The account of the healing at the Pool of Bethesda is found in John 5:1-15. Bethesda, meaning “House of Mercy,” was a pool in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate, where a multitude of sick people gathered, hoping to be healed when the waters were stirred. The people believed that an angel would come down at certain times and stir the waters, and the first person to step in after the stirring would be healed.
The Condition of the Man
John describes the man as having an infirmity for thirty-eight years:
“Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.” (John 5:5)
This was not a temporary affliction; it had defined his entire life. He was helpless, unable to get himself into the water when it was stirred. For years, he had waited in vain for a miracle, only to be disappointed time and time again.
Jesus’ Question: “Do You Want to Be Made Well?”
Jesus saw the man lying there and asked him:
“Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:6)
This question may seem strange, but it was a test of the man’s faith. Did he truly desire healing, or had he accepted his condition as permanent? Many people become comfortable in their afflictions, making excuses instead of seeking change. The man responded with an excuse:
“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.” (John 5:7)
Instead of directly saying, “Yes, I want to be healed,” he explained why he couldn’t be. He was focused on the limitations of man, not the power of God.
The Command of Jesus
Jesus did not address his excuses; instead, He commanded him:
“Rise, take up your bed and walk.” (John 5:8)
There was no angel, no stirring of the waters—just the word of Jesus. The man had to act in faith.
“And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.” (John 5:9)
The power of Christ overrode the superstition of the pool. This healing was not dependent on an angel, timing, or competition—it was dependent on Jesus alone.
The Reaction of the Jews
Instead of rejoicing over the miracle, the religious leaders were angry because Jesus had healed the man on the Sabbath:
“The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, ‘It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.'” (John 5:10)
Legalism blinded them to the miracle. They cared more about their man-made rules than the mercy of God. This is a reminder that religion without grace is spiritually dead.
The Man’s Second Encounter with Jesus
After being healed, the man went to the temple, which is significant. For thirty-eight years, he had been unable to fully participate in temple worship, likely seen as an outcast due to his condition. Now, restored physically, he was seeking spiritual well-being. It is here that Jesus found him again and spoke directly to him:
“See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” (John 5:14)
Jesus’ words suggest that the man’s former lifestyle may have been connected to his affliction. While not all suffering is caused by sin, this statement implies that sin had played a role in his past. Jesus warned him not to return to it, or something worse could happen. Whether this meant a greater physical ailment or a spiritual consequence, we do not know. But the message is clear—his healing was not just about his body; it was about his soul.
My Final Thoughts
The healing at Bethesda is more than a story of physical restoration—it is a picture of grace, obedience, and transformation. The man had waited for years, hoping for a miracle in the way he expected, yet Jesus came and healed him on His own terms. His first response was obedience, but what stands out is that after being healed, he sought the temple. Jesus found him there and warned him that spiritual health was just as crucial as physical well-being.
It reminds us that while God can heal the body, our greatest need is a redeemed soul. What good is a healed body if the heart remains enslaved to sin? Just as Jesus told this man to “sin no more,” He calls each of us to live in righteousness, not returning to the things that once bound us. True healing is found in walking with Christ, forsaking sin, and living in the newness of life (Romans 6:4).
