Jn. 5:1 After this was the feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem as commanded in the Law.
The feast mentioned here is in all probability the Feast of Passover, but it is impossible to be 100% certain. If it is Passover, then it is the second one that occurred during the ministry of Yeshua.
Sources: Deut. 16:16; Exodus 23:14-17; 34:23
Jn. 5:2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethseda, having five porches.
Sources: M:Gittin 9:6, 8; M:Megillah 1:8; 2:1, 2; M:Sotah 7:2, 7, 8; 8:1; M:Yadayim 4:5
Jn 5:3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
Jn. 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
Jn. 5:5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
Jn. 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
Jn. 5:7 The 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.”
Jn. 5:8 Jesus said to him, “rise, take up your bed and walk.”
Jn. 5:9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
Jn. 5:10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
Again, the conflict is over the fences established in the Mishnah (Oral Law). To the one commandment “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). The man was found violating one of those fences when he picks up his bed and begins walking to his house. M:Shabbat 6:2 says, “Whoever carries out anything on the Sabbath from a public to a private place, or a private place to a public place, is punished by being stoned.” It was these fences, not the Oral Law itself, that Yeshua opposed. By building all those fences the Pharisees had made the Law itself a burden instead of something that brought liberty and freedom to God’s people. That is not what God intended.
Sources: Exodus 20:8; M:Shabbat 6:2; 7:2
In the course of Jewish tradition, the Sabbath had become highly personified, and it was viewed as the Bride of Israel. Every Friday night at sundown, the Jews gathered to sing a special song called La Cha Dodi, To You My Beloved, as they were welcoming in Queen Sabbath. In Jewish theology Israel was created for the purpose of honoring the Sabbath. Yeshua would contradict this tradition when He told the Pharisees, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
Source: Mark 2:27
We see an example of the Pharisees in an uproar over a sick man carrying his bed on the Sabbath. The background of this story lies in the tradition that anyone found carrying anything on the Sabbath was punished by stoning. The first point that we should note is that Yeshua is indeed in a debate with a group of Jews who are questioning His authority to heal a person on the Sabbath. Notice that they do not question the healing itself, for they very much accept such occurrences as not unusual. Yeshua’s central point is that His authority is far greater than that needed to set aside the Sabbath. The healing simply was a sign of a more significant authority than they had yet seen. It is Yeshua that they will meet on that final judgment day. The issues of faith and works here are actually peripheral to the main point that Yeshua is making.
Sources: Exodus 20:10; Deut. 5:14; M:Erubin 4:5, 7; 10:1; M:Shabbat 1:1-4; 6:1-10; 8:1; 9:5; 10:1-3,5; 24:1
This man had suffered this affliction for some thirty-eight years, evidently being unable to walk all that time. He now has been suddenly and miraculously healed and is able to walk, even without the “stirring of the waters.” But, all the people can think about is that he is breaking a Pharisaic ordinance by carrying his bed on the Sabbath.”Building fences around the Law” had become so legalistic that the people had completely lost sight of what God’s Law was all about.
Jn. 5:11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
Jn. 5:12 Then they asked him, “who is this man that said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk.”“
Someone has just received a miraculous healing, but that is not even noticed. Now, we should be very upset with anyone who has a mind set like this. But, before we get too indignant with the Jews, we should remember that some things we have in Christianity are just as legalistic as this. Before we condemn others, we need to first take a hard look at ourselves.
Jn. 5:13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.
Jn. 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
Can sin cause sickness and misfortunes? Evidently from this passage, it can. And to take it another step further, if we resort back to sin after being delivered from it, a worse condition can come upon us. Sin is not something that should be taken lightly. But, you will notice that the type of sin is not revealed. The emphasis of Yeshua is always on restoration, not condemnation.
Jn. 5:15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Jn. 5:16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
Jn. 5:17 But Jesus answered them, “My father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
Jn. 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also He said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
Here is a good example of the difference between Jewish and Gentile thinking. In Gentile thinking, the son is not equal with the father. In Jewish thinking, the firstborn son is equal with the father. In Jewish thinking to call someone your father means according equality. When Yeshua calls God His Father, He is claiming to be equal with God. Since there is but one God, Yeshua is claiming to be Him. Monotheism is a concept that is quickly being lost in Christianity, and that is wrong. Christianity is quickly becoming more and more polytheistic in its thinking, although they claim differently. However, actions speak louder than words.
Source: M:Sanhedrin 2:5Jn. 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the son also does in like manner.”
This verse here begins the second of John’s seven discourses, the Discourse of the Works of God. Here also Yeshua brings in a custom that the Jews are very familiar with. Every Jewish boy strives to be as much like his father as he possibly can. Not just in the occupation of the father, but also striving to copy his mannerisms, he way he walked and the way he talked. The son was supposed to be a duplication of his father in every possible way. The Son of God would be like His Father. In bringing this in, Yeshua has opened all kinds of controversies about Himself for the Jews to ponder.
Jn. 5:20 “For the Father loves the son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does, and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.”
Yeshua is telling them that He did not simply have a one-time experience with God, but has a daily unique relationship with Him all of His life. On the other hand, Yeshua has had a constant connection with the supernatural, while on the other hand, He is demonstrating to men what is going on in Heaven that they may learn and obey. This is an incredible moment on the lives of the Jews.
Jn. 5:21 “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.”
Here again, Yeshua makes a statement concerning His deity. Giving life to a man is a direct reference back to the Old Testament in Genesis. When Yeshua claims to have power to give life to whomever He chooses, He is claiming to be God.
