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John Chapter Five

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The Son of God the Savior was Opposed by the Dead Religion

A. The description of the dead religion (v.1-7)

  B. The Son of God the Savior came to be the provision of one’s life (v.8-9)

  C. The hostility of the dead religion toward the savior of life (v.10-16)

  D. The origin of the Son of God the Savior’s work ---- the Father (v.17-30)

  E. The four testimonies of the Son of God the Savior

1. The testimony of the Father (v.31-32, 37-38)

2. The testimony of John the Baptist (v.33-35)

3. The testimony of the very works that the Son of God the Savior does (v.36)

4. The testimony of the Scriptures ---- including the testimony of the Pentateuch (v.39-47)

              

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

John. 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

   Literal Translation: “After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,”

   Meaning of Words: Jerusalem”: the dwelling of peace,

   Literal Meaning: “after this”, it was “after these things” in the original, which disclosed that the author had an idea concerning the order of time (see 6:1; 7:1).

    “There was a feast of the Jews.” ---- There was none article before the word “feast”, so there were many different suppositions about what the feast actually was. Some held that it was one of the three great feasts of the Passover, the Pentecost as well as the Feast of Tabernacles, for the pious Jews would go to Jerusalem to the feast during the days of the three great feasts. Some held that it was the Passover, for there were altogether four times of the feast of Passover during the three years and a half when the Lord ministered in public, but it specifically mentioned only three times (see 2:13, 23; 6:4; 11:55; 12:1). Some held that it was the Purim, for it mentioned just in the next chapter that “the Passover was near (see 6:4)”. And some concluded that it was the Passover according the record of “the Passover was near (see 6:4)”, and they even claimed that the order of chapter five and six had been reversed and chapter six should be first. Actually, all these controversies concerning the right feast are insignificant since the Scriptures has not mentioned.

   Spiritual Meaning: “feast” typifies the day when people shall be filled with joy.

    Jerusalem”, a city of the great King (Matt 5:35), is the dwelling place of God, which typifies the place where men shall enjoy great honor and “peace”(the meaning of Jerusalem in Greek).

 

John. 5:2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.

YLT: “and there is in Jerusalem by the sheep-a pool that is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches,”

Meaning of Words:the Sheep Gate”: relating to sheep; “Bethesda”: house of kindness; 

Literal Meaning:there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool”, the “gate” of “the Sheep Gate” is also called “market”, but this word does not exist in some old Scriptures. “The Sheep Gate (Neh 3:1)” lay in the northeast corner of the Holy Temple, by which all the sheep used to be sacrificed passed through. The present tense of this sentence disclosed that the pool still remained when the book was written.

“Which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda”, as a result of the function of healing and recovering the illness, this poor was called “house of kindness” (the original meaning of the word Bethesda). 

“Having five porches”, porches were set around the poor, among which one porch divided the pool into two parts, thus forming the so-called “double-sons pool”. “Porch”, a colonnade at a height of 20 feet and with a cover, was specially employed to adopt the patients who lay in it.

Spiritual Meaning:the Sheep Gate” symbolizes the door of the sheepfold (see 10:1), and the sheepfold symbolizes the law which guarded the people of God before the salvation of the New Testament (see Gal 3:23).

    “Porches of Bethesda” typifies the fact that one finds out his weakness, inability and affliction (see Rom 7:7-24) from obeying the law, thus only coming to look onto the mercy of God (the original meaning of Bethesda).

    Having five porches, the number five refers to being responsible. Porch can protect one from being wet by the rain or burnt by the sun, so it typifies the protection under the Law of Moses.

 

John. 5:3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.

YLT: “in these were lying a great multitude of the ailing, blind, lame, withered, waiting for the moving of the water,”

The Background: men believed the healing efficacy of the water in the pool, so a great multitude of sick people waited here and were desirous to be healed.

Spiritual Meaning: this verse typifies that those who have been protected by the Law of Moses are of various sickness by nature in the religious door of the sheepfold: the “blind” symbolizes the one whose eyes inside are closed; the “lame” symbolizes the one who is unable to walk in his life; the “paralyzed” symbolizes being in want of provision of life.

Enlightenment in the Word: the life of a man who has not the Christ will not appear to be normal and will have every spiritual disease. Only when one came to Christ, he might be healed.

 

John. 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.

YLT: “for a messenger at a set time was going down in the pool, and was troubling the water, the first then having gone in after the troubling of the water, became whole of whatever sickness he was held.”

Meaning of Words: made well of”: recovered from an illness, healthy, perfect;

Literal Meaning: in some old Scriptures, there were not this verse and the last half part of verse three (i.e. “waiting for the moving of the water”). The Bible exegetes had two different views: (1) some held that it was an explanation added by others later according to verse seven. (2) Some held that it was a part of the original Scriptures, for without this explanation it would be irrational that so many sick men gathered in the porches (v.3). Those who copied the Scriptures later deleted it deliberately in order to make a clear distinction between the superstitious heathens, among whom the offering of holy water was popular, thus avoiding unnecessary misapprehensions among others later.

“For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water”, the pool might spring water at regular intervals or produce water by seasonal rain, so the water might rise and spring regularly, and water in the pool would be stirred up when the water was rising.

Spiritual Meaning:an angel” here typifies the Jewish leaders who advocate keeping the law.

“To stir up the water” typifies to provoke others into resolving to keep the law.

“Whoever stepped in first” typifies that if one could really keep the law by his own ability, he would be a perfect man.

 

John. 5:5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.

YLT: “and there was a certain man there being in ailment thirty and eight years,”

Literal Meaning:a certain man was there”, John did not mentioned the actual disease of the man, but it could be inferred from the situation of his difficulty in getting about (v.7) that he might be paralyzed or be lame at least.

Spiritual Meaning: this verse is a vivid picture, and there are several meanings concerning “there” as below:

1.    Men shall be filled with joy in the day of “feast” (v.1)

2.    Men shall be granted great honor and peace in “Jerusalem” (v.1-2)

3.    Men shall be protected from invasion by “the Sheep Gate” (v.2)

4.    Men shall receive ample kindness in “Porches of Bethesda” (v.2)

5.    Men shall be shielded by the “five porches” (v.2-3)

6.    Men shall enjoy rest on “the Sabbath” (v.10)

    In such above-mentioned sound conditions, even a man had unexpectedly had an infirmity thirty-eight years, showing that he had never enjoyed joy, honor, peace, protection, mercy, shield or rest.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     (1) Who had an infirmity thirty-eight years, the infirmities in ones life are all old weaknesses and deep-rooted illnesses

     (2) For such a man who had been ill for many years had no joy even in the joyful feast (see v.1), and he had no rest even on the Sabbath (see v.10).

 

John. 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"

YLT: “him Jesus having seen lying, and having known that he is already a long time, he saith to him, `Dost thou wish to become whole?'”

Meaning of Words: be made of”: to be recovered to health, complete;

Enlightenment in the Word:

      (1) If one does not want to be made well, the Lord will not heal him without a cause. We have not been saved in our will, but one shall be saved in the Lord if he is willing to receive the salvation.

      (2) The Lords salvation is only granted to those who have mouth confession and call the name of the Lord (see Rom 10:10, 13).

      (3) The men did not even ask the Lord, the Lord earlier asked him: "do you want to be made well?" Oh, what a great favor! How great His love is!

 

John. 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."

YLT: “The ailing man answered him, `Sir, I have no man, that, when the water may be troubled, he may put me into the pool, and while I am coming, another doth go down before me.'”

Spiritual Meaning: this verse typifies that religion can provide only some ways to deal with the problems of one’s life (“when the water is stirred upbefore me”) but without the power of working with those methods (“I have no man to put me into the pool”), so it is only froth for those who are weak and infirm.

    This verse has also fully disclosed the irrationality of religion: (1) selfish: it forced men to vie with each other and seek one’s own healing in spite of others. (2) To take the branch for the root: the one whose condition was lighter had been healed first, but the one whose condition was worst could never catch the chance.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The mysterious philosophies of life in every religion are so excessive that one can not study them thoroughly throughout his life. However, one can still receive none help even though he has understood those philosophic theories, which cannot provide men with power to fulfill them.

     2) One cannot solve his problems concerning life in his own way, and one can never save him by himself.

     3) All those religions which require keeping and doing the doctrines with mens power will always ultimately prove that: there is always another one who is better than you, and so that one has to confess that he is not as good as others  (but while I am coming, another steps down before me.).

     4) We will fall into despair if we repose our hope of being delivered from sin in anyone.

 

John. 5:8 Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."

YLT: “Jesus saith to him, `Rise, take up thy couch, and be walking;'”

Literal Meaning:take up your bed and walk”, “bed”, a portable mattress which was the bed of the poor at that time.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Once we have been saved, we shall not only rise, and walk ahead as well.

     2) Many so-called Christians are actually those who are lying on their mattresses with spiritual infirmities and hoping others help all day (v.7).

 

John. 5:9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

YLT: “and immediately the man became whole, and he took up his couch, and was walking, and it was a sabbath on that day,”

Literal Meaning:took up his bed, and walked”, “walk” means “to walk all around” or “to walk continually” according the original.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) When the Lord Jesus has asked us to do something, he never withholds the provision of His power. This is the difference between the Lord Jesus and various religions: religion only asks but provides no power, but the Lord Jesus provides His power first and asks men thereafter.

     2) The Lords power is perfected in mens weakness (2Cor 12:9). Although we are weak and infirm, we may still have strength for all things in Him that gives me power (see Phil 4:13).

     3) To keep the commandment of the Lord, we should make sure that whether it is of the Lord or not instead of looking upon the weaknesses of ourselves.

     4) We had been supported by the bed before we received the Lords salvation, but we hold the bed after we have received the Lords salvation. This is the power of life!

 

John. 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."

YLT: “the Jews then said to him that hath been healed, `It is a sabbath; it is not lawful to thee to take up the couch.'”

