John 5
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 5[a]
Cure on a Sabbath. 1 After this, there was a feast[b] of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.(A) 2 Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep [Gate][c] a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.(B) 3 In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled.[d] [4 ][e] 5 One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.”(C) 9 Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.(D)
Now that day was a sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.”(E) 11 He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” 13 The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there.(F) 14 [f]After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him,(G) “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. 16 Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.(H) 17 [g]But Jesus answered them,(I) “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.(J)
The Work of the Son. 19 [h]Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees his father doing;(K) for what he does, his son will do also. 20 For the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed.(L) 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life,[i] so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.(M) 22 Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment[j] to his Son,(N) 23 so 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. 24 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life.(O) 25 Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.(P) 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to his Son the possession of life in himself.(Q) 27 And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man.(R) 28 [k]Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice(S) 29 and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.(T)
30 “I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.(U)
Witnesses to Jesus. 31 (V)“If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony cannot be verified. 32 But there is another[l] who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. 33 You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.(W) 34 I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved.(X) 35 He was a burning and shining lamp,[m] and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.(Y) 36 But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.(Z) 37 Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form,(AA) 38 and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent.(AB) 39 You search[n] the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf.(AC) 40 But you do not want to come to me to have life.
Unbelief of Jesus’ Hearers. 41 “I do not accept human praise;[o] 42 moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.(AD) 43 I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him.(AE) 44 How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?(AF) 45 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope.(AG) 46 For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me.(AH) 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
Footnotes
- 5:1–47 The self-revelation of Jesus continues in Jerusalem at a feast. The third sign (cf. Jn 2:11; 4:54) is performed, the cure of a paralytic by Jesus’ life-giving word. The water of the pool fails to bring life; Jesus’ word does.
- 5:1 The reference in Jn 5:45–46 to Moses suggests that the feast was Pentecost. The connection of that feast with the giving of the law to Moses on Sinai, attested in later Judaism, may already have been made in the first century. The feast could also be Passover (cf. Jn 6:4). John stresses that the day was a sabbath (Jn 5:9).
- 5:2 There is no noun with Sheep. “Gate” is supplied on the grounds that there must have been a gate in the NE wall of the temple area where animals for sacrifice were brought in; cf. Neh 3:1, 32; 12:39. Hebrew: more precisely, Aramaic. Bethesda: preferred to variants “Be(th)zatha” and “Bethsaida”; bêt-’ešdatayīn is given as the name of a double pool northeast of the temple area in the Qumran Copper Roll. Five porticoes: a pool excavated in Jerusalem actually has five porticoes.
- 5:3 The Caesarean and Western recensions, followed by the Vulgate, add “waiting for the movement of the water.” Apparently an intermittent spring in the pool bubbled up occasionally (see Jn 5:7). This turbulence was believed to cure.
- 5:4 Toward the end of the second century in the West and among the fourth-century Greek Fathers, an additional verse was known: “For [from time to time] an angel of the Lord used to come down into the pool; and the water was stirred up, so the first one to get in [after the stirring of the water] was healed of whatever disease afflicted him.” The angel was a popular explanation of the turbulence and the healing powers attributed to it. This verse is missing from all early Greek manuscripts and the earliest versions, including the original Vulgate. Its vocabulary is markedly non-Johannine.
- 5:14 While the cure of the paralytic in Mk 2:1–12 is associated with the forgiveness of sins, Jesus never drew a one-to-one connection between sin and suffering (cf. Jn 9:3; Lk 12:1–5), as did Ez 18:20.
- 5:17 Sabbath observance (Jn 5:10) was based on God’s resting on the seventh day (cf. Gn 2:2–3; Ex 20:11). Philo and some rabbis insisted that God’s providence remains active on the sabbath, keeping all things in existence, giving life in birth and taking it away in death. Other rabbis taught that God rested from creating, but not from judging (= ruling, governing). Jesus here claims the same authority to work as the Father, and, in the discourse that follows, the same divine prerogatives: power over life and death (Jn 5:21, 24–26) and judgment (Jn 5:22, 27).