Source: Genesis 2:7
Jn. 5:22 “For the father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.”
The judgment of God is something that these men probably taught the people on many occasions. Yeshua now tells them that they are standing before their judge, and yet, they do not believe. What does this say about the truth of their presentation? Their words are as hollow as their hears.
Jn. 5:23 “That all should honor the Son just as they have honored the Father. He who does not honor the son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”
Claiming to be equal with God is the same thing as claiming to be God.
Jn. 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
Jn. 5:25 “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear Him will live.”
The voice of the Son of Man will bring about the resurrection. They are standing before the life giver. Since it is God who will bring about the resurrection, Yeshua is claiming once again in a very Hebraic way to be God Incarnate.
Jn. 5:26 “For a“s the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.”
Jn. 5:27 "And has given Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man.”
Here we see a special emphasis on Yeshua being the Son of Man. This verse seems to place more importance on Son of Man than Son of God. “Son of Man” is a direct reference from the book of Daniel.
Source: Daniel 7:13
Jn. 5:28 “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice.”
The subject being brought up here is the resurrection, a common rabbinic concept. The Mishnah says: “Rabbi Eleazar of Capernaum said, ‘they who were born are to die. Those who are to die are to live again. Those who live again are to be judged that they fully know that He is God, the Former, the Creator who understands and judges. The Witness and the Accuser, who is ready to judge. That is He, that with Him there is no iniquity, nor forgetfulness, nor acceptance of persons and no taking of bribes. For everything is His and know that everything shall be according to the account rendered. Let not evil genius persuade thee that the grave will serve thee as a place of refuge. Without thy consent thou was formed and without thy consent thou livest and without thy consent thou must die and without thy consent thou shall come to judgment to render an account before the King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.
Source: M:Avoth 4:22
What the rabbis ascribed to God Yeshua ascribed to Himself. The rabbis taught the power of the resurrection as something that only God could do. Yeshua says that He will bring about the resurrection. In a very clear manner He is saying that He is God.
Jn. 5:29 “And come forth – those which have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”
In saying what He has, Yeshua is saying the same thing as any good rabbi of His day would say. Some of the dead were called righteous, for they had done good. Some of the dead were called unrighteous, for they had done evil. The resurrection was a time when God would set right the accounts, rewarding the righteous with the “world to come” (Olam haBah), and barring the unrighteous from that happy kingdom. Thus what Yeshua said would not have raised an eyebrow among the Jews.
They knew that those who truly loved God obeyed the Law and thus did good, while those who rejected God disobeyed the Law and did evil. What caused the problem was that He accused the Jewish leaders of rejecting His word, they were condemning themselves. Salvation by works was never a part of the doctrine of Judaism or Christianity. There is only one way to obtain eternal life, and that is by the grace through faith and repentance according to the Book of Ephesians. If you really love God, you will obey His word and your life will reflect your faith.
Source: Ephesians 2:8
Jn. 5:30 “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
Source: M:Avoth 3:16
Jn. 5:31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.”
Source: M:Kethuboth 2:9
Jn. 5:32 “There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know the witness that He witnesses of Me is true.”
Jn 5:33 “You have sent to John, and he has bore witness to the truth.”
The Book of Deuteronomy says, “A single witness may not validate against a person any guilt or blame for any offense that may be committed; a case can be validated only on the testimony of two witnesses or more.” It is important to point out here that everything that Yeshua said or did was within the boundaries of the Mosaic Law. Mosaic Law requires at least two witnesses to validate a case. Yeshua points out the four-fold witness of who He is. The first witness is Yochanan haMatbil. It was Yochanan witnessed the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) descending upon Yeshua in the form of a dove. The second witness is God Himself, with the Bat Kol at His baptism. The third would be the four Messianic Miracles that He would perform in their presence. The fourth would be the Holy Scriptures themselves, for it is they that were written long before Moses that testify of Him.
Source: Deut. 19:15
Jn. 5:34 “Yet I do not receive the testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.”
Jn. 5:35 “He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.”
Jn. 5:36 “But I have a greater witness than John’s for the works which the Father has given Me to finish – the very works that I do – bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.”
The second witness Yeshua uses to validate His claim is the works given to Him by God that He will accomplish. This is probably a reference to the four Messianic Miracles that He will perform. However, the shear volume of miracles that He performed spoke mightily of who He was.
Jn. 5:37 “And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.”
The third witness to His claim is God Himself. This happened at His baptism.
Jn. 5:38 “But you do have His word abiding in you, because of whom He sent, Him you do not believe.”
Jn. 5:39 “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”
The fourth witness to His claim are the Holy Scriptures themselves. They testified of His life and ministry before He ever appeared physically to Israel
Jn. 5:40 “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
Jn. 5:41 “I do not receive honor from men.”
Jn. 5:42 “But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.”
Jn. 5:43 “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
Jn. 5:44 “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek honor that comes only from God?”
Jn. 5:45 “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; there is one that accuses you – Moses, in whom you trust.”
Jn. 5:46 “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about me.”
The problem here is not that Yeshua is not fulfilling Scripture – He is. The problem is that the Pharisees really don’t believe Him. Moses wrote long ago that God would send a Prophet just like him from among the people. We see this term The Prophet appear several times in the Gospels with the people wondering if Yeshua is the fulfillment of Moses’ prophecy. The Pharisees knew that He was, but just did not want to admit it.
Source: Deut. 18:15-18
Jn 5:47 “But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
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