Healing at the Pool
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John in his Gospel records seven miracles:
Changing Water into Wine (2:1-11)
Jesus makes all things new
We submit our request to him and leave it in his hands
Healing an officials son in Capernaum (4:46-54)
Trusting Jesus as God
Healing the invalid at the pool in Bethesda (5:1-18)
Hope in despair, Jesus is the Word, the Creator
Feeding the 5000 near the sea of Galilee (6:5-14)
Waling on water in the sea of Galilee (6:16-21)
Healing the blink man in Jerusalem (9:1-7)
Raising the Lazarus from the dead in Bethany (11:1-45)
John 5:1–8 (ESV)
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 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?” 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.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”
The Setting
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Feast:
John 2:13 right after the wedding there was a passover which would have required all jewish males to travel to Jerusalem.
one of the three pilgrim feasts that the Mosaic Law required Jewish males to attend: Passover, Pentecost, or Tabernacles.
You always go up to Jerusalem:
Area of Galilee was actually north of Jerusalem, but parts of this area are closer to sea level. Jerusalem is roughly 2500 ft above see level..
Psalms of ascent
The psalms of ascent received this title because the pilgrim Israelites sang them as they traveled from their homes all over the land and ascended Mt. Zion for the annual feasts.
Example: PS 121
A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
This psalm directed the thoughts of the pilgrim to God as his source of help. It gives assurance that Israel’s Keeper will maintain vigilant oversight and protect His people.
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.
The Sheep Gate was evidently a gate in the north part of Jerusalem’s wall just west of its northeast corner
We read about it’s construction in Nehemiah
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel.
In Aramaic
Bethesda - It means “house of outpouring” or perhaps “house of mercy.”
In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.
Most new Bibles don’t have John 5:4 which in older translations reads:
4 From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.
This verse is not in the oldest of manuscripts. As archeologist continue to uncover ancient times we find more evidence that supports the narrative of Scripture and refines our understanding.
In this case: We’re looking at probably a “scribal note.” Or some built in commentary to someone copying this text in written form for distribution.
This is where the sick and the homeless hung out!
The Event
One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
As we can see, this man’s sickness has caused him to be unable to walk
It may have also been as a result of sin.
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.”
Can you imagine the hopelessness this man must have felt?
the length of his illness seems to be just to document its seriousness and the man’s hopeless condition.
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?”
We’re not sure from the text if Jesus possessed super natural knowledge about this man, or if he was told by others.
Some observations:
Jesus moved passed others who were ill and went directly to this man.
Jesus probes this man’s desires and hopes. “Do you want to be healed?”
Some people don’t want Jesus to interfere in their lives. They are perfectly content in their sinful independence from God.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
Sometimes, we struggle, but we haven’t hit rock bottom yet. We are content to continue to struggle ourselves without the involvement of seeking after Jesus.
Jesus was probing the depths of this man’s desperation. Those that have arrived at the end of themselves and have no where else to Jesus will not be turned away by Him.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
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.”
The sick man’s response doesn’t answer the question.
it shows his lack of awareness of the question, but again, he has no way of knowing that God is asking Him this.
He needs a new perspective to understand what Jesus is willing to do.
“I have no one”
This man is alone, broken from relationships, everyone has failed him.
He’s placed his hope and trust in others, but at this point, his situation is so hopeless that “no one” is around to assist.
Ever felt alone? Like everyone has abandoned you?
“While I’m going another steps”
Even when he does try to get close, he’s unable to be the first person in the water where he believes his healing will come.
Think about it.. there are other sick people there… and they are all racing after a false cure, a false salvation.
Sick people crawling over sick people in an effort to find relief.
Hurt people… Hurt people…
If you’re not well, and your surrounding yourself with people of similar condition, you’ll be left behind at the expense of your well being.
Everyone has failed this man.
The Words of Christ Change everything.
Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”
Listen, Jesus’ words healed this man.. As God, the creator God, he has the power to speak and effect change.
Perhaps this man was trying to manipulate Jesus into feeling sorry for him and seeing if this person would take him to the water.
However, Jesus isn’t an ordinary man… and his not going to to do things our way.
We see again as we did at the wedding feast and with the officials son, Jesus meeting needs on his own terms.
Healing of Lazarus, the words of Christ change things.
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
Remember, Jesus is the Word of God made flesh and dwelling among us…
It’s an awe inspiring moment to think… the very person who spoke the universe into existing is now speaking healing into this man’s body.
The results of Jesus statement:
And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.
These events point to the fact that the messiah would include healing. It’s a culturally relevant thing that happened and the Jews at a Jewish festival would have likely thought about the stories of what the coming messiah would bring the people.
then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
Here was proof for all Jerusalem to see that Messiah had appeared. He had healed a man whom sickness had bound for 38 years.
By carrying his pallet on the Sabbath the man triggered a controversy. By commanding him to do so Jesus was responsible for the situation that followed. Indeed He deliberately created it. This probably explains in part why Jesus healed this particular man.
Jesus begins to challenge the status quo deliberately to spark controversy with the religious leaders and disrupt a broken religious system that keeps people separated from God.
Somethings else:
Tony Evans says, “Where your bed is, there your home is… Thanks to Jesus this man is no longer living in a place of despair.
Conclusion
One thing we learn from this story is the power of God and the affirmation of Jesus as the coming messiah, the creator who is Lord over all.
Thoughts for us:
Jesus has made himself available, are we willing respond to his question?
Do you feel alone? Do you feel like everyone has trampled on you?
Jesus is asking you, do you want to try something new?
You know, at the pool… there were others who were sick, but Jesus focused on this one..
Perhaps the other sick people weren’t at a place of despair? They hadn’t lost all hope in the false cure just yet.
How about you? What are you chasing after that isn’t going to satisfy but you’re not quite ready to let that Go and hear from Jesus?
