In this week's passage we discover that the prosecution of Jesus begins far earlier than his passion week. In John five we not only observe Jesus' compassion and authority to heal but also a bold authentication of his authority as the Son of God. In a world that often patronizes Jesus as the "good moral prophet" we are challenged to acknowledge his own self-understanding. John 5 serves as a great reminder that in our witness of Jesus we risk suffering persecution and the consequences of our faith claims.