This lesson appears in the book: The Holy Land Companion Guide Biblical Sermons & Lessons to guide you through the Holy Land and Egypt. By: Pastor and Christian Author Jessica Linhart available @ Amazon.com: Jessica Linhart: books, biography, latest update
According to John, chapter 5, Bethesda was a place of healing. In verse four, it is recorded that an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled waters. Whoever was the first to get into the water was made whole of whatever disease they had. A certain man which was sick for 38 years was made whole by Jesus. Therefore, Bethesda is a supernatural place.
Today there is a church called Saint Ann and ruins of the old pools of water. The church called Saint Ann has special acoustics. So, if you are visiting, be sure to take a listen.
It has been associated with a place of healing for many many years. If we had to make a historical, guess we would say more than 2000 years. According to the gospel of John chapter 5 verse 2 there were five porticos. The remains of these porches can still be seen today. The southern pool is best in shape for viewing today. The pool sits below ground level, because as each civilization was destroyed, a new civilization was built on top; which caused the ground to compact and set up taller.
Now let’s examine John 5:1-15! 5 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to the Jerusalem.
We say here that Jesus once again is going to Jerusalem to the temple. The reason for going there is one of the feasts. Scripture here does not tell us which one. John described it as being near the sheep gate. The sheep gate was the closest gate to the temple.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, [a]Bethesda, having five porches.
Today in Israel, archaeologists did some excavation, and they found all five columns.
3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, [b]paralyzed, [c]waiting for the moving of the water.
The Bible reports that a large number of people gathered by the pools, because healing came from them.
4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
So, one of the main characters enters into the story. The Bible does not tell us where this man came from, or how long he has been coming to the pool, but the next verse tells us that Jesus had compassion on him.
6 “When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
Jesus already knows the answer to this question, but he was wanting the man to recognize his need. When we have a need, we need to come to Christ with that. Therefore, this is also for us today. There is something about confession. With God, he wants it to be easy for us. In fact, Scripture says to confess that he is God.
I also noticed that Jesus only spoke to one man out of the multitude of people. Jesus left his hometown of Nazareth, because the people did not believe in him. Perhaps, this guy, had the right spirit, the right confession, and the right need; in order to be healed.
7 The sick man answered Him, “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.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
We have a couple of topics to deal with from verses 8 and 9. Jesus stated in an impossible outcome to the man. He asked the man to get up and take his bed and walk. According to John, the man had not been able to do this for at least 38 years; if not, all of his life. This man had to have trust in Jesus. in other words, this man took Jesus at his word. Only if Americans would take Jesus at the at his word. Only if America would return back to God. This reminds us that faith can move mountains.
The last part of verse nine tells us that Jesus healed on the Sabbath, and the man took up his bed and walked. Today, we ask: what is the big deal? Remember, that God told the people to rest on the Sabbath! And if God told you to do something, then you were to follow his instructions exactly, or you were going to miss out on your blessing. In addition, the Sadducees and the Pharisees would get to gather and interpret what God meant by his laws. Which, when humans get involved things often blow out of proportion. This is what happened to the laws. There were so many of them that they contradicted each other, and sometimes doing something as simple as caring your bed would have been considered work.
10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ 12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”
Other Jews, going to the feast, confronted the healed man in verses 10 and 11. They let him know that it was the sabbath day. Then, they wanted to know who told him that he could break the rules. They wanted to know who gave him authority to disobey God’s law. Legalism cares more about keeping the rules than it does about people. They did not appear happy for the man, because they did not ask him how long he had been sick or who healed him they were only interested in why he broke the law.
13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
The temple was just behind the pool of water. Which, made it convenient for the healed man to come to church. According to Jewish laws, the healed person would have to bring an offering to the Lord, and present himself or herself to the priest.
The next part of this verse and 14 that concerns people is that Jesus said, go and sin, no more, because the worst thing could come upon you. Well, sin will cause you to go further than what you want to go. There is consequence for your sin. For example, if you commit the sin of stealing, and you get caught, you have to pay a restitution, you may go to jail, and your reputation is ruined.
- We are called to a life of holiness.
- We are called to confess our sin; not to remain in our sin.
- We are called to walk a new path; not to walk the same path.
- We are called to leave the sin behind and embrace a path of holiness.
In this life of holiness there is no room for sin. We, house the Holy Ghost; thus, we are the temple of the Lord! The Holy Ghost will tell us when not to sin and how to get around the temptation. Our job is to follow his direction but, when our flesh gets the best of us, we have an advocate with the father and his name is Jesus Christ.
15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
