John Chapter 5

Chapter 5

After feasting JC went on up to Jerusalem where there was a pool near the sheep market. This pool has five porches and is called Bethesda (funny, I always thought that was a town). In the water lay a large number of people who were sick, some were blind, some were halt (whatever that may be), some were withered and some were just waiting for the water to move.

At some time in the past an angel had gone down and disturbed the water which gave it the mystical power to heal the sick of whatever disease they might have. Hey, I have hot springs like a half an hour from my house that are supposed to do that. I wonder if an Angel did that too! (I’ve been to them but I wasn’t sick, they did make me feel pretty good though!)

One of the infirm who was trying to get into the pool had been sick for thirty eight years. Poor guy! JC saw him lying by the side, not in the water and asked him if he would like to be healed. That was nice of JC.

The invalid answered that he didn’t have a servant to help lower him into the water and every time he tries himself someone steps in front of him. Man, that’s happened to me at crowded pools before and it stinks! And I wasn’t even trying to be healed, so imagine how much more it stinks for this guy.

Jesus tells him to “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” And you know what? He does just that. It happened to be the Sabbath, so although the Jews were impressed that he was cured, they told him it wasn’t lawful for him to carry his bed.

This poor fellow (who I feel must have been much abused in his life) says, um, but the guy who cured me told me to pick it up. Yeah, if someone cured me I’d probably listen to a simple instruction like that too.

They asked him who this guy was so they could have a chat with this fella.

But, the newly healed gentleman didn’t know who it was because after healing him JC had taken off, not being interested in the crowded bath.

Later, Jesus found his new friend in the temple and said something to the effect of, well look at you. You’re looking much better. Now, don’t sin anymore or something worse than that disease could happen. (It’s a little snide for my taste, but I still think it was nice of JC to help him in the first place so I won’t be too hard on him).

The man departed and found the Jews and now told them who it was that had healed him.

The Jews decided that Jesus should be slain because of what he did on the Sabbath. Apparently they had gone to the temple to let him know or something (John doesn’t mention where they are at this point, but they’re close enough that JC is able to respond). JC tells them that his Father works now and so does he.

Well, that infuriated the Jews even more because not only did he break the Sabbath, but he also said that God was his father… and that ain’t cool.

He tells them that a son can do nothing but what he sees his father do (must not apply to daughters because I do a lot of things that are far different from my parents… much to their chagrin, I’m sure). Well, the Father loves the son and shows him all the things he does and the Son will show even greater works than these so everyone can marvel. Terrific! I love great works, but did Jesus just say he could do better than God?

As the Father raises the dead, the son can also raise up whoever he wants. Yuck! I hate talk of raising the dead. I imagine people die for a reason and that’s where they should stay. I don’t think people should mess too too much with the natural order of things, but maybe that’s just me, and maybe it’s just because I’m afraid of zombies.

The Father doesn’t judge man, but lets his Son judge them. I doubt that I need to comment on why I think that’s a bad plan.

All men should honor the Son just like they honor the Father. He that refuses is also refuses to honor the Father. Okay, count me in, most likely, I doubt I could honor either sufficiently for the liking of these texts.

Now, hear JC and believe that God sent him so you can have everlasting life and not damnation.

I really don’t like how John’s version of Jesus is always going on and on about this eternal life. It’s too terrifying for me to even think about. Okay, just a few more verses Beth, you can get through it.

Back to the story…

Jesus says… the hour is coming, nope, actually the hour is now when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and whoever hears it will live. Just as God can give life so can his boy and he has also imbued him with the authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of man. Why does that give him the ability to execute judgment? Not sure. Don’t bother to marvel at this, the hour is coming when all those dead people are going to hear his voice. Those that have done good will get resurrected and live, but those that have done evil will get resurrected and be damned. Eeep!

Jesus can’t do anything himself, he hears, he judges, but don’t worry, he let’s us know that his judgment is just because I doesn’t seek his own will, but the will of his dad.

If he bears witness of himself it’s not true. (Of course, there seem to be a lot of people who he will not accept witness from). There’s John who bore witness to the truth, but Jesus won’t receive testimony from man. But he’ll tell you a few more things so you can be saved… John was a burning and shining light, and all of you were happy to have him for a time. But, Jesus has a greater witness than John and that is the works that his Father commanded him to finish and the works that he will be. Okay, so only JC’s works bear him witness, kind of an actions speak louder than words type thing? I can get into that. I wish he would have said it a little earlier, but I’ll take it.

Of course JC’s daddy also bears him witness, but JC understands that his audience has never heard God’s voice or seen his shape. Also, none of them have his word living in them because they don’t believe in JC. He tells them to search the scriptures because in them they think they have eternal life, also the scriptures will testify of him.

He then asks them, Won’t you come to me so that you can have life? I don’t know where this comes from, but for no real reason he says that he does not receive honor from men. He knows that the folks he chatting with do not have the love of God in them. He tells them that he has come in his father’s name, but they are not receiving him. If someone else came in their own name, they would receive him. So he asks, how can you believe in someone that receives honor from other men, but not believe in someone who receives honor from God?

Don’t worry though, Jesus assures the group, he won’t accuse them to his daddy (he’s no tattle tale), but someone who they trust will! OMG, it’s Moses! JC says that Moses had written of him and if they had believed Moses they would believe in him. But, if they don’t believe in his writings how will they believe his words?

Well played JC, although, you could let those guys get a word in edgewise. I’m not sure I really buy into Moses words, which is perhaps why I don’t buy into JC’s. Sorry, nothing has really stirred the feeling of truth in me that I always look for in any type of religious writing. Oh well, we’ll press on and see what we find. So far, all I’ve found in a guy with a very high opinion of himself and very little proof on his side.