The scene is near the Sheep Gate to the temple in Jerusalem. A large pool of waters covered by five roofed colonnades, like an ancient spa, is the setting for a very unusual clientele:
“In these lay a multitude of invalids – blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years” (Jn 5:3).
Jesus is on a mission. He knows in advance that this man is probably the most severe case of all the invalids surrounding the pool. Jesus then recognizes him at the pool:
“When Jesus saw him lying there and knew…him…he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ The sick man answered him, ‘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’” (Jn 5:6-7).
Why does Jesus ask if he wants to be cured? Of course he does! But the invalid believes there is only one way – to get in the water – and he has been blocked by his fellow invalids for decades. He hopes, of course, that Jesus will help him when the water is once again disturbed by a mysterious spirit.
To the man’s credit, he keeps coming back again and again – he is a man of faith, although misguided. Giving up accomplishes nothing. Graciously, Jesus sees this as the perfect attitude for a sinner at mercy’s gate! Does the invalid perhaps see a special look in Jesus’ eyes that accelerates his heart with hope after a lifetime of disappointment?
Yes, the pool historically has healed in amazing ways. The source of the disturbance of the waters might be a spirit of some sort, but it likely was the roiling of natural geothermal hot water, much like our hot springs today, full of natural healing minerals.
But stunningly, Jesus does nothing overt to help the man into the pool! Rather, he issues a most unexpected command – simply:
“Get up, take up your bed, and walk” (Jn 5:8).
And he did, as if he had been healthy all his life!
Note carefully that this commandment involves breaking another commandment – at least according to the law of the scribes and Pharisees – to do “work” on the Sabbath!
Is this a case of God the Son breaking God the Father’s commandment? It is, unless the law enforced by the Jewish leaders is invalid due to their twisted interpretations of Mosaic Law in their disunity from God.
As soon as the healed man leaves the pool, striding confidently into the future, he is accosted by the Jewish leaders and accused of breaking the law by “working on the Sabbath. But they let him go, realizing that he could be a good foil for convicting Jesus of a crime.
Later, the healed man does encounter Jesus in the temple – no, Jesus searches him out! He then tells the rulers, like a good boy, that Jesus healed him.
When accosted by the rulers about breaking the Sabbath, Jesus connects himself to his Father God in perfect unity:
“’My Father is working until now, and I am working’” (Jn 5:17).
The Jewish leaders know that the Mosaic Law was created for sinful men, not for God to obey himself. God can and does work on the Sabbath. Jesus, in just a few words, declares that he, too, is God. This plays out much further in Parts 2 and 3 this week!
But for all of us who struggle with physical, mental, or spiritual disabilities, this story is a salve. Jesus asks us, “Do you want to be healed?” Of course we do! But we often fall into a bit of disunity from him by complaining that nothing is happening.
In response he is telling us two important things. First, he is working, all the time, even overtime on Sunday! Second, his love for us is continuous and never-ending. Patience is rewarded.
Hurry back for Part 2!