- 5:19 This proverb or parable is taken from apprenticeship in a trade: the activity of a son is modeled on that of his father. Jesus’ dependence on the Father is justification for doing what the Father does.
- 5:21 Gives life: in the Old Testament, a divine prerogative (Dt 32:39; 1 Sm 2:6; 2 Kgs 5:7; Tb 13:2; Is 26:19; Dn 12:2).
- 5:22 Judgment: another divine prerogative, often expressed as acquittal or condemnation (Dt 32:36; Ps 43:1).
- 5:28–29 While Jn 5:19–27 present realized eschatology, Jn 5:28–29 are future eschatology; cf. Dn 12:2.
- 5:32 Another: likely the Father, who in four different ways gives testimony to Jesus, as indicated in the verse groupings Jn 5:33–34, 36, 37–38, 39–40.
- 5:35 Lamp: cf. Ps 132:17—“I will place a lamp for my anointed (= David),” and possibly the description of Elijah in Sir 48:1. But only for a while, indicating the temporary and subordinate nature of John’s mission.
- 5:39 You search: this may be an imperative: “Search the scriptures, because you think that you have eternal life through them.”
- 5:41 Praise: the same Greek word means “praise” or “honor” (from others) and “glory” (from God). There is a play on this in Jn 5:44.
Juan 5
Palabra de Dios para Todos
Jesús sana a un paralítico
5 Después de esto, había una fiesta judía y Jesús fue a Jerusalén. 2 Allí había un estanque con cinco pabellones que quedaba cerca de la puerta de las ovejas. En arameo se llama Betzatá[a]. 3 Debajo de estos pabellones había muchos enfermos acostados. Unos eran ciegos, algunos cojos y otros paralíticos.[b] 4 [c] 5 Entre ellos estaba un hombre que había estado enfermo durante 38 años. 6 Cuando Jesús lo vio acostado ahí y supo que había estado enfermo tanto tiempo, le dijo:
—¿Te quieres sanar?
7 El enfermo respondió:
—Señor, no tengo a nadie que me meta al estanque cuando el agua se empieza a mover. Cuando estoy cerca del estanque, alguien se me adelanta y se mete antes que yo.
8 Jesús le dijo:
—Levántate, recoge tu camilla y camina.
9 El hombre quedó sano inmediatamente, tomó su camilla y empezó a caminar.
Esto fue en un día de descanso. 10 Por eso, algunos judíos empezaron a decirle al hombre que había sido sanado:
—Hoy es día de descanso, no se puede cargar una camilla.
11 Él les dijo:
—El que me sanó me dijo: “Recoge tu camilla y camina”.
12 Ellos le preguntaron:
—¿Quién fue el que te dijo: “Recoge tu camilla y camina”?
13 Pero el hombre que fue sanado no sabía quién era, porque Jesús había desaparecido entre la multitud.
14 Después, Jesús lo encontró en el área del templo y le dijo:
—Mira, estás sano. Así que no peques más o te pasará algo peor.
15 El hombre fue y les contó a esos judíos que Jesús lo había sanado.
16 Por eso ellos comenzaron a perseguir a Jesús, por hacer esto en día de descanso. 17 Pero Jesús les contestaba:
—Mi Padre nunca deja de trabajar, así que yo también trabajo.
18 Por esto, los judíos trataban con más ganas de matarlo. No les caía bien porque no cumplía con las reglas del día de descanso. Mucho menos les gustaba que Jesús llamara a Dios su Padre, haciéndose igual a Dios.
Jesús tiene la autoridad de Dios
19 Jesús les dijo: «Les digo la verdad: el Hijo no puede hacer nada por su cuenta. Sólo hace lo que ve hacer al Padre. El Hijo hace lo mismo que hace el Padre. 20 El Padre ama al Hijo y le muestra todo lo que hace; incluso, le mostrará hechos más grandes que estos y ustedes quedarán asombrados. 21 El Padre resucita a los muertos y les da vida, así también el Hijo da vida a los que quiere dársela. 22 El Padre no juzga a nadie, sino deja que su Hijo juzgue. 23 Decidió eso para que la gente respete al Hijo como respeta al Padre. El que no respeta al Hijo no respeta al Padre. Fue el Padre quien envió al Hijo.
