Post by foxjj on Aug 27, 2023 6:55:35 GMT
Healing at the Pool Of Bethesda
Adjacent to the Temple in Jerusalem were baths or pools, used for the purpose of ritual purification by bathing. There were also other pools in Jerusalem that had the reputation of healing waters which were also popular with the Romans. We read of Jesus visit to the pool of Bethesda in John chapter 5 (NIV)
“1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.”
Of which major feast Jesus went to Jerusalem to attend, we are not told. Jewish men were required to attend three pilgrimage feasts in Jerusalem, Pentecost, Passover and Tabernacles.
Verse four of John 5 is not always shown in our Bibles because of its doubtful originality. It is understood that it was inserted by a scribe who was familiar with folklore concerning the Bethesda pool which reads:
“4 From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.”
We do not know how many sick people were at the pool that day, or why Jesus’ attention was drawn to a particular invalid:
“5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
The man’s response shows that he did not recognize Jesus. He was only concerned with the hope of getting into the pool at the appropriate time:
“7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
The next portion of Scripture is evidenced that Jesus was Divine, been able to heal the man without a request from him, or touching him:
“8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.”
We now come to an example of religious legalism:
“The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
The rule was acutely not a Mosaic commandment, but an interpreted tradition taken from Jeremiah 17:21-22:
“21 This is what the LORD says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors.”
The interrogation of the now healed man continued:
“11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” 12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.”
It is interesting that no one recognized Jesus as the healer:
“14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.”
There was a belief at that time that sickness was often a result of sin. However, Jesus is not saying to the man that he would be punished for sinning with further illness, but reminding him to the consequences of sin at the judgment.
The blindness of religion kept the religious leaders from seeing their Messiah working among them. According to their interpretation of Moses law, Jesus broke the sabbath by healing the invalid. It mattered not that the healing was a good act. To them it was an act of work, thereby braking the sabbath:
“16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”
Instead of listening to Jesus, and judging Him by His healings and miracles, these men consider Him to be a blasphemer deserving of death. Although Jesus went to the pool of Bethesda with the intent of bringing healing, His act of love turned into a reason for the religious leaders to seek His death. Notwithstanding, our Heavenly Father would turn their evil intent into the greatest healing for the world. Their desire for the death of Jesus as a blasphemer, became Salvation for all who repent:
“38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off —for all whom the Lord our God will call.” - Acts 2:38-39.
Today, let us give thanks for the healing of our souls.
John Joseph Fox.
Adjacent to the Temple in Jerusalem were baths or pools, used for the purpose of ritual purification by bathing. There were also other pools in Jerusalem that had the reputation of healing waters which were also popular with the Romans. We read of Jesus visit to the pool of Bethesda in John chapter 5 (NIV)
“1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.”
Of which major feast Jesus went to Jerusalem to attend, we are not told. Jewish men were required to attend three pilgrimage feasts in Jerusalem, Pentecost, Passover and Tabernacles.
Verse four of John 5 is not always shown in our Bibles because of its doubtful originality. It is understood that it was inserted by a scribe who was familiar with folklore concerning the Bethesda pool which reads:
“4 From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.”
We do not know how many sick people were at the pool that day, or why Jesus’ attention was drawn to a particular invalid:
“5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
The man’s response shows that he did not recognize Jesus. He was only concerned with the hope of getting into the pool at the appropriate time:
“7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
The next portion of Scripture is evidenced that Jesus was Divine, been able to heal the man without a request from him, or touching him:
“8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.”
We now come to an example of religious legalism:
“The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
The rule was acutely not a Mosaic commandment, but an interpreted tradition taken from Jeremiah 17:21-22:
“21 This is what the LORD says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors.”
The interrogation of the now healed man continued:
“11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” 12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.”
It is interesting that no one recognized Jesus as the healer:
“14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.”
There was a belief at that time that sickness was often a result of sin. However, Jesus is not saying to the man that he would be punished for sinning with further illness, but reminding him to the consequences of sin at the judgment.
The blindness of religion kept the religious leaders from seeing their Messiah working among them. According to their interpretation of Moses law, Jesus broke the sabbath by healing the invalid. It mattered not that the healing was a good act. To them it was an act of work, thereby braking the sabbath:
“16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”
Instead of listening to Jesus, and judging Him by His healings and miracles, these men consider Him to be a blasphemer deserving of death. Although Jesus went to the pool of Bethesda with the intent of bringing healing, His act of love turned into a reason for the religious leaders to seek His death. Notwithstanding, our Heavenly Father would turn their evil intent into the greatest healing for the world. Their desire for the death of Jesus as a blasphemer, became Salvation for all who repent:
“38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off —for all whom the Lord our God will call.” - Acts 2:38-39.
Today, let us give thanks for the healing of our souls.
John Joseph Fox.