Sermon Tone Analysis

It’s against the law to sing off-key in North Carolina

In Gainsville, GA, you may not eat fried chicken any other way than with your hands (who would want to?)

In Paulding, OH, a policeman may bite a dog if he thinks it will calm the dog down.

In Quitman, GA, chickens are not allowed to cross the road

The the time of Jesus, there were a lot of strange laws in place, especially when it came to the Sabbath.

Examples

If you put out a lamp in order to deter thieves or to allow a sick person to sleep, that was fine.

But if you did it in order to not use up the lamp or the wick or the oil, you were at fault

People used to use vinegar on their teeth to alleviate tooth aches.

You were not allowed to put vinegar on your teeth on the Sabbath.

But you could put vinegar on your food and if that healed you, the religious leaders basically said, “So be it”.

In modern times, there are still very strict laws.

Hot water can not be turned off on the Sabbath

If the gas is left on, you can turn it off, but only if you do it with the back of your hand or with your elbow

This important to note because the following story takes place on the Sabbath and that is a major factor in to how everything plays out.

(ESV)

The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath

5 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.

3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.

5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was the Sabbath.

10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’

” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well!

Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Jesus Is Equal with God

18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

What an interesting story

And it’s made all the more interesting by this verse that is included in the KJV

(NKJV)

4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.

I don’t know about you, but for me, this verse is a real head scratcher.

Do you want to be healed?

There’s something about it that just seems odd

4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.

Why?

Without spending too much time on it, I want to tell you why.

If you were paying attention as I read the story from the ESV, you might have noticed that this verse did not appear.

1.

And if you were paying attention as I read the story from the ESV, you might have noticed that this verse did not appear.

That’s because in the earliest manuscripts that we have, this verse does not appear.

If you have the ESV or NIV or NLT, you may have a note indicating this

It may be that it was inserted a later date by someone who was trying to explain the man’s statement in verse 7 “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me”

If it was part of the original manuscripts I would still have a problem with it.

Here are some reasons why

The Era: We are still basically in the 400 years between the Testaments when we have no record of God working miracles like this

The alleged healings at the Pool of Bethesda are unlike another healings that we read about.

We do read about water being involved in healings, such as Naaman, but they are specific to the person

If people really were healed by stepping into the water, this would be sort of a general healing on a “first come first serve basis”

It just doesn’t seem to fit with the way that we see God working before this or after this story.

It was not uncommon and still is not uncommon for the sick to gather around mineral waters like this pool was for healing

even in modern times, there has been a lot of stock put into the ability of mineral water to heal ailments

I don’t believe this man was a man of faith in God and so his words about the water being stirred (which aren’t in dispute, BTW) should be taken with a grain of salt.

I believe that rather he was reflecting a popular superstition and belief at that time.

We don’t read anywhere else that that an angel was involved in healing

Let’s imagine for a minute.

Imagine if it were really true that an angel would stir the water periodically.

The scene is set: It’s the Pool of Bethesda.

Under the 5 roofed porches, every square foot is covered with the sick and the lame, the destitute.

People without hope.

People waiting for a handout from some kind stranger or from someone just trying to appease his/her own conscious.

Their days are long and listless.

They live in filth and misery.

They keep one eye open for an act of kindness from a stranger and the other eye expectantly open for that magical time when the water of the pool is mysteriously stirred.

Their one hope for becoming a whole person again.

And then it happens: the water begins to froth and boil.

And pandemonium breaks out.

Only one person, the first person into the water can be healed!

Imagine the chaos as people hop and crawl and roll and claw their way to the edge of the pool!

The strong, those who barely have anything wrong with them, are always the first to the water.

The lame, those at death’s door, are trampled, pushed to the back of the crowd.

Does this seem like the way that God works?

It doesn’t to me

It’s more sort of like grotesque movie scene from some director’s sick mind.

So, no, I don’t believe that an angel really stirred the water of this pool and that the first person in was healed.

But one thing we do know is that the sick did gather at this pool and that there was a belief that the waters had some healing power.

And that is where Jesus finds this man.

Huddled up in misery on his bed of suffering.

Squinting at the water.

Would this be the day when the water is stirred?

even if it is the day, how is he going to get to the water?

Suddenly a shadow falls across him and he hears a voice

But being Jesus, he knows that this man has been an invalid for 38 years.

And he walks up to him and says

“Do you want to be healed?”

Do you want to be healed?

What kind of a question is that?

Of course I want to be healed!

Yes!

I want to be healed!

You have no idea how much I have wanted to be healed!

I think that’s what I might have said.

Instead, this man barely looks up.

Another useless question from another curious bystander no doubt.

“Mister, come on.

What kind of question is that?