24 »Les digo la verdad: si alguien oye mis palabras y cree en el que me envió, tiene vida eterna y no será juzgado, porque ya ha pasado de la muerte a la vida.
25 »Les digo la verdad: se acerca un momento importante, y en efecto ya ha llegado, cuando los que están muertos oirán la voz del Hijo de Dios. Todos los que acepten lo que él dice, vivirán. 26 La vida viene del Padre mismo. De igual manera, ha permitido que el Hijo pueda dar vida. 27 El Padre también le ha dado autoridad al Hijo para juzgarlos, puesto que él es el Hijo del hombre. 28 No se sorprendan por esto, porque llegará también el momento en que los muertos que están en los sepulcros van a escuchar la voz del Hijo del hombre y 29 saldrán de sus sepulcros. Los que hicieron el bien se levantarán para vivir para siempre, pero los que hicieron el mal se levantarán para ser condenados.
30 »Yo no puedo hacer nada por mi cuenta, juzgo según lo que el Padre me dice y mi decisión es correcta. Es así porque no trato de hacer lo que yo quiero, sino lo que quiere el Padre que me envió.
Testimonios a favor de Jesús
31 »Si sólo yo testifico a mi favor, nadie está obligado a aceptarlo, 32 pero hay alguien más que testifica a mi favor, y sé que su testimonio acerca de mí es cierto.
33 »Ustedes enviaron mensajeros para escuchar a Juan y él les dio un testimonio verdadero, 34 pero yo no necesito que un hombre dé testimonio acerca de mí. Yo sólo les digo esto para que ustedes puedan ser salvos. 35 Juan fue como una lámpara encendida que iluminaba al pueblo, y ustedes se alegraron de disfrutar de su luz por un tiempo.
36 »Pero yo tengo un testimonio de más valor que el de Juan, las obras que yo hago son mi testimonio. El Padre me dio estas obras para hacer y ellas demuestran que él me envió. 37 Hasta el Padre que me envió ha testificado a mi favor. Ustedes nunca han oído su voz ni han visto cómo es él. 38 El mensaje de mi Padre no vive en ustedes porque no creen en quien él envió. 39 Ustedes estudian las Escrituras con mucho cuidado porque piensan que las Escrituras les darán vida eterna, pues esas mismas Escrituras son las que dan testimonio de mí. 40 Pero ustedes no quieren venir a mí para tener esa vida.
41 »No me interesa que ustedes me alaben. 42 Lo que me preocupa es saber que ustedes no aman realmente a Dios. 43 Vengo en nombre de mi Padre y ustedes no me aceptan, pero si viene alguien que hable por su propia cuenta, ¡a ese sí lo aceptan! 44 Les gusta alabarse unos a otros, pero no buscan la alabanza de Dios. Entonces, ¿cómo van a creer? 45 No piensen que yo soy el que los va a acusar delante del Padre, pues quien los acuse será Moisés, en el que ustedes tienen puesta su esperanza. 46 Si realmente le creyeran a Moisés también me creerían a mí. Moisés escribió sobre mí, 47 pero si ustedes no creen en lo que él escribió, ¿cómo van a creer en lo que yo digo?»
Footnotes
- 5:2 Betzatá También se le llamaba Betsaida o Betesda. Era un estanque de agua al norte del templo en Jerusalén.
- 5:3 Al final del versículo 3, algunos manuscritos añaden: esperando que el agua se moviera.
- 5:4 Algunos manuscritos posteriores añaden el versículo 4: De vez en cuando, un ángel del Señor bajaba hasta el estanque y revolvía el agua. El primero que se metiera al estanque después de este movimiento se sanaba de cualquier enfermedad que tuviera.
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