John 5:1-15

At last, an actual new update.

1After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

3In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

5And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

A cool thing about living in the modern era is the wide ranges of scholarly advantage that can be easily had. Here, for instance, we have a whole verse that is omitted in most translations. Apparently, verse four is a later interpolation, and thus shouldn't have too much weight put on it. Which is good to know, in case you were thinking about building a whole sermon (or, heck, a whole new denomination) around the theological implications of this angel stirring the waters of this pool and giving it magical healing powers. Maybe the pool did heal people, and maybe it didn't (who am I to argue with a healing pool, if I believe Jesus healed the sick, cast out literal evil spirits who possessed people, and rose from the dead?) but either way the angel business is, as near as scholars can tell, a detail tacked on on later to help make sense of things.

6When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

8Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

Another miracle of Jesus. Another simple miracle, with little drama attached to it. First there is the question: "Do you want to be made whole?" It's not the no-brainer it appears to be. I have encountered addicts of various kinds, and persons much attached to various self-defeating or self-destructive behaviors and attitudes, ranging from a chronic inability to take any kind of personal responsibility to delusional beliefs in magnetic healing bracelets. Some of them were quite aware of the fact that they were hurting themselves. But they (and this "they" includes "I," for the record) cling tight to what hurts them. A lot of people honestly don't want to be made whole, it seems.

But to the man who does whole-heartedly want to be restored, Jesus says "pick up your bed and walk." And that's all there is to it.

10The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

11He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

This actually gets expounded on in detail later, but here's the overture of the "Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath" theme. His authority is such that it overrides the Law.

12Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

13And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

Another little touch I find interesting. Jesus has healed the individual, but shuns the crowd. I find in this a little object lesson about Christianity in general. Big crowds of onlookers are not where He can be found. Look for Him instead where lone broken individuals are being restored. This is part of why I feel more comfortable worshiping in someplace like this



















Than in someplace like this



















































14Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

A worse thing than crippling. I believe here Jesus, talking slantwise as ever, is warning him about the death of the soul.

Next: The Sabbath, Divinity, and New Life!