October 8

John 5 (biblegateway.com)

The Authority of the Son: Healing, Honor, and Judgment

As Jesus’ ministry continues, His authority and compassion become even more evident, not only through miraculous healings but also through His declarations of divine identity, which spark increasing tension with the religious leaders.

John 5 opens with Jesus going up to Jerusalem for a Jewish feast (v. 1). Near the Sheep Gate was a pool called Bethesda, surrounded by five colonnades, where many disabled people lay, those who were blind, lame, or paralyzed (v. 2–3). This setting captures humanity’s deep longing for restoration and deliverance. Among them was a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years (v. 5), a vivid picture of helplessness and the desperate need for divine intervention.

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had been in that condition for a long time, He asked, “Do you want to be healed?” (v. 6). The question seems simple, but it penetrates to the man’s will and readiness for transformation. The invalid responds with resignation, explaining that he has no one to help him into the pool when the water is stirred, and others always reach it before him (v. 7). People believed that an angel came and stirred the waters. According to local tradition, the first one in the water would be healed. But the Bible nowhere teaches this kind of superstition, a situation which would be a most cruel contest for many ill people.

Jesus then commands the man, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk” (v. 8). Instantly, strength returns to his body, and he obeys Jesus’ word, taking up his mat and walking (v. 9). God’s supernatural power was unmistakably displayed in the man’s immediate healing, and Jesus’ verbal command carried with it the very power to accomplish what He said. Muscles long weakened and useless were suddenly restored, and the man stood as living proof of divine authority. This moment fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy that in the days of the Messiah, “the lame shall leap like a deer” (Isa. 35:6). Right there in Jerusalem, before many witnesses, was clear evidence that the promised Savior had come.

Yet this miracle occurred on the Sabbath, immediately drawing controversy from the Jewish leaders (v. 9b–10). When they confront the man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath, he explains that the one who healed him instructed him to do so (v. 11). Questioned further, he cannot identify his healer, for Jesus had withdrawn into the crowd (v. 12–13).

The Sabbath was a central issue in Jesus’ conflicts with the religious leaders. The Mosaic Law required rest on the seventh day, setting it apart as holy to the Lord. Over time, however, later Jewish authorities added numerous detailed regulations about what counted as “work,” turning a day of rest into a burden of restriction. These man-made traditions often obscured the Law’s true purpose. Jesus reminded them, “The Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27), a gift of rest, worship, and joy, not a system of bondage. According to their oral traditions, even carrying an object from a public place to a private one could be punishable by death. Thus, when the healed man carried his mat, he was viewed by the leaders as violating the Sabbath, though his action broke no divine command.

This confrontation revealed the growing divide between Jesus and His opponents. While they focused on human rules, Jesus upheld the heart of God’s Law: mercy, restoration, and life. His works of healing on the Sabbath affirmed His divine authority as Lord of the Sabbath, showing that doing good and bringing renewal are always in harmony with God’s will.

Later, Jesus finds the man in the temple and says, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you” (v. 14). His words reveal that physical healing, though remarkable, was not the ultimate goal; Jesus desired spiritual restoration. The warning implies that continued sin brings consequences far greater than bodily affliction, pointing to the reality of divine judgment. The man then reports to the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who healed him (v. 15). From this point forward, the religious authorities begin to view Jesus as a threat to their system and traditions, a conflict that would continue to grow until it led to the cross.

This encounter at Bethesda reveals that Jesus not only restores broken bodies but also awakens the soul to repentance and renewal. His question, “Do you want to be healed?” echoes through every heart today, calling us to move beyond resignation and misplaced hope toward faith in His transforming power. True healing begins not merely when circumstances change but when the will submits to Christ’s command.

Ultimately, the pool could never cleanse what only grace can. Likewise, religion without relationship and rules without repentance cannot restore what sin has broken. Jesus’ warning to “sin no more” reminds believers that salvation is not the end of the story but the beginning of a sanctified life. For those who have been made whole by Christ, the call is to walk in obedience, gratitude, and holiness, bearing witness that spiritual renewal in Christ is far greater than any physical cure.

Because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute Him (v. 16). However, in response to their accusations, Jesus said, “My Father is working until now, and I am working” (v. 17). With this statement, Jesus declared that just as God continues His work of sustaining life and showing mercy even on the Sabbath, so He too is doing His Father’s work. God never ceases to act for the good of His creation, and neither does His Son. Jesus’ words were not simply a defense of His actions but a direct claim of divine equality. He spoke not of “our Father,” as the Jews did, but of “My Father,” identifying Himself uniquely with God in mission and nature.

This claim deeply offended the Jewish leaders, who understood exactly what He was saying. By calling God His own Father, Jesus was “making Himself equal with God” (v. 18). To them, such a statement was blasphemous, for it appeared to challenge the oneness of God. Yet Jesus was not declaring independence from God but unity with Him, the Son working in perfect harmony with the Father. Their misunderstanding led to even greater hostility, and from this point forward, their opposition hardened into a determination to destroy Him.

