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.
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
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.
The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
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.
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.
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.
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
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.
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.
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.
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
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.
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.
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
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.
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.
And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
I receive not honour from men.
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
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.
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
John 5 marks a pivotal point in John's Gospel, showcasing Jesus' escalating conflict with the Jewish religious leaders and His bold claims to be equal with God. Up until this point, Jesus had largely avoided widespread public attention. However, in this chapter, He directly challenges the religious establishment, setting the stage for future disagreements and solidifying a central theme: Jesus' divinity and the rejection He faced. This chapter offers profound insights into the relationship between faith, evidence, and the consequences of rejecting God's revelation.
The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9)
John 5:1 tells us that Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a Jewish festival. Near the Sheep Gate, there was a pool called Bethesda, surrounded by crowds of people who were blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for a supernatural healing (John 5:2-3). They believed that occasionally an angel would stir the water, and the first one into the pool after that would be healed.
Jesus singles out a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years and asks him a seemingly strange question: "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6). This question is more profound than it appears. It suggests that some people become so accustomed to their suffering that they lose hope for change. They may even find a twisted sense of identity or security in their affliction. God's work often requires our cooperation and a willingness to embrace healing.
The man's response is telling. Instead of a simple "yes," he offers an excuse: he has no one to help him into the pool when the water is stirred (John 5:7). He sees the healing as near, yet unattainable. Perhaps he's given up hope, or maybe he subtly enjoys the pity his condition elicits. Whatever the reason, his answer reveals a heart focused on his limitations rather than on the possibility of healing.
Jesus, bypassing the man's excuses, simply commands, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk" (John 5:8). This command is immediately effective. The man is instantly healed, picks up his mat, and begins to walk (John 5:9). The act of carrying his mat signifies a new beginning. Wherever your bed is, that’s where your home is. Thus, this man would no longer be sleeping in a place of despair. His home was changing. He is no longer bound to his former life of helplessness.
It's important to note that Jesus did not heal everyone at the pool that day. Miracles were not the primary purpose of His ministry, nor are they the central focus of the Christian life. True miracles, like the "signs" John records, are rare and serve a specific purpose: to point to Jesus as the Messiah.
Sabbath Controversy and Jesus' Authority (John 5:10-18)
The healing takes place on the Sabbath, leading to immediate conflict with the Jewish religious leaders. They are more concerned with the man carrying his mat – which they consider work and therefore a violation of the Sabbath – than with the miracle that has occurred (John 5:10). They had taken a divine command that provided physical rest for God’s people and erroneously turned it into a human restriction on acts of mercy.
The healed man, when questioned, simply states that the man who made him well told him to carry his mat (John 5:11). He instinctively recognizes the authority of the one who healed him over the rigid rules of the religious leaders. He had lain there for thirty-eight years, and the religious leaders had never aided in his healing. So when an unknown healer fixed his legs and commanded him to carry his mat, there was no question about whom he would listen to. The leaders want to know who this miraculous healer is, but Jesus had slipped away (John 5:12-13).
Later, Jesus finds the man in the temple and warns him, "See, you are well. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you" (John 5:14). This suggests a possible connection between the man's illness and sin in his life. Sin often carries long-term consequences, both physical and spiritual.
The man then informs the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who healed him (John 5:15). Instead of being excited to meet Jesus, they begin to persecute Him for healing on the Sabbath (John 5:16). While Jesus was changing lives, the leaders were playing religion. No matter how much religious activity you are engaged in, if you’re not in the business of changing lives, then you’re not in the business of Jesus.
Jesus defends His actions by stating, "My Father is always working to this very day, and I too am working" (John 5:17). God the Father was engaged in kingdom business, and so was his Son. This declaration infuriates the leaders even further because He is calling God His own Father, making Himself equal to God (John 5:18). They hadn’t misunderstood Jesus; they knew exactly what he was saying. The Son shared the Father’s divine nature. He had the DNA of deity. As John himself has already said, “The Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1:1). But as far as the leaders were concerned, Jesus’s claims were blasphemy. This verse highlights the central issue: Jesus' claim to divinity, which His opponents consider blasphemous.
Jesus' Defense: Authority and Witness (John 5:19-47)
Jesus responds to their accusations with a powerful discourse, outlining His relationship with the Father and the evidence that supports His claims.
