5:16 thru 5:30 (Feb 26)

Jesus is persecuted by the Jews for healing on the Sabbath. Then Jesus repeats the heart of the gospel to the Jews. I see many parallels between this passage and Jesus' talk with Nicodemus: 3:8 and 5:21; 3:18b and 5:22; 3:18a and 5:24; 3:16 (whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life) and 5:24 (whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life); 3:3 (born again) and 5:24 (crossed over from death to life); 5:29 (those who have done good) and 3:21 (whoever lives by the truth); 5:29 (those who have done evil) and 3:20 (everyone who does evil). This is a solid communication strategy: tell the truth, tell it clearly, and tell it often! Certainly Jesus testified in spirit and in truth.