The Man at the Pool of Bethesda
Have you ever waited a really long time for something? In the Bible, we meet The Man at the Pool of Bethesda who had been waiting for 38 years for his miracle. He was paralyzed and spent his days hoping someone would help him into the healing waters.
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$12.99 (as of May 19, 2025 16:25 GMT +01:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
God Gave Us You
$5.99 (as of May 19, 2025 16:25 GMT +01:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)When Jesus saw this man lying there, He did something extraordinary. Instead of helping the man into the water, Jesus offered him complete healing with just a few words. This amazing story shows us that Jesus sees those whom others overlook, and His power to heal goes beyond what we could ever imagine.
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The Man at the Pool of Bethesda
Chapter 1: A Place of Desperate Hope
The story begins in Jerusalem, where there was a special pool called Bethesda. The Gospel of John tells us about this remarkable place: "Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed" (John 5:2-3).
Can you picture this scene? A pool surrounded by five covered porches, crowded with people suffering from all kinds of disabilities. The atmosphere must have been filled with a mixture of hope and despair. These people gathered here for one reason—they believed this pool had healing powers.
According to tradition, an angel would occasionally stir the waters of this pool. The first person to enter after the water was stirred would be healed of whatever disease they had. Jesuswalk.com explains that many people came to this location seeking miraculous healing when the waters were stirred.
The pool of Bethesda was like a primitive emergency room—a place where the sick and disabled came when they had no other options. Some probably came daily for years, hoping that today might be the day they would be healed. The name "Bethesda" means "house of mercy" or "house of grace," yet for many who waited there, mercy seemed forever out of reach.
Chapter 2: The Man Who Waited
Among the crowd at the pool was one particular man who had been suffering for an incredibly long time. The Bible tells us: "One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years" (John 5:5).
Thirty-eight years! That's longer than many people lived in those days. For almost four decades, this man had been unable to walk. We don't know exactly what caused his condition—whether he was born with it or suffered an accident or illness. But we do know his condition had completely disrupted his life.
Without the ability to walk, he couldn't work a normal job. He was probably dependent on others for food and basic needs. Each day, someone would carry him to the pool where he would wait, hoping to somehow reach the water when it was stirred.
But there was a cruel irony in his situation. The healing required being first into the pool after the water was stirred. Yet without the ability to move quickly, how could a paralyzed man ever be first? As Apostolicfaith.org points out, he would watch the water intently, hoping for his chance.
His story reminds me of how easy it is to get trapped in seemingly hopeless situations—places where the solution seems just out of reach, where we keep trying the same approach even though it hasn't worked for years.
Chapter 3: The Encounter with Jesus
One day, everything changed. Jesus came to Jerusalem for a Jewish feast and visited the pool of Bethesda. Out of all the suffering people there, Jesus noticed this particular man. The Bible says: "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?'" (John 5:6).
What a profound question! On the surface, it might seem obvious—of course he wanted to be healed! Why else would he be at the pool? But Jesus' question went deeper. Sometimes people become so accustomed to their problems that healing would require a complete life change they aren't ready for.
The man's response revealed his frustration and sense of helplessness: "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" (John 5:7).
Notice he didn't directly answer Jesus' question. Instead, he explained why healing seemed impossible. He had no one to help him. Others always got to the water before him. His answer focused on the obstacles rather than his desire to be well. After 38 years, perhaps he had given up hope and was just going through the motions.
As Missionbibleclass.org shows, the man had been in this situation so long that he couldn't see beyond his circumstances.
Chapter 4: The Healing Word
What Jesus did next completely bypassed the man's limited expectations. Jesus didn't offer to help him into the water or discuss the healing properties of the pool. Instead, He spoke words of power and authority: "Jesus said to him, 'Get up, take up your bed, and walk.' And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked" (John 5:8-9).
Three simple commands: Get up. Take up your bed. Walk.
And the result was immediate! After 38 years of paralysis, the man was instantly healed. Muscles that had withered from disuse were suddenly strong enough to stand. Legs that couldn't support weight were now able to walk. The man who had been carried to the pool day after day could now carry his own mat!
Imagine the shock and joy he must have felt as he stood up for the first time in 38 years. The healing he had been waiting for all those years came not from the stirred waters, but from the Creator of all water Himself.