He emphasizes His complete unity with the Father, stating that He only does what He sees the Father doing (John 5:19). The Father loves the Son. The Godhead is united in perfect love, transparency, and intimacy. Their relationship is so close that they function simultaneously. So whatever Jesus was doing, the Father was doing. Thus, healing the man on the Sabbath was not blasphemy but an act of God. The Father has given Him authority to judge (John 5:22) so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father (John 5:23). Those words from Jesus are another clear and explicit claim to his deity. To be honored as God is to be God. In fact, Jesus told them, Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him (John 5:23). It’s a family matter. To reject Jesus is to reject God altogether. There’s no true religion without Jesus Christ.
Jesus further declares that He has the power to give eternal life to those who believe in Him (John 5:24). If Jesus is the Judge of humanity, how does one escape divine judgment on sin? Jesus gives the answer: Anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. To believe in the Son, then, is to pass from death (eternal separation from God) to life (eternal relationship with God). That’s eternal security. Faith in God’s promise through Jesus Christ guarantees eternal life to all who believe in him for it. Assurance is the essence of saving faith. He also speaks of a future resurrection, where all will hear His voice and come forth – some to eternal life and others to condemnation (John 5:28-29).
Jesus then presents several witnesses to His identity:
- John the Baptist: John testified to the truth about him (5:32; see 1:19-36). John was a . . . shining lamp, bearing testimony so that they might be saved (5:34-35). Though they listened to John at first, eventually they rejected him (5:35).
- His Works: The miraculous signs he performed were evidence that he was the Messiah sent from the Father (John 5:36). So in essence, Jesus told them, “My deeds are my validation.” Everything had been done before their eyes.
- The Father: The Father also testified about Jesus, but the religious leaders had rejected this too. They didn’t have God’s word residing in [them] because they didn’t believe in his Son (5:37-38).
- The Scriptures: Jesus rebukes them for diligently studying the Scriptures yet failing to recognize that they point to Him (John 5:39-40). They thought they had eternal life because they studied the Scriptures. Yet those very Scriptures pointed to Jesus, and they refused to go to him to have life (5:39-40). A person can diligently study the Bible (the written Word) and still miss Jesus (the living Word). Knowing God’s written Word is absolutely essential, but if your knowledge of it doesn’t lead you to the living Word, then you have completely missed the point. This sad fact was illustrated when Jewish leaders told the wise men that Scripture foretold the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem, but they never bothered to make the trip to worship him (see Matthew 2:1-6).
Jesus concludes by stating that the problem isn't a lack of evidence, but a lack of love for God (John 5:42). You have no love for God within you (5:42). Why? Because Jesus had come in his Father’s name, but they wouldn’t accept him (5:43). They thought they loved God, claimed they loved God, boasted that they loved God. But they were unwilling to accept Jesus. Therefore, their professed love for God was a fraud. You simply can’t have the Father without the Son. You can’t have God without Jesus Christ. They are more concerned with seeking glory from one another than seeking the glory that comes from God (John 5:44). Ultimately, Moses, whose writings they claim to follow, will accuse them because they have failed to recognize the one Moses wrote about (John 5:45-47). Moses, Jesus told them, wrote about me (5:46). For example, Moses (who authored the books of Genesis–Deuteronomy) wrote about the Passover lamb (see Exodus 12:1-28), and John the Baptist had identified Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (1:29, 36). Moses wrote that God would “raise up . . . a prophet” like him from among God’s people (Deuteronomy 18:15; see 1:14; Acts 7:37). But the religious leaders were unwilling to accept that Jesus spoke for God. They had read Moses; they just weren’t paying attention to him. So, if they wouldn’t believe Moses, they weren’t going to believe Jesus (5:47).
Reflections on John 5
John 5 presents a powerful picture of Jesus' authority, His relationship with the Father, and the tragic consequences of rejecting Him. The chapter highlights the importance of:
- Genuine Faith: True faith is not simply intellectual assent but a heartfelt acceptance of Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah.
- Love for God: A genuine love for God manifests itself in obedience to His Word and acceptance of His Son.
- Openness to Revelation: We must be willing to see Jesus in the Scriptures and in the works He performs, rather than clinging to our own traditions and preconceived notions.
- The Danger of Legalism: Religious rules and traditions, when elevated above love and compassion, can blind us to the very presence of God.
John 5 challenges us to examine our own hearts and ensure that our faith is rooted in a genuine love for God and a willingness to embrace the full revelation of Jesus Christ. It serves as a reminder that knowing about God is not the same as knowing God.
