John 5:16-47

16The Jewish leaders were angry because Jesus had made a man well on their day of rest. As a result, they began to cause a lot of trouble for Jesus.

17But Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is still working, and I too must work.’

18Because Jesus said this, the Jewish leaders became really angry. They wanted even more to kill him. Jesus not only worked on the day of rest. He was also calling God his own Father, so he was making himself equal with God.

19Jesus answered them, ‘I tell you this: The Son can do nothing by himself. He sees what the Father does, and he can do only those same things. What the Father does, the Son also does.

20The Father loves the Son. He shows the Son all the things that he himself does. And the Father will show the Son even greater things to do than these. Those greater things will surprise you even more than what you have already seen.

21The Father raises dead people to make them alive again. In the same way, the Son gives life to whoever he chooses.

22More than that, the Father does not judge anyone. He has given authority to the Son, so that the Son will judge all people.

23Then all people will respect the Son as a great person. They will respect him in the way that they respect the Father. The Father sent the Son. So if people refuse to respect the Son, it shows that they do not respect the Father either.

24I tell you this: Everyone who hears my message should believe in the Father who sent me. If they believe in me, they will have life for ever with God. God will not say that they are guilty. They are no longer under the power of death. Instead, they have life with God.

25I tell you this: A time will soon come when those who are dead in their spirits will hear the voice of the Son of God. Yes, it is that time already. Those people who hear that message will receive true life.

26The Father himself can give people life. In the same way, he has given authority to the Son to give people life.

27The Father has also given authority to the Son to judge people. That is because I am the Son of Man.

28Do not be surprised by this. There will be a time when all the dead people will hear the Son's voice.

29They will come out from under the ground. Those people who have done good things will rise from death and they will live with God. Those people who have done evil things will also rise from death. But they will rise so that God can punish them as guilty people.’

30Then Jesus said, ‘I can do nothing by myself. I hear what the Father says to me. Then, because of what he says, I judge people. So I judge in a way that is fair. I am not trying to do what I want for myself. The Father sent me, and I want to do what he wants.

31If I say great things about myself, nobody would know that my words are true.

32But there is someone else who speaks about me. I know that what he says about me is true.

33You have sent your people to ask John about me. What he has told you about me is true.

34I do not need any man to speak on my behalf. But I am telling you this to help you. Then God will be able to save you.

35John was like a light that shone brightly. For a certain time, you enjoyed the light that he gave.

36But it is not only John who shows who I am. There are other things that show it more strongly. My Father has given work to me so that I could finish it. These are the things that I do, and they show who I am. They show clearly that the Father has sent me.

37Also, the Father himself has spoken about me. You have never heard his voice. And you have never seen his shape.

38I am the one that he has sent. You do not receive his message because you do not believe in me.

39You study carefully what the Bible teaches. You think that those books will give you life with God. And it is true, those books do speak about who I am.

40But then you refuse to come to me so that you may have life with God!

41I do not think that it is important for people to praise me.

42But I know what kind of people you are. I know that you do not really love God.

43I have come with my Father's authority, but you do not accept me. But if someone else comes with his own authority, then you will accept him.

44You like to praise each other. That makes you happy. But what about God himself? You do not try to do good things so that he will praise you. That is why you will never believe in me.

45But I will not have to tell the Father that you are guilty. No, it is Moses who will do that. You think that Moses is the one who will show that you are right. But he is the one who will show that you are guilty.

46Moses wrote about me. So, if you had really believed Moses, you would believe me.

47But you do not believe what Moses wrote. So you will never believe what I say.’