Meaning of Words: not lawful”: not allowed, not permitted;

The Background: the Law of Moses prohibited men from doing any work on the Sabbath, but not prohibited from carrying one’s bed (see Ex20:10-11; 31:13-17). Actually, the rabbis prohibited men from carry heavy objects including moving furniture and bearing heavy burdens in their explanations for the Law of Moses.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The majority of those who are zealous of religion focus on the customs of the Sabbath, but ignore the problem that whether men have true rest or not.

     2) The Sabbath was made on account of man, not man on account of the Sabbath (see Mark 2:27). To search and find the origin is a sound way to know the will of God for us.

 

John. 5:11 He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, "Take up your bed and walk."'

YLT: “He answered them, `He who made me whole -- that one said to me, Take up thy couch, and be walking;'”

Literal Meaning:He who made me well”, he meant that it was not of his own will and he only obeyed the command of the one who healed him.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) He who has the spiritual power has the spiritual authority.

     2) Let those who labor in Gods word and speak in the power of life be counted worthy of double honor (see 1Tim 5:17).

 

John. 5:12 Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, "Take up your bed and walk'?"

YLT: “they questioned him, then, `Who is the man who is saying to thee, Take up thy couch and be walking?'”

Literal Meaning:who said to you, "Take up your bed and walk?"” ---- Note that the Pharisees did not ask who healed him but who allowed him to take up the bed. They find the proofs of disobeying the customs on purpose.

 

John. 5:13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.

YLT: “But he that was healed had not known who he is, for Jesus did move away, a multitude being in the place.”

Meaning of Words: “withdrawn”: convey self away

Enlightenment in the Word: to know the power of the Lord and to know the Lord Himself are different. When we first believed the Lord, mostly we only experienced the power of the Lord, but not the Lord Himself (“did not know who it was”).

 

John. 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."

YLT: “After these things, Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said to him, `Lo, thou hast become whole; sin no more, lest something worse may happen to thee.'”

Literal Meaning:Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”---- It meant “do not sin again”. It suggests that the infirmity of this man resulted from sin, but it does not mean all infirmities are in connection with sin.

    “Lest a worse thing come upon you”, it does not indicate that if he sinned again he would be suffered worse ill. Instead, it shows that the end of his life might be caused into severe judgment and punishment of God.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, believers should always live in the environment where Jesus can be usually seen ---- live in the church (in the temple).

     2) This verse discloses the infirmity of this man resulted from sin. Here, the Lord not only healed his infirmity, but delivered Him also from the origin ---- sin. How complete the Lords salvation is! So when we are sick, we should look upon the healing of the Lord on one side and on the other ask for enlightenment from the Lord ---- whats the spiritual reason of this illness on earth? Have we sinned against God?

     3) The eternal result of sin is much more serious than any illness.

     4) To live a holy life is a mystery of keeping healthy for the believers.

 

John. 5:15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

YLT: “The man went away, and told the Jews that it is Jesus who made him whole,”

Literal Meaning:it was Jesus who had made him well”, note that the Jews asked him who said to him to take up his bed and walk (see v.12), but he told them who had made him well.

 

John. 5:16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.

YLT: “and because of this were the Jews persecuting Jesus, and seeking to kill him, because these things he was doing on a sabbath.”

The Background: according to the Jewish scribes’ explanations for the Law of Moses, once a man heals illness on the Sabbath, he has disobeyed the commandment, unless one is critically ill.

Literal Meaning:the Jews persecuted Jesus”, “persecute” denotes “begin to persecute” or “habitually persecute”.

    Because He had done these things on the Sabbath, had done these things, the verb in the original referred to a proceeding action, which meant it was not an occasional matter, but a frequent one.

 

John. 5:17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."

YLT: “And Jesus answered them, `My Father till now doth work, and I work;'”

Literal Meaning:My Father has been working until now”, it indicates that “My father has never ceased His work”. Although the great work of God’s creation has been finished (see Gen 2:1-2), He still rules over the whole universe and is doing work unceasingly, e.g. raise the dead (v.21), sent the Son(v.36), testify of the Son (v.37) etc.

What Christ has done are: upholding all things by the word of his power, having perfected the redemption and having made the purification of sins (Heb 1:3), to be the surety of believers (Heb 7:22), to purify by the washing of water by word (Eph 5:26), and to build His assembly (Matt 16:18) etc.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God has never been rest since the man had been fallen, for He remembers men ceaselessly and intents to save the souls.

2) There is no retirement in spiritual works. Whenever one stops working, his life stops flowing.

3) We should perform spiritual functions not only in Christian gatherings but also in our daily life (have been working).

 

John. 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

YLT: “because of this, then, were the Jews seeking the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he also called God his own Father, making himself equal to God.”

Meaning of Words: “break”: break (up), destroy, dissolve, melt, and put off;

The Background: the Jews did not oppose the idea that God was their Father, so they might call God “our Father” or “our Father in the heavens”. But they daren’t call Him “my Father”, and they strongly opposed the individual who claimed that he had an intimate relation with God.

Literal Meaning:but also said that God was His Father”, it does not generally refer to the Father in the heavens, but the fact that God is “His own” Father.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The worst thing today is that the extreme religionist regards their murdering as serving God.