Through this confrontation, John reveals a profound truth: Jesus’ authority and compassion are one with the Father’s will. The miracle at Bethesda was not merely an act of mercy but a declaration that the Son of God shares in the divine work of redemption. In Him, God’s rest and God’s activity meet. Grace does not cease, even on the Sabbath.

The conflict over the Sabbath also reminds us how easily religious devotion can lose sight of God’s purpose. The Pharisees were more concerned with protecting rules than celebrating mercy. But Jesus shows us that the heart of God is always active in compassion. Even in rest, God works for our good.

For believers today, this passage calls us to examine whether we are aligning our lives with the Father’s work through Christ. True Sabbath rest is found not in ceasing activity, but in resting in the finished work of Jesus, who continues to bring healing and renewal to all who trust Him. Like the man at Bethesda, we are called to rise and walk in new life, and like Jesus, we are called to join the Father in His ongoing work of grace.

After being accused of making Himself equal with God, Jesus responds by revealing the true nature of His relationship with the Father. He says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing” (v. 19). This does not express personal inability, but emphasizes the complete unity of purpose among the persons of the Trinity. Jesus’ words affirm both His equality with God and His distinct role within the divine relationship.

Jesus continues, “For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He Himself is doing” (v. 20). The relationship between the Father and Son is grounded in eternal love and complete revelation. There is no division within the Godhead; the Father continually discloses His purposes to the Son, who carries them out perfectly. Yet Jesus adds that the Father will show Him “even greater works than these,” works that will astonish all who witness them. These “greater works” include the raising of the dead (as later seen with Lazarus in John 11) and, ultimately, Jesus’ own death, resurrection, and authority to grant eternal life and final judgment.

This revelation of Jesus’ unity with the Father teaches us both a profound truth and a practical lesson. Theologically, it reminds us that the Son’s obedience does not diminish His divinity; it displays it. Jesus’ complete harmony with the Father reflects the very nature of God’s holiness, love, and purpose. Every miracle, every word, and every act of compassion flowed from His perfect submission to the Father’s will.

For believers, this becomes both a comfort and a challenge. Just as the Son followed the Father’s leading, we too are called to live in willing obedience to God’s direction. True spiritual maturity is not found in independence, but in surrender, allowing the Spirit to align our will with the Father’s. When our hearts are yielded to Him, our actions, like Christ’s, reflect His character to a watching world.

Jesus’ relationship with the Father also assures us that God’s works are purposeful and good. Even when His plans are beyond our understanding, His love and wisdom are constant. As Jesus trusted the Father completely, so should we trust His timing and guidance, confident that His greater works are still unfolding in and through His people today.

In verse 21, Jesus deepens His revelation of divine authority: “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will.” This is an unmistakable claim to divine prerogative. In the Old Testament, the power to give or take life belonged to God alone. Yet here, Jesus declares that He shares that same authority, exercising the sovereign right to impart life at His will. This life is both spiritual and eternal: spiritual in the sense that believers now receive new life through faith in Him, and eternal in that He will one day raise all the dead to life at the final judgment.

Through these verses, Jesus reveals that His works are not separate from the Father’s but are the Father’s works accomplished through the Son. To see Jesus act is to see the Father at work; to hear Jesus speak is to hear the Father’s voice. This unity of will and purpose affirms both the Son’s deity and His role in the Father’s redemptive plan.

Furthermore, Jesus declares that “the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son” (v. 22). This is a profound continuation of His earlier claim: the One who shares in the Father’s creative and life-giving work also shares in His judicial authority. In the Old Testament, judgment was understood to be God’s exclusive prerogative. Yet now the Father has delegated this divine function to the Son, revealing that Jesus is not merely an agent of God’s will, but the very expression of His justice.

This entrusting of judgment to the Son serves a greater purpose, “that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father” (v. 23). The unity between Father and Son is so complete that the honor due to one is inseparable from the honor due to the other. To reject or diminish the Son is to reject and dishonor the Father Himself. Thus, worship of Jesus is not optional; it is the necessary response to who He truly is. His claim establishes His right to divine honor and worship, confirming His full deity.

Then comes one of the most striking and hope-filled statements in all of John’s Gospel: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (v. 24). Here Jesus moves from divine prerogative to divine promise. The Son who judges is also the Savior who gives life. Eternal life is not merely a future hope; it is a present reality for all who believe. The one who trusts in Christ has already crossed over from the realm of spiritual death into the realm of life.

This new life begins at the moment of faith, when a person hears Christ’s word and believes in the Father who sent Him. Although believers still face physical death, their eternal destiny is secure, for they already possess resurrection life within them. Salvation is not simply the removal of guilt but the entrance into a new existence, one that continues beyond the grave and will be fully realized in the final resurrection. Jesus’ authority to judge and to give life reminds us that the same voice that will one day summon the dead to rise is the voice that now calls us to believe. 

Jesus continues by declaring, “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live” (v. 25). His words move from the present experience of spiritual life to the future reality of physical resurrection. Even now, those who are spiritually dead, estranged from God through sin, can hear His voice and respond in faith to receive new life. Yet the same divine voice that awakens hearts to spiritual life will one day call forth every person from the grave. Jesus’ authority is both redemptive and eschatological. He gives life now and will raise the dead in the age to come.

