Pool of Bethesda, Do You Want to Be Made Well? John 5:1-9

 

John 5:1

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

Jesus heads to Jerusalem, again, for another feast. We’re not told which one, but Jewish males were required to attend three feasts a year. Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. (Leviticus 23:2, Deuteronomy 16:16).

The general school of thought is, this was the fall feast of Tabernacles. 

Although Jesus wasn’t politically correct regarding the legalistic hypocrisy of the Pharisees, He wasn’t a total rebel, either. For the most part, He obeyed the law, followed current customs. He was circumcised, dedicated, attended feasts, went to the temple, paid taxes.

² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.

Bethesda; Beit Hesed. Beit means, house of; or, place of. Hesed means, mercy. The place of mercy, or, the house of mercy.

The Sheep Gate was located on the northern wall of the city, just north of the temple.

Sheep being prepared for sacrifice would be washed in the spring fed pool, and then go through the Sheep Gate, to the temple.

For centuries skeptics discredited this story, the gospel of John, and thus, the Bible, because, they said, the Pool of Bethesda didn’t exist.

But, as always, HIStory, is proven true. In God’s Divine timing, around 1888 the pool of Bethesda was discovered, by the Sheep Gate. Little by little they’ve uncovered the pool and the five porches. It’s rectangle shaped, with porches on all four sides and one down the middle; creating a terraced, larger than Olympic sized pool; but a whole lot deeper—over forty feet on one end. (That must’ve been where the diving boards went.)

³ In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed…

In the five covered porches, around the super-sized Olympic pool, lay a great multitude of sick folks.

The total number isn’t disclosed, but the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible, and we see “a great multitude” in other places; like when Jesus multiples a few scraps of food to feed a “great multitude” and in those places the “great multitude” is four to five thousand. Mark 8:19-20.

So, there’s a LOT of sick folks around the pool of Bethesda. Perhaps, the pool of mercy, looked more like, a pool of misery.

Verse three continues:

 …waiting for the moving of the water. 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.

You may not see the last part of verse three, and all of verse four, depending on the translation you’re using.

Certain ancient manuscripts didn’t include it; so, some modern translators, omitted it. It doesn’t change the integrity of scripture, either way. In or out, it says the same thing in context. That snippet simply explains why the sick folks were there.

The omission has created mixed opinions. Some say the stirring was simply from the underground spring, and the healing was just myth, superstition.

Whatever the case, something must’ve stirred the great multitude to believe it was worth hanging out in that place.

God is under no obligation to fit into our logic.

He told the valiant commander Naaman to go dip in the Jordan seven times to be healed of leprosy. At first, he thought it was beneath him, but he obeyed and was cleansed. 2 Kings 5. Obedience brings understanding. 

Jesus, spit, made mud, rubbed it on the eyes of the man born blind, and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. He did and came back seeing. John 9:6-7.

That’s God.

His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, His ways higher than our ways. Isaiah 55:8-9.

So, if by the Sheep Gate, the Good Shepherd, wants to show mercy, in the House of Mercy, it’s His prerogative.

One thing is for sure. If He indeed had an angel stir the waters of Bethesda, the first one in had to be focused on the water, not other people.  

We personally need to be watching, waiting, listening, paying attention, for the moving of the Lord in our own lives; not simply the movement of man. We need to see and hear from the Lord with our own heart and soul.

No one cannot develop a personal relationship with someone simply by hearing others talk about them. Or, read about them. You must communicate with them, personally.  

The Lord has given us examples to aspire to His character, not to imitate a formula. 

However, He doesn’t leave us without instruction. James 5:14-16 says:

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

 

⁵ Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time…

Jesus knows your story

Jesus saw the man, the individual. Not just the sea of people. He knew his history. Everybody’s got a story. He knows yours. He knows the pain, sorrow, fear. Has seen every tear. He cares. Has a Way, planned just for you. A future filled with hope. 

So, knowing the man, Jesus asks.

…He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

It’s a good question. It’s a tough question.

The word, “well” means, sound, whole, healthy. Body, soul, spirit.

He wants to know, do you want to be made well, sound, whole, healthy, or, are you just looking for a quick fix in the flesh, a bail out, temporary relief from pain, with no intention of change?

Being well takes responsibility.

Do you want to be made well? That will mean taking responsibility for yourself, your household, your actions, attitude, behavior, habits.

Being well, is work.

The man at the pool relied on others for everything—mercy, meals, mobility. But, if healed, he’d be required to get up, carry his own weight, his own mat.

Do you want to be well?

⁷ 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.”

The sick man says, “I have no man.” Jesus wants to show him, I AM your man.

Notice the man doesn’t really answer the question. Jesus asked about something the man could control—the condition of his heart.

The sick man, passed the buck. I have no man. I just need someone else to help me get in the water. If only someone else would… pay my… fix my… give me... bail me…

Jesus told the woman at the well, whoever drinks of this water will thirst again…but whoever drinks of the water I shall give, will never thirst. John 4:13-14.

The man was looking at the wrong source.

Jesus shows him, (and us): I AM your Source, I AM you Man. 

⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

Take up your bed and walk. Jesus commands come with power to obey. Even if it looks impossible, even if it’s been impossible for thirty-eight long years.

Forgive. Love. That person. Yes, that one. And, also that other one…you know, the one in the mirror.

Yes, you can. Jesus commands come with power to obey.

B-b-b-but I don’t talk so good.

Go anyway Moses, I made your voice. I AM THAT I AM is with you. Exodus 4:10-11.

“Come” With that, petrified Peter got out of the boat and actually walked on water. Matthew 14:29.

I have a question.

Why him? Why *just* him?

There was a great multitude in that place; quite possibly, thousands. Yet, only that certain man was healed. Why only him? Why not everyone?

Why did he get healed, and my prayers went unanswered? My child died. The marriage failed. My loved one didn’t get better. I just got sicker.

Jesus isn’t afraid of tough questions. He invites us to ask them.

Unfortunately, we’re out of time, today. But Lord willing, when we continue, we’ll address these heart wrenching questions.

In the meantime, to prepare for next time, take a look at a few things we know:

We know:

God is good. Psalm 34:8, 100:5

God is love. 1 John 4:8

God is sovereign. Jeremiah 32:17.

We know that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, His ways higher than our ways. Isaiah 55:8-9.

Those things we know.

Let’s pray,

Our Father in heaven, and in our hearts, thank You for loving and caring enough to know our story. We say, “Yes Lord” we want to be made well. Not just a temporary fix in the flesh, but an eternal soundness that shines Your glory. We love and trust You, forever.

Amen.