:

—Señor, no tengo a nadie que me meta en el estanque cuando se remueve el agua. Cada vez que quiero meterme, otro lo hace primero.

Jesús le dijo:

—Levántate, alza tu camilla y anda.

En aquel momento el hombre recobró la salud, alzó su camilla y comenzó a andar. Pero como era sábado, 10 los judíos dijeron al que había sido sanado:

—Hoy es sábado; no te está permitido llevar tu camilla.

11 Aquel hombre les contestó:

—El que me devolvió la salud, me dijo: “Alza tu camilla y anda.”

12 Ellos le preguntaron:

—¿Quién es el que te dijo: “Alza tu camilla y anda”?

13 Pero el hombre no sabía quién lo había sanado, porque Jesús había desaparecido entre la mucha gente que había allí. 14 Después Jesús lo encontró en el templo, y le dijo:

—Mira, ahora que ya estás sano, no vuelvas a pecar, para que no te pase algo peor.

15 El hombre se fue y comunicó a los judíos que Jesús era quien le había devuelto la salud. 16 Por eso los judíos perseguían a Jesús, pues hacía estas cosas en sábado. 17 Pero Jesús les dijo:

—Mi Padre siempre ha trabajado, y yo también trabajo.

18 Por esto, los judíos tenían aún más deseos de matarlo, porque no solamente no observaba el mandato sobre el sábado, sino que además se hacía igual a Dios al decir que Dios era su propio Padre.

La autoridad del Hijo de Dios

19 Jesús les dijo: «Les aseguro que el Hijo de Dios no puede hacer nada por su propia cuenta; solamente hace lo que ve hacer al Padre. Todo lo que hace el Padre, también lo hace el Hijo. 20 Pues el Padre ama al Hijo y le muestra todo lo que hace; y le mostrará cosas todavía más grandes, que los dejarán a ustedes asombrados. 21 Porque así como el Padre resucita a los muertos y les da vida, también el Hijo da vida a quienes quiere dársela. 22 Y el Padre no juzga a nadie, sino que le ha dado a su Hijo todo el poder de juzgar, 23 para que todos den al Hijo la misma honra que dan al Padre. El que no honra al Hijo, tampoco honra al Padre, que lo ha enviado.

24 »Les aseguro que quien presta atención a lo que yo digo y cree en el que me envió, tiene vida eterna; y no será condenado, pues ya ha pasado de la muerte a la vida. 25 Les aseguro que viene la hora, y es ahora mismo, cuando los muertos oirán la voz del Hijo de Dios; y los que la oigan, vivirán. 26 Porque así como el Padre tiene vida en sí mismo, así también ha hecho que el Hijo tenga vida en sí mismo, 27 y le ha dado autoridad para juzgar, por cuanto que es el Hijo del hombre. 28 No se admiren de esto, porque va a llegar la hora en que todos los muertos oirán su voz 29 y saldrán de las tumbas. Los que hicieron el bien, resucitarán para tener vida; pero los que hicieron el mal, resucitarán para ser condenados.

Pruebas de la autoridad de Jesús

30 »Yo no puedo hacer nada por mi propia cuenta. Juzgo según el Padre me ordena, y mi juicio es justo, pues no trato de hacer mi voluntad sino la voluntad del Padre, que me ha enviado. 31 Si yo diera testimonio en favor mío, mi testimonio no valdría como prueba. 32 Pero hay otro que da testimonio en favor mío, y me consta que su testimonio sí vale como prueba. 33 Ustedes enviaron a preguntarle a Juan, y él dio testimonio a favor de la verdad. 34 Pero yo no dependo del testimonio de ningún hombre. Sólo digo esto para que ustedes alcancen la salvación. 35 Juan era como una lámpara que ardía y alumbraba, y ustedes quisieron gozar de su luz por un corto tiempo. 36 Pero tengo a mi favor un testimonio más valioso que el de Juan. Lo que yo hago, que es lo que el Padre me encargó que hiciera, comprueba que de veras el Padre me ha enviado. 37 Y también el Padre, que me ha enviado, da testimonio a mi favor, a pesar de que ustedes nunca han oído su voz ni lo han visto, 38 ni dejan que su palabra permanezca en ustedes, porque no creen en aquel que el Padre envió. 39 Ustedes estudian las Escrituras con mucho cuidado, porque esperan encontrar en ellas la vida eterna; sin embargo, aunque las Escrituras dan testimonio de mí, 40 ustedes no quieren venir a mí para tener esa vida.

41 »Yo no acepto gloria que venga de los hombres. 42 Además, los conozco a ustedes y sé que no tienen el amor de Dios. 43 Yo he venido en nombre de mi Padre, y ustedes no me aceptan; en cambio, si viniera otro en nombre propio, a ése lo aceptarían. 44 ¿Cómo pueden creer ustedes, si reciben gloria los unos de los otros y no buscan la gloria que viene del Dios único? 45 No crean que yo los voy a acusar delante de mi Padre; el que los acusa es Moisés mismo, en quien ustedes han puesto su confianza. 46 Porque si ustedes le creyeran a Moisés, también me creerían a mí, porque Moisés escribió acerca de mí. 47 Pero si no creen lo que él escribió, ¿cómo van a creer lo que yo les digo?»