13. John 5:1-18 Jesus Heals at the Pool of Bethesda

 

 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, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.
3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.
5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?"
7 The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me."
8 Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk."
9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.
Now that day was the Sabbath.

10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed." 
11 But he answered them, "The man who healed me, that man said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk.'"
12 They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"
13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.
14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you."
15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.
16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

NOTE: In John 5:3-4, some manuscripts include a description of an angel stirring the water, stating that the first person to enter the pool would be healed. However, many modern translations omit verse 4 because it does not appear in the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts. There are two possibilities here: the water was actually moved by an angel OR the pool may have been a natural spring, and the bubbling water was misinterpreted as miraculous. Whatever the case may be, in Jesus' healing, He doesn't engage with the idea of the pool at all. Instead, He shows that true healing doesn’t come from rituals or being first in line, but through faith in Him.

We just saw in John 4 that Jesus is the true living water. In His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus declared that whoever drinks the water He gives will never thirst again (John 4:13-14). That passage showed us that true spiritual satisfaction and life come from Jesus, not from physical water or human traditions. Now, in John 5, we see a similar theme. The people at the Pool of Bethesda believed the water could heal them, but Jesus doesn’t acknowledge the pool’s supposed power at all. Instead, He directly heals the man, making it clear that He alone is the source of true healing and restoration. Just as He offered the Samaritan woman “living water” in chapter 4, here in chapter 5, He offers real healing and new life—not through rituals, but through His own power.

 What does this passage reveal about God?

•  Jesus saw the man’s suffering and took the initiative to heal him (v. 6).  
• God’s power is greater than human traditions or superstitions. Jesus healed the man without the pool, proving that healing comes from God, not from rituals (v. 8-9).
• God is always working. God’s love and power are not bound by human rules. Jesus said, “My Father is working until now, and I am working” (v. 17).
• Jesus is equal with God and He is Lord over the Sabbath. Jesus is not just a prophet or teacher—He is God (v. 16-18).

What does this passage reveal about human nature?

• People often place their faith in the wrong things. The man waited for decades, hoping for healing from the pool, but the true source of healing was standing in front of him (v. 7-8). Healing and restoration come through Jesus, not through rituals or superstition. 
• People can become so focused on rules, rituals, and traditions that they miss the deeper, more important realities, like love, compassion and restoration. The religious leaders should have rejoiced at the man’s healing, but instead, they were focused on whether carrying his mat broke Sabbath rules (v. 10-12).

How does this passage impact my attitude? 

Like the man at the pool, I sometimes look to human traditions or self-effort to bring change, or meaning to my life. But Jesus reminds me that true restoration comes only through Him. He is the source of real healing, and when we turn to Him in faith, He brings the restoration we truly need.I’ve realized that no matter how much we try to control or fix things ourselves, ultimate change comes only through Jesus and His power.

The religious leaders were more focused on the rules than on the man’s healing. This makes me realize that sometimes I get so caught up in following the rules that I forget about God’s love and grace. I want to be someone who values compassion over being strict and puts people first, rather than just focusing on the rules.

How does this passage challenge my actions?
I’ll take a look at areas in my life where I might be putting my faith in habits, routines, or my own efforts instead of in Jesus. Instead of relying on my own strength, I’ll make an effort to turn to Jesus in prayer and trust Him to guide and heal me.  

Instead of being quick to judge or criticize others, I will ask myself: Am I responding with love? Am I seeing people the way Jesus sees them? I will intentionally choose grace over rigid expectations in my relationships.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Your compassion and love. Just like the man at the pool, I sometimes feel stuck, hopeless, or unaware of Your presence. But You see me, You know my struggles, and You are always working. Help me to recognize You in my life and trust in Your power rather than relying on my own strength.

Forgive me for the times I focus more on religious rules than on loving You and others. Give me a heart that values grace over legalism. Help me to be aware of how You are moving in my life and to be grateful for Your presence.

In Your name, Amen.