“For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself” (v. 26). This statement reveals the divine self-existence of Christ. The Father is the source of all life, dependent on no one, and He has eternally granted this same self-sustaining life to the Son. This does not mean the Son was created, but that He shares fully in the Father’s divine nature and life-giving power. Thus, Jesus possesses the inherent ability to bestow life, both physical and eternal, on whomever He wills.

Moreover, “He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man” (v. 27). Here, Jesus unites His deity and humanity. As the divine Son, He has power to give life; as the incarnate Son of Man, He has been entrusted with the right to judge humanity. This echoes Daniel 7:13-14, where “one like a son of man” receives dominion and glory from the Ancient of Days. The same figure who redeems is also the one who will reign in justice.

Jesus then adds, “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (v. 28–29). This is a clear affirmation of universal resurrection and divine accountability. Every human being will one day respond to Christ’s command, some to eternal life, others to condemnation, depending on their response to Him.

The distinction between “those who have done good” and “those who have done evil” does not teach salvation by works, but rather reveals the evidence of genuine faith and obedience. True believers, having received new life through Christ, will bear fruit in obedience and righteousness. Their works testify to their faith. Conversely, those who reject the Son remain in unbelief, and their deeds confirm their rebellion.

Thus, the same voice that now offers salvation extends a universal call, and will one day summon all humanity to resurrection and judgment. The “hour” of salvation has already begun for those who hear and believe, but the “hour” of resurrection and final judgment awaits fulfillment at Christ’s return. In this way, Jesus unites present redemption with future consummation. The Lord who gives life today offers salvation to all who will believe and will one day raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness.

This passage confronts us with both urgency and hope. The Son’s voice now speaks through His Word and Spirit, calling the spiritually dead to awaken and live. To ignore His call is to remain in death; to respond in faith is to receive life and enter into God’s kingdom.

It also reminds us that life and judgment belong to Christ alone. The One who offers mercy today will one day stand as Judge over all. For the believer, this is not a cause for fear but for assurance; our Judge is also our Savior. Those who trust in Him have already passed from death to life and can await the resurrection not with dread, but with joyful expectation of glory.

Jesus underscores that His actions are not independent but perfectly aligned with the Father’s will. “I can do nothing on my own,” He says, “as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of Him who sent me” (v. 30). This verse is transitional; it concludes the section on Jesus’ unity with the Father, ending the way it began, with the point that the Son can do nothing apart from the Father. His judgment, as everything He does, is from the express will of the Father. He is the perfect Spokesman for the Father and His effective Executive. Jesus’ will is to do the Father’s will, which shows that He has the same nature.

To support His claims, Jesus presents multiple witnesses. He acknowledges that self-testimony alone is insufficient according to Jewish law (v. 31), but there are others who testify to His identity. John the Baptist bore witness to the truth (v. 33), yet Jesus’ testimony surpasses that of John, for His works themselves, including the miracles and signs, bear witness that the Father has sent Him (v. 36). The Father’s own voice and the Scriptures also testify about Him, yet His opponents have failed to hear or believe (v. 37–38). Jesus confronts them directly: they search the Scriptures, believing that in them they have eternal life, yet those very Scriptures point to Him (v. 39–40).

Jesus then rebukes the religious leaders for their misplaced priorities. They seek glory from one another rather than from God (v. 44) and do not have the love of God within them (v. 42). He tells them that Moses, in whom they place their hope, will be their accuser, for Moses wrote about Him (v. 45–46). Their failure to believe Moses’ writings exposes their inability to truly believe in Jesus’ words (v. 47).

Theologically, John 5:31–47 emphasizes four key testimonies that validate Jesus’ divine identity: John the Baptist, Jesus’ own works and miracles, God the Father, and the Scriptures. Jesus’ claims in these verses are profound: He is equal with God (v. 18), gives eternal life (v. 24), is the source of life (v. 26), and judges sin (v. 27). John the Baptist’s testimony confirms the truth of these claims.

This passage warns against being so consumed with religion or tradition that one misses Christ. The leaders knew Scripture but failed to see the Messiah. They followed the rules yet ignored the Savior. Modern believers must examine whether they seek God’s approval above human recognition and remain open to the life-changing truth of Jesus rather than merely performing religious duties.

Conclusion

John 5 reveals Jesus as the divine Son, perfectly united with the Father in purpose, power, and authority. His actions at the pool of Bethesda show His compassion and sovereignty over sickness and sin, while His discourse on life and judgment exposes His divine prerogative. This chapter challenges readers to move beyond mere religious observance to genuine faith in Christ, who alone gives eternal life. It also serves as a warning against spiritual blindness, the danger of knowing Scripture intellectually but missing its fulfillment in Jesus.

Believers are called to honor the Son as they honor the Father, to trust in His life-giving word, and to live in anticipation of the resurrection to eternal life. The passage also reminds us that God’s grace does not nullify human responsibility; each person must respond to the voice of Christ with faith and obedience. The challenge, then, is to live in a way that reflects both our gratitude for His mercy and our recognition of His absolute authority as Lord and Judge of all.