People's New Testament After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 5:1 Jesus in Jerusalem
SUMMARY OF JOHN 5: At Bethesda. The Man with the Infirmity Healed. The Jews Complain That the Sabbath Was Broken. The Jews Seek to Slay Jesus. He Rebukes Them. Jesus Predicts His Own Death and Resurrection. Also the Resurrection of All. The Testimony of John; of Moses. The Testimony of Moses. There was a feast of the Jews. Probably the second passover, attended by the Lord after his ministry began. Such is the view of Irenaeus, Eusebius, Lightfoot, Neander, Gresswell, Andrews, and Dr. Wm. Milligan. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 5:2 There is at Jerusalem... a pool. Its supposed site is still shown, but is uncertain.
Five porches. Shelters for the sick. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 5:3,4 In these lay a great multitude. All that follows the word withered in the third verse and all the fourth are wanting in the best MSS, and are evidently an interpolation.
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. 5:3,4 In these lay a great multitude. All that follows the word withered in the third verse and all the fourth are wanting in the best MSS, and are evidently an interpolation.
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 5:5 And a certain man was there. With many others who thought the water had a healing power. His infirmity was probably paralysis.
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? 5:6 Wilt thou be made whole? Jesus observed him and asked the question to arouse his attention.
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. 5:7 I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool. His answer reveals the ideas that prevailed. The water was agitated at intervals, probably by an intermittent spring, and they supposed that the first one to enter after would receive the benefit. Only one could be healed at a time. No doubt many were, even without a miracle. In nervous diseases, faith is the great healing power.
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 5:8 Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. Then came the command to rise and walk. He spoke with an authority that compelled obedience.
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. 5:9 The man was made whole. Observe the process: (1) Christ addresses the man; (2) he commands; (3) the man obeys. It is the obedience of faith. (4) In the act of obedience he is healed. Christ is the healer, but he is healed by the obedience of faith.
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. 5:10 The Jews. This phrase does not refer to the people, but to the authorities. John always uses it to signify, not the multitude, but the rulers.
Therefore points to the fact that he was carrying his bed on the Sabbath day. Said unto him. The man was officially stopped and questioned. The bearing of burdens on the Sabbath was forbidden, not only by Jewish tradition, but by the law. See Ex 31:13 Jer 17:21 Ne 13:15-19. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. 5:11 He that made me whole, the same said unto me. The defense of the man is that he was ordered to do it. He knew not who had healed him.
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. 5:14 Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. His own sins, thirty-eight years before, had brought on this infirmity. What was their nature we are not informed, but we know that often our fleshly ills can thus be accounted for.
The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. 5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus. The second time he saw him he learned that it was Jesus.
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 5:16 The Jews persecute Jesus. The word dioko is literally rendered pursued. At once they hunted Jesus and attacked him.
And sought to slay him. They did not at first seek to slay him. This is omitted in the Revised Version and does not appear in the old MSS. But the officials now come to Jesus to learn why he has done this act. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 5:17 My Father worketh hitheto, and I work. The answer of Jesus to his accusers goes to the very root of the matter. The basis on which the Sabbath rested was that God had ceased his creative labors on the seventh day. Jesus shows that God's rest was not idleness. The Father had continued his works of love and mercy. He worked in these works right on till Jesus came; now, says the Son, I work as my Father works. There is no suspension on the Sabbath of works of benevolence and mercy. The Father's example is the pattern given to direct man.
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. 5:18 Because he not only had broken the Sabbath. The Pharisees were horrified, not only at what they deemed the breaking of the Sabbath, but at the high ground on which the Lord placed his defense.
But said also that God was his Father. This high claim seemed to them blasphemous. 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. 5:19-21 Then answered Jesus. To their charge of blasphemy. He shows that there is the closest co-operation between the Father and Son. What the Father does the Son will do, even to the extent of giving life to the dead.
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. 5:19-21 Then answered Jesus. To their charge of blasphemy. He shows that there is the closest co-operation between the Father and Son. What the Father does the Son will do, even to the extent of giving life to the dead.
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 5:19-21 Then answered Jesus. To their charge of blasphemy. He shows that there is the closest co-operation between the Father and Son. What the Father does the Son will do, even to the extent of giving life to the dead.
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 5:19-21 Then answered Jesus. To their charge of blasphemy. He shows that there is the closest co-operation between the Father and Son. What the Father does the Son will do, even to the extent of giving life to the dead.
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. 5:23 That all men should honour the Son. Three for's occur in Joh 5:20-22, all stating exaltation given to the Son.
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. 5:24 Hath everlasting life. The conditions of eternal life are: (1) Knowledge of the Son; (2) belief upon him; trust in him. These are necessary before he can be accepted.
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. 5:25 The dead shall hear the voice. Those spiritually dead, as well as those in their graves. They shall hear, and the Son will bestow upon them eternal life. For the Son hath, by the will of the Father, life in himself and can bestow it.
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. 5:27 Because he is the Son of man. He is also judge, a judge who shares the nature of the judged.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 5:28 Marvel not at this. That he should execute judgment. Those in the graces shall hear his voice and come forth to judgment; the good, to the resurrection of life; the evil, to the resurrection of damnation; the one to life eternal, the other class to condemnation.
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. 5:30 I can of my own self do nothing. Apart from the Father.
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. 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me. John is meant.
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 5:33 Ye sent unto John. See Joh 1:19-38.
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. 5:36 I have greater witness. His works given of the Father, the Father's voice at baptism, and the Scriptures, which are the Father's word.
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. 5:38 Have not his word abiding in you. If they had they would believe upon him of whom that word did speak.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 5:39 Search the scriptures. Rather, as in the Revised Version, Ye search the Scriptures for eternal life. Yet they were full of testimony of Christ. Yet they turned away from him who is the life of whom their Scriptures spoke.
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
I receive not honour from men. 5:41 I receive not honour from men. This perhaps is a reply to some expression of disapproval on their part.
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 5:42 I know you. He read their hearts.
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. 5:43 If another shall come. Some false Christ.
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 5:44 How can ye believe? This verse shows that unbelief is due to the moral condition.
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 5:45-47 There is one that accuseth you. Moses, whose testimony they failed to accept. If they rejected the testimony of Moses, whom they professed to reverence, how could they believe him of whom Moses spoke?
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 5:45-47 There is one that accuseth you. Moses, whose testimony they failed to accept. If they rejected the testimony of Moses, whom they professed to reverence, how could they believe him of whom Moses spoke?
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? 5:45-47 There is one that accuseth you. Moses, whose testimony they failed to accept. If they rejected the testimony of Moses, whom they professed to reverence, how could they believe him of whom Moses spoke? The People's New Testament by B.W. Johnson [1891] Bible Hub |
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