1-5: Introduction:a feast of the Jews; in Jerusalem;
at the Sheep Gate; a pool called Bethesda; a large number of ill people,
including a man ill for 38 years.
6-9a: First Dialogue (Jesus and the Man):
6a: Narrator introduces: Jesus sees the man and knows
how long he's been ill.
6b: Jesus asks:
"Do you want to be made well?"
7: The ill man answers: He has no one to help him.
8: Jesus tells
him: "Stand up, take your mat, and walk."
9a: Narrator reports result: The man becomes well,
takes up his mat, and walks.
9b-13: Second Dialogue (The Jewish Authorities and the Man):
9b: Narrator introduces: That day was a sabbath.
10: Jews tell
the man: "It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat."
11: Man's response: "The man who made me well said to me, 'Take
up your mat and walk."
12: Jews question
him: "Who is the person who said you, 'Take it up and walk'?"
13: Narrator concludes: The man did not know who, for
Jesus had slipped away.
14-15: Third Dialogue (truncated: Jesus and the Man):
14a: Narrator: Jesus found the man in the temple area
14b: Jesus:
"See, you have been made well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you"
15: Narrator: The man tells the Jewish authorities that Jesus was
the one who made him well.
16-18: Fourth Dialogue (truncated: The Jewish Authorities and Jesus):
16: Narrator: The Jews began to persecute Jesus because
he did this on a sabbath.
17: Jesus:
"My father is still working, and I also am working."
18: Narrator: The Jews try all the more to kill Jesus,
for breaking the sabbath, and for making himself equal to God.
Part I (19-30): Jesus' Works: Giving Life and Exercising Judgment
Note: The first half of this passage (vv. 19-24) focuses
more on Jesus' work in the present, while the second half (vv. 25-30) focuses
somewhat more on his work in the future.
19: Amen, Amen: The son can do nothing
on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing.
20: The Father loves the Son and shows him everything
he does, and will show greater works, so that you may marvel.
21: For as the Father raises the dead
and gives life; so also the Son gives life.
22: The Father does not judge, but has
given all judgment to the Son,
23: so that all may honor the Son as they
honor the Father;
whoever does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father.
24: Amen, Amen: whoever hears
my word and believes the one who sent me has eternal life;
he is not judged, but has passed from death
to life.
25: Amen, Amen: the dead will
hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will
live.
26: For as the Father has life within
himself, so also the Son has life within himself.
27: The Father has given the Son authority
to exercise judgment.
28-29: Do not marvel: All who are in tombs
will hear the Son's voice and come out; those who did good deeds receive
"resurrection of life"; those who did evil receive "resurrection
of judgment."
30: I can do nothing on my own; I judge
as I hear; I seek not my will, but the will of the one who sent me.
Part II (31-40): A Series of Witnesses to Jesus
A) 31: Jesus' testimony about himself
B) 32-35: Testimony from John (the Baptist)
C) 36: Testimony from the Works that Jesus does
D) 37-38: Testimony from the Father
E) 39-40: Testimony from the Scriptures
Part III (41-47): A Series of Contrasts about Praise and Believing
41-42: I don't accept human praise; you
don't have God's love.
43: I came in the name of the Father (you
don't accept); others come in their own name (you
will accept).
44: You accept praise
from one another, but you don't seek the praise that comes
only from God.
45: I won't accuse you before the Father; Moses will accuse
you before the Father.
46: If you had believed Moses, you would
have believed me.
47: If you don't believe
Moses' writings, how can you believe my words?