     2) Although men does not like to listen to the truth, we should still learn from the Lord Jesus who holds back nothing of what is profitable (see Act 20:20, 27).

 

John. 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.

YLT: “Jesus therefore responded and said to them, `Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son is not able to do anything of himself, if he may not see the Father doing anything; for whatever things He may do, these also the Son in like manner doth;”

Literal Meaning: “most assuredly, I say to you”, this verse intends to remind the hearers to take heed of what He will say afterwards, for it is rather important.

The Son can do nothing of Himself”, “of” is “out from” in the original. It manifests that the Son is never the origin of anything. What He sees the Father do, the Son also does; the Father speaks, then the Son speaks.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The Son can do nothing of Himself, it indicates that the Lord is humbly in the principle of being restricted. For whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. ---- It unveils that He has limitless authority actually. Oh, Christ manifests His boundless power in the principle of being restricted in lowliness.

     2) Christ can do nothing of Himself first, and then he also does in like manner. How comely His can do nothing of Himself is! How glorious His doing in like manner is!

     3) Sin means that one does something which is not commanded by God. When God has not initiated anything, man initiates something independently ---- this is sin.

 

John. 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.

YLT: “for the Father doth love the Son, and doth shew to him all things that He himself doth; and greater works than these He will shew him, that ye may wonder.”

Meaning of Words: “love”: regard others as one’s self, kiss, like;

Literal Meaning:For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does”, the Father’s love for the Son is the origin of the authority in the Son’s commission, and this love manifests His work and even “greater works”.

    He will show Him greater works than these”, “greater works” refers to the fact that the Son gives life to the dead and has the right to judge (see v.21-30).

This verse manifests three things: (1) the Father is different from the Son; (2) the Father is greater than the Son; (2) the Son knows completely what the Father does.

 

John. 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.

YLT: “`For, as the Father doth raise the dead, and doth make alive, so also the Son doth make alive whom he willeth;”

Literal Meaning: this verse explains that the nature of the “greater works (v.20)” is that those who are dead in spirit will be quickened.

“Even so the Son gives life to whom He will”, it may refer to the truth that Christ come today that men may have life, and may have abundantly (see 10:10), even though it may also refer to the resurrection in future (see 11:25-26).

 

John. 5:22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,

YLT: “for neither doth the Father judge any one, but all the judgment He hath given to the Son,”

Enlightenment in the Word: the Lord’s judgment is purposed to give life to men (see v.21). His provision of life harmonizes with his ministry of judging the world.

 

John. 5:23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

YLT: “that all may honour the Son according as they honour the Father; he who is not honouring the Son, doth not honour the Father who sent him.”

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) If Christians judge all things in complete accordance with the will of God, the world will honor God on account of us

     2) If one does not believe the Lord Jesus, he will not believe God either. And if one does not worship the Lord Jesus, he will not worship God either (see 14:1, 6; Eph 1:20-22; Phil 2:10).

 

John. 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.

YLT: “`Verily, verily, I say to you -- He who is hearing my word, and is believing Him who sent me, hath life age-during, and to judgment he doth not come, but hath passed out of the death to the life.”

Meaning of Words: passed from”: change place, remove, and depart;

Literal Meaning: “believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life”, “has”: to possess now instead of waiting until the future. “Everlasting life” is not only a life till the eternity and a life with a divine nature as well.

“And shall not come into judgment”, it refers to the judgment in the last day. To those who have believed the word of Christ, their sins will never be remembered (see Heb 10:17) for Christ had paid the penalty of sin on the cross.

“But has passed from death into life”, it means that to pass out of the sphere of death and enter that of life. Those who have believed the Lord will never dead in their offences and sins and have already been quickened with the Christ (Eph 2:1, 5)

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) And believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, faith is connected with life (see 20:31).

     2) But has passed from death into life, believers enter the everlasting life is started when they are on the earth.

     3) Pass from death into life, there rests the difference of life and death among those who are believing or unbelieving.

     4) Death originates from the tree of knowledge, and life originated from the tree of life (see Gen 2:9, 17). Therefore, to pass from death into life means to change the origin of life.

 

John. 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 will live.

YLT: “`Verily, verily, I say to you -- There cometh an hour, and it now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those having heard shall live;”

Meaning of Words: “hear”: listen to

Literal Meaning:the hour is coming, and now is”, it shows that Christ will not only raise the dead in the last day, and He gives life to men at present as well.

“The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God”, “the dead” refers to those who have been dead in spirit, i.e. being dead in the offences and sins (Eph 2:1). It does not mean those who have been dead in the flesh (see v.28-29).

“And those who hear will live.” ---- “live” refers to those who have been quickened in spirit (Eph 2:5).

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) In Gods view, men in the world have been entirely in a dead condition ---- their spirits have been dead, though they still live in body. The only salvation is that when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.

     2) May the Lord enable us to hear His voice in spirit so that our spiritual conditions can always be kept alive and fresh.