Jesus didn't just offer physical healing—He offered a completely new life. The man no longer needed to wait by the pool hoping for a chance. He no longer needed others to carry him. With a few words, Jesus transformed his entire existence.
Chapter 5: An Unexpected Controversy
You might think everyone would celebrate this amazing miracle, but that's not what happened. The Bible tells us: "Now that day was the Sabbath. 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'" (John 5:9-10).
According to Jewish religious laws of that time, carrying objects on the Sabbath was considered work, and work was forbidden on this day of rest. Instead of rejoicing that a man who had been disabled for 38 years could now walk, the religious leaders focused on the fact that he was carrying his mat on the Sabbath!
The healed man explained: "The man who healed me, that man said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk'" (John 5:11). But the religious leaders were more interested in who had told him to break their Sabbath rules than in the miracle that had occurred.
Later, Jesus found the man in the temple and gave him an important warning: "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you" (John 5:14). This suggests that the man's condition may have been connected to past choices, and Jesus was encouraging him to live differently now that he had been given a fresh start.
After this encounter, the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him. As a result, "the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath" (John 5:16). What should have been a day of celebration became instead a day of controversy—showing how easy it is to miss God's work when we're focused on our own rules and expectations.
What Can We Learn About The Man at the Pool of Bethesda?
- Jesus notices individuals in the crowd - Out of all the sick people at the pool, Jesus specifically noticed this man who had been suffering for 38 years. Jesus sees each of us personally, no matter how overlooked we feel by others.
- Sometimes our solutions aren't God's solutions - The man had focused all his hope on getting into the water, but Jesus healed him with a word. God often works in ways we don't expect, beyond the limitations of what we think is possible.
- Healing involves more than physical change - Jesus later warned the man to "sin no more," showing that true healing involves spiritual transformation. Physical healing was only part of what the man needed in his life.
- Religious rules should never overshadow compassion - The religious leaders were more concerned about their Sabbath regulations than about a man being healed. Jesus consistently demonstrated that people's needs are more important than rigid adherence to rules.
- Long-term problems can be solved instantly by Jesus - After 38 years of disability, the man was healed in a moment. No problem is too longstanding or too difficult for Jesus to solve when the time is right.
FAQ About The Man at the Pool of Bethesda
Why did Jesus ask if the man wanted to be healed?
Jesus asked, "Do you want to be healed?" because He recognized that healing would require a complete life change for this man. After 38 years of disability, the man had developed an identity and lifestyle built around his condition. Healing would mean finding work, taking responsibility, and living differently. Jesus' question invited the man to consider whether he was ready for such a transformation. Additionally, this question allowed the man to express his helplessness and need, acknowledging that he couldn't heal himself and needed divine intervention.
What was the significance of carrying his mat?
Carrying his mat was significant for several reasons. First, it was tangible proof that he was truly healed—he could now carry what had previously carried him. Second, it represented taking responsibility for himself rather than depending on others. Third, Jesus specifically commanded him to take it, making this act part of his obedience to Christ. Finally, carrying the mat on the Sabbath created controversy that highlighted the difference between Jesus' compassion-focused interpretation of God's law versus the rigid legalism of the religious leaders who were more concerned with rule-keeping than with human suffering.
What does Bethesda mean and why is it important?
Bethesda means "house of mercy" or "house of grace" in Hebrew. The name is deeply significant because it foreshadowed what would happen there—God's mercy being shown to a man who had suffered for 38 years. The pool was located near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, where sacrificial animals were brought into the city for temple offerings. This location connects symbolically to Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice who brings true healing. The five porches mentioned in John 5:2 may also have symbolic significance, possibly representing the five books of Moses (the Law), which could not heal but only highlight human need for divine mercy.
Did Jesus heal anyone else at the Pool of Bethesda?
The Bible doesn't explicitly mention Jesus healing anyone else at the Pool of Bethesda. While there were many sick people gathered there, John's Gospel focuses only on this one man's story. This selective focus helps emphasize important spiritual truths rather than presenting Jesus as simply performing mass healings. Jesus chose this particular man who had been suffering for an extraordinarily long time (38 years), perhaps to demonstrate that no situation is beyond His healing power, regardless of how chronic or hopeless it seems. The selective nature of this healing also highlights God's sovereignty in choosing when and how to work.
Would you like to discover another amazing healing story? Check out "The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus" to learn about a persistent blind man who refused to be silenced and received his sight because of his bold faith in Jesus!
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