The Healing at the Pool
But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?” John 5:47 · Berean Standard Bible
Jesus closes with a piercing question: if you do not believe what Moses wrote, how will you ever believe what I say?
It is the ultimate mic-drop moment. They claim Moses as their authority but do not actually believe what Moses wrote. And if they cannot believe their own Scriptures, Jesus' words have no chance with them either.
Jesus asks the question that exposes the root of their unbelief and leaves them with nothing to say.
This is the end of the argument, and it is devastating. Jesus has shown that their rejection of Him is not a thoughtful theological conclusion. It is the result of hearts that have never truly believed the Scriptures they claim to love.
Jesus closes with a devastating logical argument: if they disbelieve Moses' writings (tois ekeinou grammasin), they will certainly not believe His spoken words (tois emois rhēmasin). Written Scripture should be easier to verify than spoken words, making their unbelief even more culpable.
The contrast between grammata ('writings') and rhēmata ('spoken words') suggests that if the permanent, accessible written testimony of Moses fails to persuade them, the fleeting words of oral teaching have even less chance.
Jesus delivers the final, unanswerable challenge of the discourse, leaving His opponents with no defense for their unbelief.
Jesus closes His defense with an argument that leaves no escape. If they cannot believe the written words of their greatest prophet, how could they ever believe the spoken words of the one Moses wrote about? Their unbelief is self-condemning.
45Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, in whom you have put your hope.
46If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.
47But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”
Read all of John 5 — A man who has been an invalid for thirty-eight years is told to pick up his mat and walk. The Pharisees are more concerned about the day of the week.
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