 

John. 5:26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,

YLT: “for, as the Father hath life in himself, so He gave also to the Son to have life in himself,”

Literal Meaning:as the Father has life in Himself”, God is the origin of life. And life, a gift by God, is of God (see Deut 30:20; Job 10:12; 33:4; Ps 16:11; 27:1; 36:9).

So He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, note that it does not mean to grant life to the Son, but means to grant His Son the equal divinity, i.e. to have life in Himself, so life in Christ is not a granted life, but a self- existing one.

 

John. 5:27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

YLT: “and authority He gave him also to do judgment, because he is Son of Man.”

 

John. 5:28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice

YLT: “`Wonder not at this, because there doth come an hour in which all those in the tombs shall hear his voice,”

Literal Meaning:all who are in the graves” refers to those who have been dead in the flesh and buried in the graves.

 

John. 5:29 and come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

YLT: “and they shall come forth; those who did the good things to a rising again of life, and those who practised the evil things to a rising again of judgment.”

Literal Meaning:and come forth” “com forth” refers to the resurrection in the flesh. When the Lord, with an assembling shout, with archangel's voice and with trump of God, shall come again, those who have been dead in Christ shall rise (see 1The 4:16). But those who have been dead but have not believed will rise after the Kingdom of a thousand years (see Rev 20:5, 12).

“Those who have done good, to the resurrection of life”, it does not mean that one obtain life through his good works. For one can obtain the eternal life only by believing Jesus Christ (see 3:16, 36). God grants us the eternal life for the purpose of making us do good works (see Eph 2:10). The believers’ good works is the manifestation of their life within.

“And those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation”, “have done evil” refers to those who are unwilling to repent or receive the Lord Jesus and refuse the Lord’s salvation. They will go to the resurrection of condemnation” and be judged, and will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:13, 15).

The word “do” in the phrase “have done good” and the other word “do (practice)” in the phrase “have done evil” are different in Greek. “One does good” means that one may sin occasionally, and “one practices evil” means that one may sin habitually.

Controversial Clarification: some Bible exegetes hold that there will be only one time of resurrection according to this verse and with false application of other verses. The good-doers and evil-doers will come simultaneously to the resurrection of being judgment, but it does not conform to the Bible for the reasons as follows:

1.    The Bible has manifestly held that “the rest of the dead did not live in the first resurrection (Rev 20:5)”, so it can be seen that there is more that once resurrection. The first resurrection is before the Kingdom of a thousand years, and the resurrection of the evil ones will arise after the Kingdom of a thousand years (see Rev 20:5, 7, 12-13).

2.    All the verses in the Bible which mention that there will be a resurrection concerning both good and evil (see Dan 12:2; Acts 24:15) state that “all of” them will come to a resurrection, but not come “simultaneously”.

3.    The judgment on all the nations when Christ shall come again in the 25th chapter of the Book of Matthew specifically refers to the judgment on those who shall still live then, but not the judgment of the resurrection of the dead (see Matt 25:31-46).

4.    When Christ shall come again in the last day, those who will be caught up before the judgment-seat of the Christ and will be judged, rightly, refer to the believers in the first resurrection, not those who do not believe (see 6:39-40; 11:23-25; 2Cor 5:10; 2Tim 4:1).

5.    The Bible mentions those who have relations with the first resurrection as that: “the Christ's (1Cor 15:23)”; “the dead in Christ (1The 4:16)”; “the just (Luke 14:14)”; “the resurrection from among dead…are sons of God (Luke 20:35-36)”.

6.    The first resurrection arises when Christ shall come again (1Cor 15:23), and when the trumpet shall sound (see 1Cor 15:52; 1The 4:16).

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The final conclusion of men is either the resurrection of life or the resurrection of condemnation.

     2) “To do good” is not the source of salvation but the result of salvation. All those who still practice evil after having been saved may have not obtained the life of “doing good” (i.e. the nominal Christians), or may have not lived in this life.

     3) A believer who walks in Gods life shall manifest the goodness naturally. But if he walks in his natural life, he will inevitably practice evil and commit sins.

 

John. 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.

YLT: “`I am not able of myself to do anything; according as I hear I judge, and my judgment is righteous, because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father who sent me.”

Literal Meaning:I can of Myself do nothing”, it does not remark that He has none ability to do things, but means that He will never leave God and act independently.

As I hear, I judge”, “judge” here does not carry any legislative meaning. Instead of judging the law cases, it means to discern what shall be done, and what shall not be done.

I do not seek My own will”, “own will” refers to the will in his humanity (see Matt 26:39).

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The judgment of Christ is righteous for He judges according to the will of Father who sent Him instead of reasoning or His own will. Actually, the will of the Father is none other than to glorify His beloved Son in all things. Yes, the glorious Christ is the only standard appointed by God to judge all things (see Act 17:31).

     2) We believers shall discern a certain matter according to the will of God instead of the so-called spirituality, love of the Lord or zeal for service.

     3) Christians should walk according to the knowledge of Gods will instead of walking independently.

     4) Once a man seeks his own will, he will pervert judgment and fall into false judgment.

     5) Many believers repeatedly declare that they will seek the will of God, but actually they ask God to permit their own will.

