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| Chapter 5 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of invalid folk - - blind, halt, withered - - waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water. Whosoever then first stepped in, after the troubling of the water, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there who had an infirmity for thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been in that state a long time, He said unto him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" 7 The infirm 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." 8 Jesus said unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 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 said unto me, ‘Take up thy bed and walk.’" 12 Then they asked him, "What man is that who said unto thee, ‘Take up thy bed and walk?’" 13 And he that was healed knew not who it was, for Jesus had removed Himself away, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found 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 who had made him whole. 16 And therefor 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 showeth Him all things that He Himself doeth; and He will show 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 honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father who hath sent Him. 24 Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth My Word and believeth in 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 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 who 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 bore 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, who 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 it is they which testify of Me. 40 And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life! 41 I receive not honor from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I have 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, who receive honor one from another, and seek not the honor 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?" |
v1-47 Jesus Heals on the Sabbath. This miracle takes place in front of many people and on the Sabbath. Previous miracles recorded by John were very restricted as to who knew about them. History shows that there was two pools near the North East corner of the old city near the ‘Sheep Gate.’ We are not told what feast Jesus was attending in Jerusalem but it is not important as Jesus was here to keep another divine appointment, but at the same time he was there to give a very important message to the people and get the attention of the religious leaders. The man had been ill for 38 years, unable to walk. Jesus knew all about him. He was the only person who was sick that He chose to heal that day. Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed. The man was obviously depressed as all he could only think of why he had not been healed before. Jesus seems to ignore this response He just heals with words, "Rise, take up your bed, and walk." Instant healing just by the Word of Jesus. Jesus leaves immediately, no one else healed even though there must have been quite a number there. Why did Jesus chose this man? Did he become a follower? From later in the story the man did not even know who Jesus was until Jesus came back to him in the temple, v14. The scribes had made a list of 39 tasks or jobs which were not allowed on a Sabbath, carrying a burden, such as a bed was one of them. The religious leaders were so determined to obey these laws that they failed to be pleased for the healing of the man. v14 Jesus deliberately makes a further contact with the man, perhaps to force the issue back to the religious leaders. Jesus makes an interesting comment which suggests that the illness of the man may have been due to a sin and if the man turned back to a life of sin his punishment could be worse. What a warning to us, to seek healing and forgiveness of salvation then turn back to the world of sin. The man goes to the religious leaders and identifies Jesus as the man who healed him and told him to carry his bed on a Sabbath. From then on they were out to "persecute Jesus and sought to slay Him," Why? He had done these things on the Sabbath. Religious laws had taken over the Grace of God. The Sanhedrin had been deliberately challenged by Jesus, their legalistic traditions were being questioned, they had taken the Sabbath, given by God as a day of rest, and turned it into a religious prison of rules and regulation. v17 They challenge Jesus and he simply replies that He is doing His Fathers instructions. This caused even more of a problem because Jesus was making Himself equal with God. The penalty for this is death, from now on they were out to destroy Him, ignoring His words and good deeds. His death, which they achieved at Calvary, was just as God had planned. Other actions by Jesus on the Sabbath, Luke 4:31-37; Matt 12:1-8; Matt 12:9-14. v19-47 What Jesus claimed. v19-23 Equal with God. Jesus does not deny the charge, he actually gives them more evidence to work with. Jesus is claiming to be one with His Father in His actions, if healing a person on the Sabbath is a sin then "God was to blame" v20 The Father loved the Son, God loves mankind but He also loves His Son,but was still prepared to send Him to pay the price for the sins of man. The religious leaders were blind to these because they did not know the Father. Because of this, God has given His Son power and honour, any rejecting Him will also be rejected. v25 May be a forewarning of the raising of Lazarus and the child but v21 can mean more than physical resurrection, this Jesus expanded in v24-29. How does this ‘raising of the dead’ occur? Just by the Word, v28. v28,29 Are referring to the future resurrection of believers 1 Thess 4:13-18; 1 Cor 15. v29 also mentions a further resurrection, - for those who have done evil, they will be resurrected to damnation. The fact that Jesus has the authority to raise the dead also shows that He is equal with the Father. The Father has given all judgement to Jesus v22, v27. v30-47 The witnesses to His claim. 1) John the Baptist v30-35. John knew who Jesus was and went out of his way to point out Jesus to the Jews John 1:23; The Lamb of God John 1:29,36; Son of God 1 John 34. 2) v36 His miracles. John’s Gospel lists a number of "sign" miracles as proof that Jesus was the Son of God John 20:30-31; Nicodemus acknowledge that the miracles were "from God" John 3:2. Just miracles on there own are not proof for the Bible has many by normal people like Moses and Elijah, but because they can do miracles proves that they are from God Heb 2:3-4. But none of these people claimed that they were the Son of God. 3) v37-47 The Word of God the Father. The Old Testament often refers to the future Messiah, the Jewish people reverend this Word of God, especially the writings of Moses and the Law but could not see how Jesus was the Messiah. v38, they read the words but did not let the Words grow in their hearts. The leaders were searching the scriptures for the way to eternal life but did not know the God of the Word, v39, so could not recognize the Son. They therefore were not able to give any honour because the love of the Father was not in them, v42. v44 The Pharisees were very happy to get the praise of men. Matt 23:1-12 preferring this to the praise of God. Jesus warns that this attitude will one day lead to judgement, not by him but Moses himself will accuse them, the one they have so much ‘trust in,’ but in practice they knew all the words Moses had written but did not believe them, and so were not going to believe Jesus. v43 Because of their attitude and rejection of the true Messiah one day they will accept a false messiah, the Antichrist, "who will come in his own name." 2 Thess 2:1-12; Rev 13:18. |
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