John 5:16–47

Honoring the Father and the Son

¹⁶Therefore, the Jews began persecuting ^cJesus ^dbecause He was doing these things on the Sabbath. ^e17But Jesus responded to them, “My Father ^fis still working, and I am working also.” ¹⁸This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill Him: ^gNot only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

¹⁹Then Jesus replied, “^•I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father ^hdoes, the Son also does these things in the same way. ⁱ²⁰For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing, and He will show Him greater works ^jthan these so that you will be amazed. ²¹And just as the Father raises ^kthe dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to anyone He wants to. ^l22The Father, ^min fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. ⁿAnyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. ^o

Life and Judgment

²⁴“I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life ^pand will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

²⁵“I assure you: An hour is coming, and is now here, ^qwhen the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. ^r26For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted to the Son ^sto have life in Himself. ²⁷And He has granted Him the right to pass judgment, ^tbecause He is the ^•Son of Man. ^u28Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice ²⁹and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of judgment.

³⁰“I can do nothing on My own. I judge only as I hear, and My judgment ^vis righteous, ^wbecause I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. ^x

Four Witnesses to Jesus

³¹“If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid. ^y32There is Another who testifies about Me, and I know that the testimony He gives about Me is valid. ^za33You have sent messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth. ^b34I don’t receive man’s testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. ³⁵John ^cdwas a burning and shining lamp, ^eand for a time you were willing to enjoy his light. ^f

³⁶“But I have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish. ^gThese very works I am doing testify about Me that the Father has sent ^hMe. ³⁷The Father who sent Me has Himself testified ⁱabout Me. You have not heard His voice at any time, and you haven’t seen His form. ^j38You don’t have His word living in you, because you don’t believe the One He sent. ³⁹You pore over ^kthe Scriptures ^lbecause you think you have eternal life in them, yet they testify about Me. ^m40And you are not willing ⁿto come to Me ^oso that you may have life.

⁴¹“I do not accept glory ^pfrom men, ⁴²but I know you—that you have no love for God ^qwithin you. ⁴³I have come in My Father’s name, ^ryet you don’t accept Me. ^sIf someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. ⁴⁴How can you believe? While accepting glory from one another, you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only ^tGod. ^u45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, ^von whom you have set your hope. ⁴⁶For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. ⁴⁷But if you don’t believe his writings, ^whow will you believe My words?” ^x