"Truly, truly, I tell you, the person who listens to my message and believes [in] the One who sent me [i.e., God] has never ending life [i.e., as a hope. See Titus 1:2; 3:7]. He will not be judged [and condemned], but has [already] passed from being [spiritually] dead to being [spiritually] alive.

The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I do not have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but [just] when I am about to enter [it] someone else goes down [into the water] before me."

You search through the Scriptures [i.e., the Old Testament], because you think that you will [learn how to] have never ending life by [reading] them. And these Scriptures are what testify concerning me.

"Do not be surprised at this: The time is coming when all those who are in their graves will hear His voice

After these things Jesus went up to Jerusalem to [attend] a Jewish festival.

So, Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son [of God] cannot do anything on His own [i.e., independently of the Father]; but [He does] what He sees His Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does as well.

Later on Jesus found the man in the Temple, and said to him, "Look, you have been made well; stop sinning or else something worse [i.e., than the handicap you had] will happen to you."

But the man who was healed did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

But he replied to them, "The same man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your cot and walk.'"

For an angel of the Lord came down to the pool [from heaven] at certain times and stirred up the water. Then the first person to enter the pool after the water became choppy was healed from whatever disease he had."}}

Under these porticos a large number of sick, blind, crippled and deformed people were placed {{A few ancient authorities add "to wait for the water [of the pool] to become choppy.

So, for this reason the Jews looked for more [opportunities] to kill Him, because He not only broke Sabbath day [restrictions], but also He had called God His own Father, [thereby] making Himself equal with God.

For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him everything that He Himself does; and He will show Him [even] greater deeds [i.e., more extensive in scope] than these [i.e., than merely healing a crippled man], so that you people will be amazed.

[Then] they asked him, "Who is this man who said to you, 'Pick up your cot and walk.'?"

For the Father does not judge anyone, but He has given [full responsibility for] judging people to His Son,

But Jesus said to them, "My Father is continuing to work and I am working."

So, for this reason the Jews began persecuting Jesus, because He did these [kinds of] things on the Sabbath day.

"I cannot do anything by my own [authority]. I judge [people] based on what I hear [i.e., from the Father] and my judgment [of them] is just, because I do not look for what I want [to do], but for what He who sent me [i.e., God] wants.

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them [renewed] life [for their bodies ?], even so the Son also gives [renewed] life to [the spirits ?] of whoever He wants to.

When Jesus saw him lying [there by the pool], and knew that he had been [in that condition] a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to get well?"

Now in Jerusalem there was a pool of water near the Sheep Gate [Note: This was a city gate in the north wall]. It had five porticos [i.e., covered open areas along the outside of the Temple]. In the Hebrew language it was called Bethesda.

Truly, truly, I tell you, the time is coming, and is now [actually] here, when those who are [spiritually] dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear [i.e., and heed His message] will have [spiritual] life.

So, the Jews said to the man who was healed, "It is not permissible for you to pick up your cot because it is the Sabbath day."

and they will come out [i.e., in the general resurrection on the last day]. Those who had done what was good will be raised [from the dead] to [never ending] life; and those who had done what was evil will be raised [from the dead] to judgment [i.e., to be condemned].

For [just] as the Father is Himself [the source of] life, in the same way He gave to His Son also [the power] to be [the source of] life.

so that everyone will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The person who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

I have come in my Father's name [i.e., by His authority] and you do not accept me. If someone else comes in his own name [i.e., by his own authority], you will accept him.

But you do not want to come to me [i.e., to believe in me. See verse 38] so that you will have [never ending] life.

[So], Jesus said to him, "Get up; pick up your cot and walk."

For if you believed Moses' [writings], you would [also] believe in me, for he wrote about me. [See Deut. 18:15-19].

And immediately the man was made well and picked up his cot and walked. Now this happened on the Sabbath day.

And the Father who sent me testifies concerning me. You people have never heard His voice nor seen His form.

[Then] the man left and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

but I know you [well enough], that you do not have a love for God within you.

If I testify about myself, my testimony is not [considered] true.

How can you believe [in me] when you [offer and] accept honors from one another, but do not try to obtain the honor that comes from the only God?

And a certain man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years [Note: He was probably a crippled person].

But my testimony is greater than John's. For the deeds the Father has given me to complete, the very deeds I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.

And you do not keep His message living in your [hearts], for you do not believe [in] the One whom God sent [i.e., in Jesus].

John was the lamp that was burning and glowing and you people were willing to enjoy the light that he projected for awhile.

And He gave His Son authority to carry out judgment [upon mankind] because He is the Son of man [Note: The Greek actually says "a son of man"].

"Do not think that I will accuse you [of wrongdoing] before the Father; Moses, on whom you have set your hope [i.e., you base your acceptance with God on the promises found in Moses' writings], he is the one who accuses you [i.e., in his writings].

"You people have sent to John [the Immerser, for information. See 1:19] and he has given true testimony [about me].

"I do not accept honor from mankind,

[But] there is Someone else [i.e., God] who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony He gives about me is true.

But I do not rely on the testimony of men about me; therefore I tell you these things so you will be saved [i.e., from condemning judgment. See verse 29].

But if you do not believe his writings, how do you expect to believe my message?"