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.
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
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.
The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
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.
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.
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.
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
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.
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.
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.
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
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.
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.
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
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.
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.
And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
I receive not honour from men.
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
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.
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
John 5 marks a pivotal point in John's Gospel, showcasing Jesus' escalating conflict with the Jewish religious leaders and His bold claims to be equal with God. Up until this point, Jesus had largely avoided widespread public attention. However, in this chapter, He directly challenges the religious establishment, setting the stage for future disagreements and solidifying a central theme: Jesus' divinity and the rejection He faced. This chapter offers profound insights into the relationship between faith, evidence, and the consequences of rejecting God's revelation.
The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9)
John 5:1 tells us that Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a Jewish festival. Near the Sheep Gate, there was a pool called Bethesda, surrounded by crowds of people who were blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for a supernatural healing (John 5:2-3). They believed that occasionally an angel would stir the water, and the first one into the pool after that would be healed.
Jesus singles out a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years and asks him a seemingly strange question: "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6). This question is more profound than it appears. It suggests that some people become so accustomed to their suffering that they lose hope for change. They may even find a twisted sense of identity or security in their affliction. God's work often requires our cooperation and a willingness to embrace healing.
The man's response is telling. Instead of a simple "yes," he offers an excuse: he has no one to help him into the pool when the water is stirred (John 5:7). He sees the healing as near, yet unattainable. Perhaps he's given up hope, or maybe he subtly enjoys the pity his condition elicits. Whatever the reason, his answer reveals a heart focused on his limitations rather than on the possibility of healing.
Jesus, bypassing the man's excuses, simply commands, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk" (John 5:8). This command is immediately effective. The man is instantly healed, picks up his mat, and begins to walk (John 5:9). The act of carrying his mat signifies a new beginning. Wherever your bed is, that’s where your home is. Thus, this man would no longer be sleeping in a place of despair. His home was changing. He is no longer bound to his former life of helplessness.
It's important to note that Jesus did not heal everyone at the pool that day. Miracles were not the primary purpose of His ministry, nor are they the central focus of the Christian life. True miracles, like the "signs" John records, are rare and serve a specific purpose: to point to Jesus as the Messiah.
Sabbath Controversy and Jesus' Authority (John 5:10-18)
The healing takes place on the Sabbath, leading to immediate conflict with the Jewish religious leaders. They are more concerned with the man carrying his mat – which they consider work and therefore a violation of the Sabbath – than with the miracle that has occurred (John 5:10). They had taken a divine command that provided physical rest for God’s people and erroneously turned it into a human restriction on acts of mercy.
The healed man, when questioned, simply states that the man who made him well told him to carry his mat (John 5:11). He instinctively recognizes the authority of the one who healed him over the rigid rules of the religious leaders. He had lain there for thirty-eight years, and the religious leaders had never aided in his healing. So when an unknown healer fixed his legs and commanded him to carry his mat, there was no question about whom he would listen to. The leaders want to know who this miraculous healer is, but Jesus had slipped away (John 5:12-13).
Later, Jesus finds the man in the temple and warns him, "See, you are well. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you" (John 5:14). This suggests a possible connection between the man's illness and sin in his life. Sin often carries long-term consequences, both physical and spiritual.
The man then informs the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who healed him (John 5:15). Instead of being excited to meet Jesus, they begin to persecute Him for healing on the Sabbath (John 5:16). While Jesus was changing lives, the leaders were playing religion. No matter how much religious activity you are engaged in, if you’re not in the business of changing lives, then you’re not in the business of Jesus.
Jesus defends His actions by stating, "My Father is always working to this very day, and I too am working" (John 5:17). God the Father was engaged in kingdom business, and so was his Son. This declaration infuriates the leaders even further because He is calling God His own Father, making Himself equal to God (John 5:18). They hadn’t misunderstood Jesus; they knew exactly what he was saying. The Son shared the Father’s divine nature. He had the DNA of deity. As John himself has already said, “The Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1:1). But as far as the leaders were concerned, Jesus’s claims were blasphemy. This verse highlights the central issue: Jesus' claim to divinity, which His opponents consider blasphemous.
Jesus' Defense: Authority and Witness (John 5:19-47)
Jesus responds to their accusations with a powerful discourse, outlining His relationship with the Father and the evidence that supports His claims.
