Bible Commentaries
John 5

Introduction

SUMMARY.--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. Predicts His Own Death and Resurrection. Also the Resurrection of All. The Testimony of John; of Moses.

Verse 1

There was a feast of the Jews. Probably the second passover attended by the Lord after his ministry began. Such is the view of Irenæus, Eusebius, Lightfoot, Neander, Gresswell, Andrews and Dr. Wm. Milligan.

Verse 2

There is at Jerusalem . . . a pool. Its supposed site is still shown, but is uncertain.

Five porches. Shelters for the sick.

Verses 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.

Verse 5

And a certain man was there. With many others who thought the water had a healing power. His infirmity was probably paralysis.

Verse 6

Wilt thou be made whole? Jesus observed him and asked the question to arouse his attention.

Verse 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.

Verse 8

Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. Then came the command to rise and walk. He spoke with an authority that compelled obedience.

Verse 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.

Verse 10

The Jews therefore said unto him. "Therefore" points to the fact that he was carrying his bed on the Sabbath day. The term "the Jews" does not refer to the people, but to the authorities. John always uses it to signify, not the multitude, but the rulers. 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 Exo 31:13; Jer 17:21 and Neh 13:15-19.

Verse 11

He that made me whole said unto me. The defence of the man is that he was ordered to do it. He knew not who had healed him.

Verse 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.

Verse 15

The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus. The second time he saw him he learned that it was Jesus.

Verse 16

The Jews persecute Jesus. The word is literally rendered "pursued Jesus." At once they hunted Jesus and attacked him. They did not at first seek to slay him. This is omitted in the Revision and does not appear in the old MSS. But the officials now come to Jesus to learn why he has done this act.

Verse 17

My Father worketh hitherto, 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.

Verse 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 defence.

But said also that God was his Father. This high claim seemed to them blasphemous.

Verses 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.

Verses 22-23

That all men should honour the Son. Three "fors" occur in Joh 5:20-22, all stating the exaltation given to the Son.

Verse 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.

Verses 25-27

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. He is also judge, because he is the Son of man, a judge who shares the nature of the judged.

Verses 28-31

Marvel not at this. That he should execute judgment. Those in the graves 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.

Can do nothing of myself. Apart from the Father.

Verse 32

There is another that beareth witness of me. John is meant.

Verse 33

Ye sent to John. See John 1:19-38.

Verses 36-38

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.

Have not his word abiding in you. If they had they would believe upon him of whom that word did speak.

Verses 39-41

Search the scriptures. Rather, as in the Revision, "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.

I receive not honour from men. This perhaps is a reply to some expression of disapproval on their part.

Verses 42-43

I know you. He read their hearts.

If another shall come. Some false Christ.

Verse 44

How can ye believe? This verse shows that unbelief is due to the moral condition.

Verses 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?