 

John. 5:31 "If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.

YLT: “`If I testify concerning myself, my testimony is not true;”

Literal Meaning: the Lord’s meanings in this verse are as follows: (1) If He bears witness of Himself, the Jews will doubt that His witness is not true. (2) If the witness of Himself that he hears is high above the witness that the Father and the Bible bear (v. 32, 37, and 39), His witness will not be true.

    As a matter of fact, the witness of the Lord Himself that He bears is exactly conform to the witness of Him that the Father and the Bible bear (see 8:17-18), so His witness is true (see 8:14).

 

John. 5:32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.

YLT: “another there is who is testifying concerning me, and I have known that the testimony that he doth testify concerning me is true;”

Meaning of Words: “another”: one another, else;

Literal Meaning: “there is another who bears witness of Me, who is the “another” one on earth? Someone believes it refers to John the Baptist, for the all the next several verses have mentioned him. But a more rational explanation is that the Father bears witness of the Son.

 

John. 5:33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.

YLT: “ye have sent unto John, and he hath testified to the truth.”

Literal Meaning:You have sent to John”, please read the detailed record concerning this matter in chapter one (1:19-27)

And he has borne witness to the truth, the truth here refers to Christ (see 14:6). He is the specific expression, revelation and manifestation of the divine reality.

Instead of bringing men to himself, John the Baptist directed others to the Savior the Lord Jesus (see 1:29, 36; 3:28-30).

 

John. 5:34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.

YLT: “`But I do not receive testimony from man, but these things I say that ye may be saved;”

Literal Meaning:but I say these things”, “these things” referred to the words that Lord spoke about the witness of Him that John the Baptist bore

That you may be saved, the Lord Jesus hoped that those who had heard these things could receive the witness by John the Baptist so that they might obtain the salvation.

 

John. 5:35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.

YLT: “he was the burning and shining lamp, and ye did will to be glad, for an hour, in his light.”

Meaning of Words: shine”: lighten, show; “willing”: desire, intend;

The Background: the lamp used in the old Jewish family shall shine by adding oil to it. The shining light could illuminate, but it was not light itself.

Literal Meaning: “he was the burning and shining lamp”, it remarked that John was not the shining light (see 1:8) itself. Instead, he was only a lamp in need of others’ igniting, and the lamp could only shine by the cost of giving up one’s soul in the igniting. “Was”, in past tense, indicated that John might have been bound in prison or even been killed.

    “And you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light”, “for a time” disclosed that the Jewish leaders had never understood the messages by John the Baptist, and their reaction to John was transitory and superficial at most.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Believers appear as lights in the world and hold forth the word of life (Phil 2:15-16) ---- this is the obligatory testimony of us.

     2) May everyone who loves the Lord are willing to be His fire, burn oneself and bring light to the world.

 

John. 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.

YLT: “`But I have the testimony greater than John's, for the works that the Father gave me, that I might finish them, the works themselves that I do, they testify concerning me, that the Father hath sent me.”

Meaning of Words: “finish”: accomplish, consummate, perfect;

 

John. 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.

YLT: “`And the Father who sent me Himself hath testified concerning me; ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor His appearance have ye seen;”

Meaning of Words: “form”: appearance, fashion, shape;

Literal Meaning:has testified of Me”, God the Father has borne two witness of the Lord Jesus: (1) by the prophesy in the Old Testament. (2) By the voice from the heaven (see Matt 3:17).

 

John. 5:38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.

YLT: “and His word ye have not remaining in you, because whom He sent, him ye do not believe.”

Meaning of Words: “word”: utterance (“logos” in Greek);

Literal Meaning: that the Jews could not understand the word of God, and it could be seen from the fact that they did not believe the Lord Jesus.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) In the period of the Old Testament, even the people of God could not hear the voice of God or see the form of God (see v.37), and they could only know God through His word. Unfortunately however, they regarded the Scriptures as knowledge, and finally they did not know Him truly.

     2) Christ is the centre and reality of all divine things. Only by joining to Him ---- believing Him, one can obtain the word of God dwelling in his heart, hear the voice of God and behold the glorious form of God (see v.37).

 

John. 5:39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

YLT: “`Ye search the Writings, because ye think in them to have life age-during, and these are they that are testifying concerning me;”

Meaning of Words: search”: investigate, seek;

Literal Meaning:You search the Scriptures”, “search”, a word used in mining in Greek, connotes the meaning of exploring, measuring, excavating, adopting and accumulating etc. So it means searching the Scriptures intensively and carefully. This verb can be stated in both declarative tone ---- “search”, and imperative tone ---- “one should search”.

    “For in them you think you have eternal life”, if “search” this verse was in the declarative tone, the whole verse could be interpreted as the meaning that the Jews had searched the Scriptures and had believed that one would obtained the eternal life if he kept the customs of the law rigidly. If “search” was in the imperative tone, the whole verse might suggest that they have searched the Scriptures for the purpose of obtaining the eternal life.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) The whole Bible is a testimony of Christ, so we shall read it with the aim of knowing and enjoying the fullness of Christ, not knowing some knowledge or obeying some customs.

