1Some time after this, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals.
2Now there is at Jerusalem, near the sheep gate, a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, bounded by five porches.
3In these porches lay a great number of disabled folk - blind, lame, paralyzed – as they waited for the moving of the water.
4For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool, and stirred the water; and then, whoever first stepped in, after the stirring of the water, was healed of whatever affliction he had.
5And there was one man lying there, who had had an infirmity for thirty-eight years.
6When Jesus saw him lying there, and learned that he had been afflicted for a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7The invalid answered Him, “Sir, I have no one, when the water is stirred, to put me into the pool; but while I am coming, someone else steps in ahead of me”.
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up, take your mat, and walk”.
9And instantly the man was made well, and took up his mat, and walked; and this occurred on the Sabbath day.
10Then the Jewish leaders said to the man who had just been cured, “This is the Sabbath! It is not lawful for you to carry your mat.”
11But he replied, “The Man Who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk’.
12Then they asked him, “What Man is that Who told you to take up your mat, and walk?”
13And he that had just been healed had no idea who it was; because Jesus had moved on through the crowd that was there.
14And then later, Jesus saw him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been are made well; sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you”.
15Then the man left, and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus, Who had made him well.
16And so, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day, the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus.
17But Jesus said in His defense, “My Father is always working. And especially on this (Sabbath) day, and I, too, am working.”
18After this, the Jewish leaders sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but He also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
19Then Jesus told them this: “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, but only what He sees the Father doing; for whatever things the Father does, the Son also does.
20For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, such that you will marvel.
21For as the Father raises the dead, and gives them life; even so the Son quickens (gives life to) whom He will.
22For the Father judges no man, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son;
23That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who has sent Him.
24Very truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word, and believes in Him Who sent Me, has everlasting (eternal) life, and shall not be judged (come into condemnation); but has crossed over from death to life.
25Very truly, I tell 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.
26For as the Father has life in Himself; so He has granted to the Son to have life in Himself;
27And has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.
28Do not marvel (or be amazed) at this; for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,
29And shall come forth; those that have done what is good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of the condemned.
30I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear,; and My judgment is just; because I do not seek or please My Own will, but the will of the Father Who has sent Me.”
31If I were to testify about Myself, My testimony would not be true.
32There is Another Who testifies about Me; and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.
33You have also sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
34But I do not need nor rely upon the testimony from man; but I mention these things, that you might be saved.
35He (John) was a burning and a shining light; and you were willing for a while to rejoice in his light.
36But I have weightier testimony than that of John; for the works (miracles) that the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
37And the Father Himself, Who has sent Me, has borne witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.
38Nor does His word abide in you; for you do not believe the One He has sent.
39You search the scriptures diligently; because you think that in them you have eternal life; but they are the very scriptures that testify of Me.
40And yet you will not come to Me to receive and have eternal life.
41I do not accept honor or approval from men.
42But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.
43I have come in My Father's name, but you do not accept Me; if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.
44How can you believe, since you accept honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes only from God?
45But do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; there is one that does accuse you: Moses, in whom you do trust.
46But if you had truly believed Moses, you would have believed Me; because Moses wrote of Me.
47But since you do not really believe his writings, how are you going to believe the words that I say? Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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