The Healing at Bethesda

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

2Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in [†]Hebrew [†]Bethesda, having five porticoes. 3In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [[†]waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever sickness with which he was afflicted.] 5And a man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been sick a long time, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” 7The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your mat and walk.” 9And immediately the man became well, and picked up his mat and began to walk.

Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 10So the Jews were saying to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” 11But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” 12They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’?” 13But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. 14Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” 15The man went away, and disclosed to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16And for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”

Jesus’ Equality with the Father

18For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

19Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing from Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever [†]the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same manner. 20For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

24“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Two Resurrections

25Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is [†]the Son of Man. 28Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

30“I can do nothing from Myself. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

31“If I alone bear witness about Myself, My witness is not [†]true. 32There is another who bears witness about Me, and I know that the witness which He gives about Me is true.

Witnesses to Jesus: The Father and the Scriptures

33You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34But the witness I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35He was the lamp that was burning and shining and you were willing to rejoice for [†]a while in his light. 36But the witness I have is greater than the witness of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness about Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37And the Father who sent Me, He has borne witness about Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. 38And you do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. 39[†]You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness about Me; 40and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41I do not receive glory from men; 42but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44How can you believe, when you receive [†]glory from one another and you do not seek the [†]glory that is from the only God? 45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 46For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. 47But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”