     2) Augustus said: the New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament, and the Old Testament is manifested in the New Testament.

     3) Generally speaking, the outline of the Old Testament is the coming Christ. If someone who searches the Old Testament misses this outline, he will have missed the most significant part.

     4) Since the Bible testifies of Christ, we should not consider the Bible and Christ separately. Every time we open the Bible, we shall embrace the attitude and heart of seeking and seeing Christ.

     5) The Jews were not ignorant of the fact that searching the Scriptures means not only searching the letter but also seeking the eternal life therein. Unfortunately however, it was still in vain for they did not know further that this Jesus who was just before them is the reality of the eternal life. Likewise, it is insufficient for us to seek the spiritual enlightenment and provision of life through the letter. Instead, we should further know that every sound enlightenment and true provision is Christ Himself. Once we target Christ as the only aim of searching the Bible, we may naturally obtain the enlightenment and provision.  

 

John. 5:40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

YLT: “and ye do not will to come unto me, that ye may have life;”

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) Even though one can search the Bible thoroughly, he may have still not obtained life if he does not come to the Lord.

     2) That a man has not obtained life is not on account of his incapability, but his unwillingness.

 

John. 5:41 "I do not receive honor from men.

YLT: “glory from man I do not receive,”

Literal Meaning: the Lord Jesus intended to say: “it was not because you had not glorified Me that I deeply concerned at heart and spoke the word of reproach, for I did not seek honor from men deliberately. Instead, I just bore in mind the interest of you and wished you to receive the best blessings.”

Enlightenment in the Word: the Lord has never hoped to receive honor from men, so He never be frustrated. Today, many believers are often disappointed for perhaps they still unconsciously want to receive “honor from men”.

 

John. 5:42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.

YLT: “but I have known you, that the love of God ye have not in yourselves.”

Literal Meaning:you do not have the love of God”, it suggested that their unbelieving and being hostile to the Lord Jesus were ultimately on account of their lack of God’s love in their heart.

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) If man does not respond to Gods love in his heart (see 1John 4:19), he will still have no relation with or portion of life, though God loves the world (see 3:16)

     2) If Gods love abides in us, we will love God more than us.

 

John. 5:43 I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.

YLT: “`I have come in the name of my Father, and ye do not receive me; if another may come in his own name, him ye will receive;”

Literal Meaning:if another comes in his own name”, “another” refers to the false Christs and antichrist. According to the record of history, after the ascension of the Lord Jesus, there had arisen at least 64 false Christs who induced the Jews to believe them. But it was of more possibility that the Lord here might warn the Jews that the man of sin would have been revealed and worshipped, the son of perdition (see 2The 2:3).

Enlightenment in the Word: if one loves God truly (v.42), he will involuntarily love this Christ who pleases God in both word and action.

 

John. 5:44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

YLT: “how are ye able -- ye -- to believe, glory from one another receiving, and the glory that from God alone ye seek not?”

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) One who receives honor from men can not believe the Lord, and one who does not seek the honor from God can not believe the Lord either. For one who believes the Lord is for the glory of God, and he may often be persecuted or despised by others.

     2) A real Christian seeks only the honor that comes from the only God instead of being greedy for glory from men.

     3) If one pays more heed to his impression in others eyes than in Gods eyes, he may have not established a normal relationship with the Lord.

     4) Believers shall fear that God does not please instead of fearing others comments concerning their words and walks.

 

John. 5:45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you--Moses, in whom you trust.

YLT: “`Do not think that I will accuse you unto the Father; there is who is accusing you, Moses -- in whom ye have hoped;”

Meaning of Words: “accuse”: to be a plaintiff, i.e. to charge with some offence in court (a legislative word); “trust”: expect, confide, and hope;

Literal Meaning:Moses, in whom you trust”, they regarded Moses as their intercessor and advocate, but Moses had turned to the accuser of them, for the Law of Moses only brought men unto Christ, but they went against this basic principle.

 

John. 5:46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.

YLT: “for if ye were believing Moses, ye would have been believing me, for he wrote concerning me;”

Literal Meaning:he wrote about Me”, the Old Testament including the Pentateuch exactly testifies of the Son of God Jesus Christ that God bears (see Gen 12:3, 2218 Num21:9; Deut 18:15-19).

Enlightenment in the Word: all those who know the connotation of the Law of Moses will necessarily know Christ and be willing to receive Him.

 

John. 5:47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

YLT: “but if his writings ye believe not, how shall ye believe my sayings?'”

Enlightenment in the Word:

     1) There is close relation between the Old Testament and the New Testament. If one doubts the revelation of the Old Testament, he will not receive the revelation of the New Testament.

