Bible Reading
The Healing at the Pool
5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” 12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
The Authority of the Son
16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. 28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
Testimonies About Jesus
31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true. 33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. 36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study[c] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41 “I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” 12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
The Authority of the Son
16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. 28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
Testimonies About Jesus
31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true. 33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. 36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study[c] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41 “I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
Devotional
Chapter five of John begins with an inspiring story of a healing in the city of Jerusalem at the pool of Bethesda. In modern times, this pool has been excavated in the area just north of the temple area, and found to have five porches, just as John said. Every year archaeologists are digging up the past and proving the words of the bible to be accurate. In the time of Jesus, many sick and injured people gathered at this pool in Jerusalem in hope of healing. Perhaps this hope of healing was real, and God honored a release of faith. Or, it may be that this stirring of the water and subsequent healing was merely a hopeful legend; nevertheless, a great multitude of sick people believed it and gathered there.
We read that this particular sick man has been crippled for 38 years. When Jesus is told this, He asked the man a curious question; “Do you want to get well?” To the reader this may seem like a silly question. Of course the man wants to get well! He’s at the place of healing isn’t he? Who wouldn’t want to get well from whatever is troubling them? But the truth is, people get comfortable and use to their troubles in life, almost to the point where they may miss it - the illness, the disability, the impediment. Think about this: This crippled man surely had friends at the pool area, people to talk to, people who brought him food and water. What would happen if he were healed? Perhaps he would need to find a job, a new place to live and a complete change of life. Each of these changes could be more scary and uncertain than even the disability itself. Jesus was aware of this dynamic so He first asks the man if he wants to be healed. It’s strange to think that people get comfortable in something that we, from the outside, view as bad or unwanted. It happened in the old testament when Moses led the captives out of Egypt. Soon, the Israelites were longing for the slavery and bondage they had left rather than their new found freedom in the wilderness. At least back in Egypt they knew where their next meal was coming from and where they would sleep that night. There can be a comfort and familiarity even in things God never meant for us to endure.
It’s interesting to note how Jesus only chose one man to heal despite the fact that the particular area surrounding the pool was full of people seeking healing. They were intently focused on the pool, waiting for the angel to come down at passover and stir the waters. But there was one amongst them that was far greater than the angels. The ultimate physician and healer was in their midst, if they only had the eyes to look up and see him. A similar thing happens in our world today. People wait when the answer is right in front of them. Some wait for a more convenient season. Some wait for dreams and visions. Some wait for signs and wonders. Some wait to be compelled by the voice of God. Some wait for a revival. Some wait for particular feelings. Some wait for a person of authority and status to show them the way. But the one who is able is always listening and ready to hear the cries of your heart. The time for healing and restoration is now! If only we had the eyes to see and the ears to hear.
The man looked up at Jesus and answered his question. He took his eyes off the healing pool and onto the Healer. He communicated, in a sense, that it was his desire to be healed. Jesus looked upon this broken man, full of despair and hopelessness but with a small measure of faith, and healed him. If the man had no faith, he would not have been at the pool, and if he had not looked up and acknowledged Jesus, the Messiah may have selected another. Jesus told the man to do three things he could not do: to rise, pick up his bed and to walk. The man would now have a choice, to believe and do the things Jesus told him to do, or to laugh and ignore the request. There must have been something in the eyes of Jesus or in the authority of His voice that caused the crippled man to respond and attempt to stand. The small measure of faith, only the size of a mustard seed, began to grow into something more. It was in his faithful response to the words of Christ that his withered legs were strengthened. The same is true for us today. Healing and wholeness is waiting for those who faithfully respond in obedience to the words of Christ instead of apathetic dismissal.
The man took up his mat, smelly and dirty as it was, and went away from that place. Oh how it must have felt to walk for the first time in 38 years. The taking of the mat was symbolic of the fact that this was not a temporary healing, it was permanent and the man would never need to return to this place again. A new life awaited him, an uncertain future, but a future full of possibilities that moments earlier had not been available for him. Jesus is our healer even today, if only we would look up and see Him.
We read that this particular sick man has been crippled for 38 years. When Jesus is told this, He asked the man a curious question; “Do you want to get well?” To the reader this may seem like a silly question. Of course the man wants to get well! He’s at the place of healing isn’t he? Who wouldn’t want to get well from whatever is troubling them? But the truth is, people get comfortable and use to their troubles in life, almost to the point where they may miss it - the illness, the disability, the impediment. Think about this: This crippled man surely had friends at the pool area, people to talk to, people who brought him food and water. What would happen if he were healed? Perhaps he would need to find a job, a new place to live and a complete change of life. Each of these changes could be more scary and uncertain than even the disability itself. Jesus was aware of this dynamic so He first asks the man if he wants to be healed. It’s strange to think that people get comfortable in something that we, from the outside, view as bad or unwanted. It happened in the old testament when Moses led the captives out of Egypt. Soon, the Israelites were longing for the slavery and bondage they had left rather than their new found freedom in the wilderness. At least back in Egypt they knew where their next meal was coming from and where they would sleep that night. There can be a comfort and familiarity even in things God never meant for us to endure.
It’s interesting to note how Jesus only chose one man to heal despite the fact that the particular area surrounding the pool was full of people seeking healing. They were intently focused on the pool, waiting for the angel to come down at passover and stir the waters. But there was one amongst them that was far greater than the angels. The ultimate physician and healer was in their midst, if they only had the eyes to look up and see him. A similar thing happens in our world today. People wait when the answer is right in front of them. Some wait for a more convenient season. Some wait for dreams and visions. Some wait for signs and wonders. Some wait to be compelled by the voice of God. Some wait for a revival. Some wait for particular feelings. Some wait for a person of authority and status to show them the way. But the one who is able is always listening and ready to hear the cries of your heart. The time for healing and restoration is now! If only we had the eyes to see and the ears to hear.
The man looked up at Jesus and answered his question. He took his eyes off the healing pool and onto the Healer. He communicated, in a sense, that it was his desire to be healed. Jesus looked upon this broken man, full of despair and hopelessness but with a small measure of faith, and healed him. If the man had no faith, he would not have been at the pool, and if he had not looked up and acknowledged Jesus, the Messiah may have selected another. Jesus told the man to do three things he could not do: to rise, pick up his bed and to walk. The man would now have a choice, to believe and do the things Jesus told him to do, or to laugh and ignore the request. There must have been something in the eyes of Jesus or in the authority of His voice that caused the crippled man to respond and attempt to stand. The small measure of faith, only the size of a mustard seed, began to grow into something more. It was in his faithful response to the words of Christ that his withered legs were strengthened. The same is true for us today. Healing and wholeness is waiting for those who faithfully respond in obedience to the words of Christ instead of apathetic dismissal.
The man took up his mat, smelly and dirty as it was, and went away from that place. Oh how it must have felt to walk for the first time in 38 years. The taking of the mat was symbolic of the fact that this was not a temporary healing, it was permanent and the man would never need to return to this place again. A new life awaited him, an uncertain future, but a future full of possibilities that moments earlier had not been available for him. Jesus is our healer even today, if only we would look up and see Him.