John

Focuses on the divinity of Jesus, presenting Him as the Word made flesh and emphasizing His miraculous signs.

Chapter 5

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

*Next, the Jews had a celebration; then, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

*Now, in Jerusalem near the sheep selling area, there is a pool named Bethesda in the Hebrew language. It has five covered areas.

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

*Here is a large group of people unable to work, including those who are blind, unable to walk, and shriveled. They're all waiting for the water to move.

4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

*An angel once disturbed the water in a pool at a specific time, and whoever entered the water right after it was stirred up was healed from their illness.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

*A man was present with a health problem that lasted for 38 years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

*When Jesus saw the man lying and knew he had been doing this for a while, he asked him, "Do you want to get better?"

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

*The disabled man told him, "Sir, I don't have anyone to help me get into the pool when it gets stirred up. Before I can even get there, someone else always goes down before me."

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

*Jesus tells the man, "Get up, pick up your bed, and start walking."

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

*Right away, the man got better, picked up his bed, and started walking. It was also the day of rest (Sabbath).

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

*The Jews told the healed person, "It's the Sabbath, you're not allowed to carry your bed."

11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

*He replied to them, The one who healed me told me, Pick up your bed and walk.

12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

*Then they asked him, "Who told you to pick up your bed and walk?"

13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

*The healed person didn't know who did it because Jesus left quickly, as there were many people in the area.

14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

*Then, Jesus found him in the temple and told him, "Look, you are healed! Don't sin again, or something even worse might happen to you."

15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

*The man left and informed the Jews that it was Jesus who healed him.

16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

*So, the Jews harassed Jesus and wanted to kill him since he did those actions on the rest day (Sabbath).

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

*But Jesus replied, "My Father is always working, and so am I."

18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

*So, the Jews wanted to kill him even more because he broke the Sabbath rules and claimed that God was his Father, which meant he was equal to God.

19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

*Then Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, the Son cannot do anything by himself. He can only do what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son does the same thing."

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

*The Father loves the Son and shows him everything He does. He will also show the Son even greater works, so you can be amazed.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

*Just like how the Father brings people back to life and makes them alive again, the Son also has the power to make whoever he wants alive.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

*The Father doesn't judge anyone; instead, He has given that responsibility to the Son.

23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

*All people should respect the Son just as they respect the Father. If you don't respect the Son, you don't respect the Father who sent him.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

*I assure you, if you listen to my message and believe in the one who sent me, you will have eternal life and won't face judgment. Instead, you'll transition from experiencing death to having life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

*Truly, truly, I tell you, the time is near and has arrived when the deceased will hear the Son of God's voice. Those who listen will come back to life.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

*Just like the Father has life within him; he has also given that same ability to the Son.

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

*He gave him the power to make decisions too, since he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

*Don't be surprised by this; because the time will come when everyone in the graves will hear his voice.

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

*Those who did good will rise for a positive life, while those who did bad will rise for punishment.

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

*I can't do things by myself. I only act based on what I hear. My decisions are fair because I don't want to do what I want, but instead, I follow the wishes of the Father who sent me.

31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

*If I say I'm right, it's not trustworthy.

32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

*There's someone else who testifies about me, and I know that what they say about me is true.

33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

*You sent messengers to John, and he testified about the truth.

34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

*But I don't listen to what people say: instead, I tell you this so you can be safe.

35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

*He was a bright, shining guide. For a while, you happily followed his light.

36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

*But I have an even better proof than John's: the tasks the Father has given me to complete show, through the things I do, that the Father sent me.

37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

*And God Himself, who sent me, testifies about me. You have never heard His voice or seen His form.

38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

*If his message isn't staying with you, it's because you don't believe the person he sent.

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

*Look for the writings; because in them you believe you have everlasting life, and they talk about me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

*You won't come to me to live.

41 I receive not honour from men.

*I don't get praise from people.

42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

*But I understand, you don't truly have God's love within you.

43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

*I've arrived using my Father's name, but you won't accept me. If someone else comes with their own name, you'll welcome them.

44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

*How can you believe when you give each other honor and don't seek the honor that comes only from God?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

*Don't worry that I'll blame you to God; it's Moses, the one you trust, who accuses you.

46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

*If you believed Moses, you would have believed in me too, because he wrote about me.

47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

*But if you don't believe his writings, how can you believe my words?

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