1After these things there was the ¹¹⁶feast of the Jews, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

The pool of Bethesda

2Now in Jerusalem, by the Sheep Gate, there is a pool called Bethesda, ¹¹⁷in Hebrew, which has five porches. ¹¹⁸

3In them a large number of sick people were lying—blind, lame, paralyzed—waiting for the moving of the water;

4because an angel would go down from time to time into the pool and stir up the water ¹¹⁹—then the first one to get in after the stirring of the water became well of whatever disease that was holding him. ¹²⁰

The man selected for healing

5Now there was a certain man there who had been sick for 38 years. ¹²¹

6Seeing this man lying there and knowing that he had already been sick a long time, Jesus says to him, “Do you want to get well?”

7The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to throw ¹²²me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming another gets in before me.”

8Jesus says to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk!”

9Immediately the man became well and picked up his pallet and started to walk!

10But that day was a Sabbath, so the Jews said to the one who had been healed: “It's the Sabbath! You aren't allowed to carry the pallet.”

11He answered them: “The one who made me well—He said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’ ”

12So they asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?”

13But the man who was cured did not know who it was, because Jesus had disappeared, there being a crowd in the place. ¹²³

14After these things Jesus found him in the temple and said to him: “See, you are well. Don't sin any more, so that something worse doesn't happen to you.” ¹²⁴

15The man went off and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

The Jews want to kill Jesus

16So because of this the Jews began persecuting Jesus and trying to kill Him, ¹²⁵because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. ¹²⁶

17But Jesus answered them, “Until now, my Father works, I also work.” ¹²⁷

18So because of this they wanted to kill Him all the more, because He was not only breaking the Sabbath but was even saying that God was His own Father, making Himself equal with God!

Jesus addresses the Jews

He affirms His equality with the Father

19Then Jesus answered and said to them: “Most assuredly I say to you, the Son is not able to do anything from Himself, except something He sees the Father doing; because whatever things He does, precisely these the Son also does. ¹²⁸

20For the Father loves ¹²⁹the Son and shows Him everything that He Himself is doing; and He will show Him greater works than these, so that you may marvel.

21Now just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, just so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

22In fact the Father does not judge anyone but has committed all the judging to the Son, ¹³⁰

23so that all will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. ¹³¹Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. ¹³²

The Son is the just Judge

24“Most assuredly I say to you that the one listening ¹³³to my word and believing on Him who sent me has eternal life; he will not go into judging but has moved out of the death into the Life. ¹³⁴

25“Most assuredly I say to you that a time is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of the God, and those who listen will live. ¹³⁵

26Because just as the Father has life in Himself, just so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

27furthermore He gave Him the authority to pass judgment, because He is Son of Man. ¹³⁶

28Do not marvel at this, because a time is coming in which all those in the graves will hear His voice

29and will come out—those who did good things into the resurrection of life, ¹³⁷but those who practiced evil things into the resurrection of condemnation.

30I am not able to do anything from myself. As I hear, I judge, and my judging is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who sent me.

Four witnesses to Jesus

31“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. ¹³⁸

32There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony that He gives about me is true. ¹³⁹

33You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.

34Yet I do not accept the testimony from a man; but I say these things so that you may be saved. ¹⁴⁰

35That man was a burning, shining lamp, and for a time you were willing to be glad in his light.

36But I have a greater testimony than John's, because the works that the Father gave me to complete—the very works that I am doing—they testify about me that the Father has sent me. ¹⁴¹

37“Further, the Father who sent me has Himself testified about me. You have neither heard His voice nor seen His form at any time.

38Nor do you have His word abiding in you, ¹⁴²because you do not believe on the very one whom He sent.

39You examine the Scriptures because in them you think you have eternal life, yet they are the very ones that testify about me.

40But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life. ¹⁴³

The Jews are accused by Moses

41“I do not accept glory from people.

42Rather I have come to know you, ¹⁴⁴that you do not have the love of God in you.

43I have come in my Father's name and you do not receive me; should another come in his own name, him you will receive. ¹⁴⁵

44How can you believe, who receive glory from men ¹⁴⁶and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? ¹⁴⁷

45“Do not suppose that I will accuse you before the Father. Moses is the one who accuses you, on whom you have set your hope.

46Because if you really believed Moses you would believe me, because he wrote about me.

47But since you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my sayings?” ¹⁴⁸