John 5:1-9
1 After these things 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, which is called in HebrewBethesda, having five porticoes. 3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] 5 A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 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?” 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.” 8 Jesus *said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” 9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.
What do we see in this? The final sentence, now it was the Sabbath on that day is a lead-in for the next part of the story, however, there is much we can glean from this part. The bracketed explanation of the healing pool is said to not be contained in some translations. I think it is important to know why all these sick people were laying around a pool of water. I also find it interesting that the healing powers of the stirred up waters is accredited to God by John. I see two inferences in this part of the text:
1) God presented ways on earth for people to find physical healing
2) The same defining word for God (the Lord) is the same used for Jesus as well. It’s a subtle hint that shouldn’t be overlooked that Jesus is God.
With those two points being made clear to us, we can then roll into the rest of this passage which shows us two more truths about healing and God:
1) God has more than one way to heal our physical ailments
2) We should not rely on man alone for our own healing.
Too often we seek out counsel and help from other people, but how often do we seek out God’s healing? Certainly, God has surrounded us with many ways for healing (ie. fountains with moving waters) but what about looking to Him directly?
