Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

There was a pool by the sheep gate in Jerusalem called in the Hebrew dialect Bethesda, which had five porticoes and an angel went down in certain seasons and stirred up the waters and the first one who stepped in would be healed, "A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, 'Do you wish to get well?' The sick man answered Him, 'Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.' Jesus said to him, 'Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.' Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, 'It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.' But he answered them, 'He who made me well was the one who said to me, 'Pick up your pallet and walk.' They asked him, 'Who is the man who said to you, 'Pick up your pallet and walk?' But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, 'Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.' The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But He answered them, 'My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.' For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God." (John 5:5-18)

Just as the Father was working, keeping this universe in order, sending an angel to stir up the water and then heal the first to walk in, and all on the Sabbath, just as the Son was working as He healed the man who could not walk, on the Sabbath. Then Jesus tells those that plotted to kill Him, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him." (John 5:39-43)

That brings us to our question, "Who will receive the crown of life?". When Jesus went back into Galilee a certain royal official requested Him to come and heal his son,

'So Jesus said to him, 'Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.' The royal official said to Him, 'Sir, come down before my child dies.' Jesus said to him, 'Go; your son lives.' The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off." (John 4:48-50)

Jesus also told Nicodemus, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?' Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:3-5).

And so are we to be born of the water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of life, "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; For he who has died is freed from sin." (Romans 6:3-7)

So we can see that our sins are washed away in that watery grave of baptism just as Paul was born again in baptism as Ananias asks him, "Now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name." (Acts 22:16). And we too are to put on the new man for eternal life, "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4)

So then, for the answer to our question we turn and read, "But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:5-8)

And so there we have the answer to our question, as it is those who will love His appearing! James says also, "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12) May we be found to love Him for life in the true love of His word (1 John 5:3 & 2:1-6).

Just as Paul tells us, "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as much in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;" (Philippians 2:12), that's for life eternal!