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

2. Now, by the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, there is a pool (called Bethzatha in Hebrew) surrounded by five galleries.

3. In these galleries lay a multitude of sick people - blind, lame and paralyzed.

4. All were waiting for the water to move, for at times an angel of the Lord would descend into the pool and stir up the water; and the first person to enter after this movement of the water would be healed of whatever disease that person had.)

5. There was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years.

6. Jesus saw him, and since he knew how long this man had been lying there, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?"

7. And the sick man answered, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; so while I am still on my way, another steps down before me."

8. Jesus then said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk."

9. And at once the man was healed, and he took up his mat and walked. Now that day happened to be the sabbath.

10. So the Jews said to the man who had just been healed, "It is the sabbath and the Law doesn't allow you to carry your mat."

11. He answered them, "The one who healed me said to me: Take up your mat and walk."

12. They asked him, "Who is the one who said to you: Take up your mat and walk?"

13. But the sick man had no idea who it was who had cured him, for Jesus had slipped away among the crowd that filled the place.

14. Afterwards Jesus met him in the Temple court and told him, "Now you are well; don't sin again, lest something worse happen to you."

15. And the man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

16. So the Jews persecuted Jesus because he performed healings like that on the sabbath.

17. Jesus replied, "My Father goes on working and so do I."

18. And the Jews tried all the harder to kill him, for Jesus not only broke the sabbath observance, but also made himself equal with God, calling him his own Father.

19. Jesus said to them, "Truly, I assure you, the Son cannot do anything by himself, but only what he sees the Father do. And whatever he does, the Son also does.

19. Moses gave you the Law, didn't he? But none of you keep the Law. Why, then, do you want to kill me?"

20. The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does; and he will show him even greater things than these, so that you will be amazed.

20. The people replied, "You have a demon; who wants to kill you?"

21. As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to whom he wills.

21. Jesus said to them, "I performed a single deed, and you are all astounded by it.

22. In the same way the Father judges no one, for he has entrusted all judgment to the Son,

22. But remember the circumcision ordered by Moses - actually it was not Moses but the ancestors who began this practice. You circumcise a man even on the sabbath,

23. and he wants all to honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever ignores the Son, ignores as well the Father who sent him.

23. and you would break the Law if you refused to do so because of the sabbath. How is it, then, that you are indignant with me because I healed the whole person on the sabbath?

24. Truly, I say to you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; and there is no judgment for him because he has passed from death to life.

24. Do not judge by appearances, but according to what is right."

25. Truly, the hour is coming and has indeed come, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and, on hearing it, will live.

26. For the Father has life in himself and he has given to the Son also to have life in himself.

27. And he has empowered him as well to carry out Judgment, for he is a son of man.

28. Do not be surprised at this: the hour is coming when all those lying in tombs will hear my voice

29. and come out; those who have done good shall rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

30. I can do nothing of myself, and I need to hear Another One to judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

31. If I bore witness to myself, my testimony would be worthless.

32. But Another One is bearing witness to me and I know that his testimony is true when he bears witness to me.

33. John also bore witness to the truth when you sent messengers to him,

34. but I do not seek such human testimony; I recall this for you, so that you may be saved.

35. John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were willing to enjoy his light.

36. But I have greater evidence than that of John - the works which the Father entrusted to me to carry out. The very works I do bear witness: the Father has sent me.

37. Thus he who bears witness to me is the Father who sent me. You have never heard his voice and have never seen his likeness;

38. then, as long as you do not believe his messenger, his word is not in you.

39. You search in the Scriptures thinking that in them you will find life; yet Scripture bears witness to me.

40. But you refuse to come to me, that you may live.

41. I am not seeking human praise;

42. but I have known that love of God is not within you,

43. for I have come in my Father's name and you do not accept me. If another comes in his own name, you will accept him.

44. As long as you seek praise from one another instead of seeking the glory coming from the only God, how can you believe?

45. Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father. Moses himself in whom you placed your hope, accuses you.

46. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me.

47. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?





“Temos muita facilidade para pedir, mas não para agradecer”. São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina