2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
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.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
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?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
Key Observation:
The type of feast of the Jews in not mentioned. McGee thinks it to be another Passover while Calvin thinks it to be Pentecost.
Devotion:
Early manuscripts do not include verse four, which apparently could be an explanation by a later scribe. When I read the early church fathers, it is amazing to me how much they were given to numerology. Even Aquinas, who quotes almost everyone seems to attach great meaning to what appear to my mind as insignificant numbers. Chrysostom thinks the five porches to have significance, and is given to wildly interpret numbers out of context from rational understanding. Calvin is not quite so wild but is no better, interpreting the women at the well to be “lying” when she told the men of her city “that He told me all that ever I did”. Calvin notes that Jesus did not tell her all that she did, and thus is lying.
But there are great gems to be had from studying these early fathers, if I but have patience. Some of my favorites? Chrysostom: “Let us then set ourselves in order, let us delight in the fear of God; for if we live here without fear of Him, His coming will surprise us suddenly, when we are neither careful, nor looking for Him.” Aquinas: “Yet this is not sufficient since even free will, if it is to be moved to receive grace, needs the help of divine grace, not indeed habitual grace, but movent grace. For this reason, secondly, he gives power by moving the free will of man to consent to the reception of grace, as in “Convert us to yourself, 0 Lord,” by moving our will to your love, “and we will be converted” (Lam 5:21).” Calvin: “And he has employed the universal term whosoever, both to invite all indiscriminately to partake of life, and to cut off every excuse from unbelievers.” And McGee? Let me commend his fine outline of the book of John. I think it well worth your attention, if you are at all studying the book of John. Here is his fine outline of chapter one: “This first chapter of John’s gospel has been lengthy and extremely important. The prologue presents the incarnation of the Word—He is God, He became flesh, He reveals the Father. Then He is introduced by witnesses. John the Baptist testifies that Jesus is the revealer of God. Andrew testifies that Jesus is the Messiah. Philip testifies that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament. Nathanael witnesses that Jesus is the Son of God, the King of Israel.”
But as to this section of chapter five, I will note that Jesus directly gave the lame man a command to take up his bed and walk. I wonder why, because it seems that Jesus was using the healing to deliberately raise the opposition of the Jews. The Jews did get aroused, and berated the man for taking up his bed on a Sabbath. I do note that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, and perhaps He wanted to deliberately raise this issue with the Jews. Did God intend the Sabbath to exclude good things? Perhaps Jesus was trying to present the truth of the Sabbath for the Jews to reconsider.
John does teach us that Jesus gave his life willingly; no man took His life. It is wonderful to consider the all-sovereign God come in the flesh, and able to control even those who hated Him the most until the right moment came, the moment that He chose, and that not of his enemies. When I reflect on the power of God, I see that all in my world will come to pass just exactly as He has ordained, and that as it says in Psalm Two, He will laugh at those who plot against Him.
McGee, J. Vernon (1990-01-30). Thru the Bible 1-5 (5 Volume Set) (Kindle Locations 100047-100050). Grupo Nelson. Kindle Edition.
Calvin, John (2009-06-03). Commentary on John - Volume 1 - Enhanced Version (Calvin's Commentaries) (Kindle Locations 2156-2157). Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Kindle Edition.
St Thomas Aquinas (2010-04-15). Commentary of The Gospel of St John (Kindle Locations 1328-1331). Unknown. Kindle Edition.
Chrysostom, St. John (2010-09-06). Homiles on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews (Kindle Locations 8226-8227). B&R Samizdat Express. Kindle Edition.
Hallelujah Chorus
1. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign forever and ever,
Forever and ever, forever and ever,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
King of kings, and Lord of lords, and Lord of lords,
And He shall reign, and He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings, forever and ever, and Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Lyrics: George Frederick Handel
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