The fifth chapter of the Gospel of John marks a profound turning point in the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is a chapter rich with theological depth, dramatic conflict, and powerful claims about Jesus’ identity and authority. Moving from a miraculous healing in Jerusalem to a intense theological debate, John 5 unveils the very nature of God’s work in the world and presents Jesus as the divine Son with the authority to give life and execute judgment.
This comprehensive commentary will guide you through each section of John 5, explaining its historical context, meaning, and enduring significance for faith today.
John 5:1-15: The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda
The chapter opens in Jerusalem during a Jewish feast. Jesus goes to the Pool of Bethesda, a place known for its healing properties. There, He encounters a man who has been an invalid for thirty-eight years. This detail is significant; his condition was long-term and seemingly hopeless.
Jesus’ question, “Do you want to get well?” seems simple, but it probes the man’s heart. After decades of infirmity, had he lost all hope? Was he defined by his condition? The man’s answer is not a resounding “Yes!” but an explanation of his powerlessness—he has no one to help him into the water.
Jesus’ response is immediate and powerful. He doesn’t help the man into the pool; He speaks a word of command: “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” The healing is instantaneous and complete. The man obeys, picking up the mat that had been his bed for so long, symbolizing his total restoration.
The conflict arises because this healing occurred on the Sabbath. The religious leaders, instead of rejoicing at the miracle, focus on the man breaking their traditional law against carrying a burden on the Sabbath. This sets the stage for the profound discourse that follows, highlighting a clash between human tradition and God’s life-giving work.
John 5:16-18: The Escalating Conflict over the Sabbath
The healed man identifies Jesus as his healer, and the Jewish leaders begin to persecute Jesus specifically for breaking the Sabbath. Jesus’ defense is revolutionary: “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”
This statement infuriated the leaders for two reasons:
- It justified His work on the Sabbath by equating it with the continuous, sustaining work of God the Father.
- By calling God “His own Father,” Jesus was “making himself equal with God.” The Greek phrasing here is emphatic, indicating a unique, intimate relationship that the Jewish leaders understood as a claim to divinity.
This is the core issue of the chapter: not just Sabbath-breaking, but the identity of the one breaking it.
John 5:19-30: The Authority of the Son: Life and Judgment
In response to their accusation, Jesus delivers a majestic discourse explaining His relationship with the Father and the authority delegated to Him. This passage is foundational to Christian theology.
The Son’s Dependence on the Father (v. 19-20a): Jesus begins by stating that the Son can do nothing by Himself; He only does what He sees the Father doing. This speaks to perfect unity and submission, not inferiority. The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does.
The Authority to Give Life (v. 20b-21): Just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it. This authority over physical and spiritual life is a divine prerogative.
The Authority to Execute Judgment (v. 22-23): The Father has entrusted all judgment to the Son. This is so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. To reject the Son is to reject the Father who sent Him. This verse directly challenges any view of Jesus as merely a great teacher.
The Reality of Resurrection and Eternal Life (v. 24-29): Jesus introduces the concept of two resurrections. The first is a spiritual resurrection that occurs when someone hears His word and believes; they have “crossed over from death to life” (v. 24). The second is a future, physical resurrection of all people—”those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned” (v. 29).
John 5:31-47: The Testimony that Validates Jesus’ Claims
Jesus anticipates the legal objection that His testimony about Himself is not valid. He then presents multiple witnesses that corroborate His identity, following the Jewish legal requirement of two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15).
- The Testimony of John the Baptist (v. 31-35): Jesus acknowledges John as a “lamp that burned and gave light,” and the people were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. John’s testimony was true, but Jesus does not rely on human testimony alone.
- The Testimony of His Works (v. 36): The miracles Jesus performs, given to Him by the Father, testify that the Father has sent Him. The healing at Bethesda is a prime example.
- The Testimony of the Father (v. 37-38): The Father Himself has testified about Jesus, likely a reference to the voice at His baptism (John 1:32-34) and the internal witness of God to human hearts.
- The Testimony of the Scriptures (v. 39-40): Jesus charges the religious leaders with diligently studying the Scriptures because they think they will find eternal life in them, yet they refuse to come to Him, the one to whom the Scriptures point. Moses, the author of the Law they revered, will accuse them because Moses wrote about Jesus (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:15).
The chapter ends on a sobering note: the problem is not a lack of evidence, but a refusal to come to Jesus in faith. They sought glory from one another instead of the glory that comes from God.
Key Themes and Application for Today
- The Identity of Jesus: John 5 presents Jesus unambiguously as fully God and equal to the Father, possessing divine authority to give life and judge the world.
- Faith vs. Religion: The chapter contrasts vibrant faith in Jesus with a rigid, tradition-bound religion that misses God’s work when it happens.
- The Sabbath Principle: The healing invites us to consider that God’s work of compassion and restoration is always in season, reflecting His heart.
- The Call to Believe: The ultimate challenge of John 5 is the same today: will we examine the testimony about Jesus and come to Him to receive life, or will we reject Him due to our own preconceptions and desire for human approval?
The message of John 5 is as urgent now as it was then. In Jesus, God is at work, offering life and calling us to a relationship of trust and honor centered on His Son.