When Jesus healed the lame man by the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-15) it sparked public controversy among the other Jews. First, Jesus had healed the man on the Sabbath, which was against their religious traditions. Second, when Jesus answered this first charge he claimed equality with God, which only fanned the flames of controversy. John 5:1947 is Jesus’ answer to his critics. He shows them that he has every right to heal on the Sabbath and that he is indeed equal with the Father. And the entire conversation serves to advance John’s purpose in his Gospel, that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:30-31).