     2) If one opposes a part of the Bible, he will oppose the rest sooner or later.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

I. The Vanity of Religion

A. Judaism is a Typical Religion Formed by the Oracles of God:

1. They had the feast (v.1a). ---- The joyful days of worshiping God

2. They had Jerusalem (v.1b). ---- The dwelling place of God

3. They had the Sheep Gate (v.2a). ---- To be protected by entering the sheepfold

4. They had the pool in Bethesda (v.2b). ---- To receive the mercy of God

5. They had five porches (v.2c). ---- To be shielded by the law

6. They had the angle (v.1b). ---- The heavenly help

7. They had the stirring water (v.4). ---- The way of solving one’s life problems

8. They had the Sabbath (v.10a). ---- To receive the promise of rest

9. They had the Scriptures (v.39). ---- The revelation of God’s will

    10. They has Moses, in whom they trust (v.45) ---- The spiritual elder

 

B. The Real Condition of the Judaism:

    1. In the porches lay a great multitude of sick people (v.3) ---- be in want of the power of life.

    2. Even there was a certain man who had an infirmity thirty-eight years (v.5). ---- No matter how long one lingers in the religion, he could still not benefit from it.

  C. The Reason for the Vanity of Religion:

    1. Religion has only methods or demands, but does not provide the power for men to fulfill them (v.7).

    2. Religion focuses on customs rather than the real joy of men (v.10)

    3. Religion can not deal with the problem of sin (v.)

    4. Religionist even regards murder as serving God (v.18)

    5. Religionist does not know God, and has no God’s word dwelling within (v.37-38).

    6. Religionist searches the Scriptures, but has missed the center of the Scriptures ---- the Christ (v.39-40)

7. Religionist has no love of God within (v.42)

8. Religionist receives the false Christs (v.43)

9. Religionist receives honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God (v.44)

10. Religionist does not believe the Holy Scriptures (v.47)

 

 

II. The Contrast between “There be” and “There be not”

  A. Although there were many people and things, without the Lord, they availed nothing. :

1. There was a pool (v.2a).

2. There were five porches (v.2b).

3. There was an angle that went down at a certain time into the pool (v.4)

4. There was another who stepped down earlier than others (v.7b)

  B. When the Lord was there, immediately the sick man was made well though there were none other things (v.12).

 

IV. The Equality between the Son of God the Savior and the Father in Seven Aspects

  A. Equality in work (v.17-19)

  B. Equality in knowledge (v.20)

  C. Equality in the resurrection (v.21, 28-29)

  D. Equality in judgment (v.22, 27, 30) 

E. Equality in honor (v.23)

F. Equality in rebirth (v.24-25)

G. Equality in existence (v.26)

 

V. Christ Jesus Who is Equal with God

  A. The Fact of Being Equal with God:

1. He says that God is His Father (v.18)

2. He gives life to men (v.21)

3. He judges men (v.27-29)

B. The Testimony of Being Equal with God:

1. The testimony of John the Baptist (v.33)

2. The testimony of what He does (v.36)

3. The testimony of the Father (v.37)

4. The testimony of the Scriptures (v.39)

C. The Teachings for us:

1. One should honor the Son just as he honor the Father (v.23).

2. One should receive the Lord for he loves God (v.42-43).

3. One should believe the Scriptures and the word of the Lord (v.46-47).

 

VI. The Verity of the Divinity of Jesus Christ

A. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does in like manner (v.19)

  B. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will (v.21).

  C. For the Father has committed all judgment to the Son (v.22).

  D. The Father pleases that one should honor the Son just as he honor the Father (v.23).

  E. One who hears the Son’s word and believes in the Father who sent the Son has everlasting life (v.24).

  F. The dead who hear the voice of the Son of God will live (v.25).

  G. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself (v.26).

 

VII. Three “No”s in the Character of Christ

  A. He can do nothing of Himself (v.19).

  B. He does not seek His own will (v.30).

  C. He does not receive honor from men (v.21c).

 

VIII. Two Sorts of “Death” and “Resurrection”

  A. The spiritual death and risen (v.24-25).

  B. The bodily death and resurrection (v.36-37)

 

VIII. How to Know Christ?

  A. To receive the witness of Christ that God bears (v.35a) ---- God pleased to reveal his Son in me (Gal 1:16).

  B. To receive the witness of Christ that the servants of God bears (V.35b) ---- Christ shall be magnified in them (Phil 1:20).

C. To receive the witness of what Christ has done (v.36a) ---- The work of Christ manifests His being.

D. To receive the witness of Christ that the Scriptures bears (v.36B) ---- Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom (Col 3:16)

 

IX. Four Defects of Religionists

  A. They have not heard the voice of God (v.37a)

  B. They have not seen the form of God (v.37b)

C. They have no word of God dwelling in their hearts (v.38)

D. They have no love of God within their hearts (v.42)

 

X. Alarms raised from the Faults of the Jews for Believers

  A. They are not willing to come to the Lord (v.40) ---- to read the Bible is important, but one should not ignore the Lord Himself.

  B. They do not have the love of God in them (v.42) ---- One should not be zealous of serving God only, but not love God Himself.

  C. They greedily seek the worldly glory (v.44) ---- one should not seek the vain glory (Phil 2:3).

  D. They do not believe the word in the Law of Moses (v. 47) ---- To believe very Scriptures is given by inspiration of God (2 Tim 3:16).

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Mary Zhou