THE MAN AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA

On an honest ground, of the many Bible characters that received their miracle from Jesus, the man at the pool of Bethesda has perhaps been the most criticized as a result of his decision not to beg Jesus to heal him.

John 5:1-7(NKJV)

1 After this 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 Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, 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 (emphasis mine). 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, He said to him, "Do you want to be made 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."

This appears so unintelligent of someone who had been suffering for 38 years and who was desperately in need of a miracle.

But is it possible that this man had his reasons for such a response? Jesus' question apparently required a yes or a no but this man refused to respond in this order. Could it be that there is more to his answer beyond a seeming show of lack of tact?

That is exactly what we find as we study the context of the entire narrative.

Care to find out? Let's examine this together.

John 5:8-9(NKJV)

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. And that day was the Sabbath.

On that day, which was the Sabbath, Jesus went ahead to get him completely healed. The Jews became indignant because of this.

John 5:10(NKJV)

The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."

See his response

John 5:11(NKJV)

He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'"

From his use of words, it appears Jesus was a total stranger to him.

And yes he was.

John 5:12-13(NKJV)

12 Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?" 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.

Can you see? The man probably had heard about Jesus before but he had never met him in person earlier, so he never knew him.

How would you expect that a stranger you know nothing about intended to heal you? It's practical, isn't it? When Jesus asked the question in verse 6, “Do you want to be made well?”, he simply reasoned like any rational person would that, “Perhaps this man wants to help me so that when next the angel comes to stir up the water, he would carry me into it immediately,” hence his response in verse 7, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up….” So, he was simply trying to find out if this stranger (Jesus) was willing to lend a helping hand.

John 5:14-15(NKJV)

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." 15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

It was afterwards that he got to know who made him whole—Jesus of Nazareth.

Can you see it?

Beforehand, Jesus was just a random person to him.

So instead of criticizing him today that he was lamenting in response to a simple question, let's read contextually and understand that his response to Jesus was actually normal. Many of us wouldn't have done any better.

Blessings.

Victor Ibosiola © 2022

Excerpt from Miracles: Yesterday and Today (Ambience of Wonders 2020)