Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda
September 25, 2022
Commentary
Jesus was in Jerusalem for another feast (v. 1). John Gospel is unique in that it includes several stories about Jesus observing the various religious feasts in Jerusalem. During his time in Jerusalem, Jesus went by the pool, called Bethesda, which is just north of the Sheep Gate (v. 2). This was a place where sick people often gathered, waiting for the water to stir (v. 3). Tradition taught that an angel would often come, causing the water to move and when it did the first person to step into the water would be healed (v. 4). On this particular Sabbath day (v. 9), Jesus found a man who had been physically afflicted for 38 years (v. 5). John did not say what kind of physical problem he had or if he was an invalid from birth. In any case, his condition was hopeless. Jesus knew that this man had been coming there for a long time and he asked him, “Do you want to be healed” (v. 6)? He replied that he did, but because of his infirmity the others would always get into the pool before him (v. 7). Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk”, and immediately the man took up his bed and walked (vv. 8-9).”
Because it was the Sabbath, the Jews confronted him (v. 10). The Jew’s rigid tradition taught that if anyone intentionally carried anything from a public place to a private place on the Sabbath, he deserved death by stoning. This was not actually part of the Law. It was only a man-made tradition. Realizing that he had broken their rules, the healed man said that he was only following orders (v. 11). The Jews then asked who it was that had given him these orders (v. 12) and the man said that he did not know, probably because Jesus was unknown to him (v. 13).
Application
Jesus said, “Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). But of the Scribes and Pharisees he said, “… they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” (Matthew 23:4). Am I like Jesus or am I more like the Pharisees? How can I bring healing to people today? How can I help lift people’s burdens?
John 5:1– 13 (NET)
1 After this there was a Jewish feast, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool called Bethzatha in Aramaic, which has five covered walkways. 3 A great number of sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed people were lying in these walkways. 5 Now a man was there who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and when he realized that the man had been disabled a long time already, he said to him, “Do you want to become well?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get into the water, someone else goes down there before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 Immediately the man was healed, and he picked up his mat and started walking. (Now that day was a Sabbath.)
10 So the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to carry your mat.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’?” 13 But the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped out, since there was a crowd in that place.