It is common to hear people equate all religions as having common beliefs and, in essence, assume that all religions are basically the same. Countering this belief is actually a simple task, technically. Probably the easiest way to begin that discussion is to point out that of all belief systems on earth The God of the bible is the only one who will tell you He loves you. He proved it by not only communicating it to us, but by becoming one of us and paying the price to redeem us. This is precisely why Jesus came to earth.

It is with that in mind that we come to chapter 5 and examine the fallout of the miraculous healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda. This is a confrontation which was begun and pursued by Jesus, none of these events happened randomly, they were deliberate. They were intended to begin the process we see in the passage.

These were the words that would change the way the religious leaders would interact with Jesus and His apostles from here on, as John accounts for it. This was the event where the miracle, followed by the words Jesus spoke would cause a confrontation with the religious leaders in Jerusalem.

Not only did Jesus defy their authority, but He did so by making it clear that He and The Father were One. There are many today who will dispute this by saying "Jesus never claimed to be God." However a careful look at this section of John, in particular 5:18 makes it is clear that the religious leaders knew the implication of His words.
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