John 5:1-14
5:1
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
5:2
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches
Bible students take note of the "feast". The Passover feast was held only once a year and this would be Christ"s 2nd attendance to the Passover Feast. The first reference of the Passover feast was in Chapter 2 where He flips over the money changers" tables. { note ..However;there where possibly 2 other kinds of feast that He could of gone to.}
5:3
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
5:4
For 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.
There were 2 different thoughts on this as I did my study.
A. There are a number of mineral springs in Israel. Some think possibly that pressure builds up and causes this moving of the water. However; I think it would take some mighty superstition to wrought a healing of a crippled individual.
B. That as the scripture points out, there really was an angel which stirred the waters. This would not be the first New Testament recording of an angel
We have an angel setting Peter free from a prison in Acts 16. We have an angel talking with the virgin Mary.We have an angel talking with John the Baptist"s father .
5:5
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
5:6
When 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?
That is a long time folks to be lame. He may have gotten complacent there for in the next verse the Lord ask if he wants to be healed.
5:7
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. when the water is troubled,5:8 What a horrible dilemma to be in. Lame for 38 years knowing that being the slowest and most lame you will never get healed.An example of survival of the fittest.
Jesus singles this man out and says"Rise ,take up thy bed and walk
5:9
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
5 :10The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
5:11
He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
5:12
Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
5:13
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
Jesus was not ready to be harassed by the Jews so he "conveyed " quickly removed himself away. I"m sure breaking the Sabbath was more important to the Jews than seeing their old acquaintance healed.For surely 38 years beside that porch some must have recognized him.
5:14
Afterward 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.
Afterwards Jesus is kind enough to find this man and warn him to sin no more.Some scholars take this to mean, " not to practice sin." In this particular scripture it appears that sin can cause sickness. "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." Actually this must have been the thought of the day as we read John 9:1-3
9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
9:2
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
9:3
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
So not always but sometimes it appears that sickness can be a result of sin. Let"s look at Hebrews 12 5-11
12:5
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
12:6
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
12:7
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
12:8
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
12:9
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
12:10
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
12:11
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
In conclusion, it is good to always examine ourselves.The Lord has many ways of chastising us. But in the end it should make us "partakers of his holiness."
Have a Jesus filled weekend and God bless,
Brother Chuck
Your welcome Rebel.This probably helps me more than everyone. I usualy spend about 1 1/2 hhours doing this before I go to bed at night. I find this a great way to sanctify your mind before going to bed. These verses were alot more difficult than the other ones so I had to do alot of homework. I mean it's not everyday that an angel stirs the water.
Rebel,
Have a great day man. I'm taking off for a fish management area in 50 minutes.It's in Hardee County.I went out at 3:30 this morning and picked up another rod at Walmart. Most of mine are Med.Heavy. I needed a Medium. I will be cutting the neighbors lawn later to pay for the rod.My wife don't let me 'waste 'too much money.LOL
C ya ,
Chuck
Jn 5:1-14 Healing at Bethesda