He emphasizes His complete unity with the Father, stating that He only does what He sees the Father doing (John 5:19). The Father loves the Son. The Godhead is united in perfect love, transparency, and intimacy. Their relationship is so close that they function simultaneously. So whatever Jesus was doing, the Father was doing. Thus, healing the man on the Sabbath was not blasphemy but an act of God. The Father has given Him authority to judge (John 5:22) so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father (John 5:23). Those words from Jesus are another clear and explicit claim to his deity. To be honored as God is to be God. In fact, Jesus told them, Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him (John 5:23). It’s a family matter. To reject Jesus is to reject God altogether. There’s no true religion without Jesus Christ.
Jesus further declares that He has the power to give eternal life to those who believe in Him (John 5:24). If Jesus is the Judge of humanity, how does one escape divine judgment on sin? Jesus gives the answer: Anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. To believe in the Son, then, is to pass from death (eternal separation from God) to life (eternal relationship with God). That’s eternal security. Faith in God’s promise through Jesus Christ guarantees eternal life to all who believe in him for it. Assurance is the essence of saving faith. He also speaks of a future resurrection, where all will hear His voice and come forth – some to eternal life and others to condemnation (John 5:28-29).
Jesus then presents several witnesses to His identity:
- John the Baptist: John testified to the truth about him (5:32; see 1:19-36). John was a . . . shining lamp, bearing testimony so that they might be saved (5:34-35). Though they listened to John at first, eventually they rejected him (5:35).
- His Works: The miraculous signs he performed were evidence that he was the Messiah sent from the Father (John 5:36). So in essence, Jesus told them, “My deeds are my validation.” Everything had been done before their eyes.
- The Father: The Father also testified about Jesus, but the religious leaders had rejected this too. They didn’t have God’s word residing in [them] because they didn’t believe in his Son (5:37-38).
- The Scriptures: Jesus rebukes them for diligently studying the Scriptures yet failing to recognize that they point to Him (John 5:39-40). They thought they had eternal life because they studied the Scriptures. Yet those very Scriptures pointed to Jesus, and they refused to go to him to have life (5:39-40). A person can diligently study the Bible (the written Word) and still miss Jesus (the living Word). Knowing God’s written Word is absolutely essential, but if your knowledge of it doesn’t lead you to the living Word, then you have completely missed the point. This sad fact was illustrated when Jewish leaders told the wise men that Scripture foretold the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem, but they never bothered to make the trip to worship him (see Matthew 2:1-6).
Jesus concludes by stating that the problem isn't a lack of evidence, but a lack of love for God (John 5:42). You have no love for God within you (5:42). Why? Because Jesus had come in his Father’s name, but they wouldn’t accept him (5:43). They thought they loved God, claimed they loved God, boasted that they loved God. But they were unwilling to accept Jesus. Therefore, their professed love for God was a fraud. You simply can’t have the Father without the Son. You can’t have God without Jesus Christ. They are more concerned with seeking glory from one another than seeking the glory that comes from God (John 5:44). Ultimately, Moses, whose writings they claim to follow, will accuse them because they have failed to recognize the one Moses wrote about (John 5:45-47). Moses, Jesus told them, wrote about me (5:46). For example, Moses (who authored the books of Genesis–Deuteronomy) wrote about the Passover lamb (see Exodus 12:1-28), and John the Baptist had identified Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (1:29, 36). Moses wrote that God would “raise up . . . a prophet” like him from among God’s people (Deuteronomy 18:15; see 1:14; Acts 7:37). But the religious leaders were unwilling to accept that Jesus spoke for God. They had read Moses; they just weren’t paying attention to him. So, if they wouldn’t believe Moses, they weren’t going to believe Jesus (5:47).
Reflections on John 5
John 5 presents a powerful picture of Jesus' authority, His relationship with the Father, and the tragic consequences of rejecting Him. The chapter highlights the importance of:
- Genuine Faith: True faith is not simply intellectual assent but a heartfelt acceptance of Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah.
- Love for God: A genuine love for God manifests itself in obedience to His Word and acceptance of His Son.
- Openness to Revelation: We must be willing to see Jesus in the Scriptures and in the works He performs, rather than clinging to our own traditions and preconceived notions.
- The Danger of Legalism: Religious rules and traditions, when elevated above love and compassion, can blind us to the very presence of God.
John 5 challenges us to examine our own hearts and ensure that our faith is rooted in a genuine love for God and a willingness to embrace the full revelation of Jesus Christ. It serves as a reminder that knowing about God is not the same as knowing God.