Bethesda - The House of Mercy

"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. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 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?” 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.” 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 5:2-9

From what I can find on the subject, the Sheep Gate was on the eastern end and entered into the north side of the city and the Bethesda pool described as having five roofed colonnades (roof structure over a walkway). The name of the pool, “Bethesda,” is Aramaic and means “House of Mercy.”

John 5 tells us a multitude of invalids laid there and I am sure the colonnades (covered walkways) provided shade and covered them.  Legend had it that an angel would “stir up the water” and the first person into the pool would be made well.  Note: The Bible does not teach that this actually happened and in the ESV and other versions John 5:4 is not included in the translation because it was not part of the original text but rather just a superstitious belief. 

 

When Jesus visited Bethesda, there was a man “who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.” Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to be healed?” The man replied, “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.”  It is clear by the man’s response that he believed legend. He blamed the fact that he was never healed because of his inability to get into the water. 

 

Don't miss the fact that Jesus dismisses and destroys any superstitious belief that the water was magical and could cure with one command.  “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”  “At once (instantly) the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.” 

 

Let’s sit and digest these verses together and take a deeper dive into their correspondence with each other. It is interesting that Jesus didn't assume the man wanted to be healed. Why? Wouldn't it be obvious since the man was at the pool? Not necessarily... How did the man respond to Jesus' question, “Do you want to be healed?”  Notice, he didn’t respond with an eager yes.   He said, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool...”  How often do we look to others to heal or change our circumstances?  How often do we blame others when we are stuck and wallowing in a situation that we find ourselves in.  Healing for the invalid wasn’t found in someone helping him into the pool and healing wasn’t found in the superstitious belief that it was the water that could heal him. Healing was found in Jesus and obeying His command.

How did Jesus respond to the man? He commanded the man, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk!"

• The first part of the command says, “Get up.”  Another translation says, “Rise up.” I'm sorry but that is a crazy thing to say to an invalid. But is it? Is it crazy for Jesus to command the man to get up? What in your life is Jesus asking you to “get up” or “rise up” from? What is holding you down from being healed and set free?  
• The second part of the command says, “Take up your bed.” For thirty-eight years, this mat was his bed. It was the place he laid his head. It was his comfort, his security, his resting place and yes it was even the place he called home.  Jesus’ command to take up means Bethesda pool would no longer be the place where he would lay. He would no longer need the security of the misplaced belief system.  His life would radically change from this point forward.  He couldn’t/wouldn’t lay back down there.  Let me ask... What mat or bed have you made for yourself, or maybe you have found yourself in?  What are your excuses for why you are still there?  What is holding you back? Whatever it is, take up your bed!  
• The third part of Jesus' command says, “Walk.”  Yet another crazy thing to say to an invalid... but Jesus commands the invalid to walk. How? His legs were most likely shriveled up from not being used for thirty-eight years. Walk where?  For thirty-eight years, this is the only life he has known.  Most likely it was at the pool, the invalid had their needs met... it is where they found shelter, food and community with other invalids.  Look back at scripture.  It says, “And at once the man was healed...” At once means immediately, right away, straight away.  At once he was healed... but then what? He obeyed Jesus “and he took up his bed and walked.”  The man didn’t question Jesus.  He didn’t hesitate in his response. It says, “and he took up his bed and walked.” 

Knowing the character of Jesus, he had compassion and empathy for the man and please believe me when I say Jesus has compassion and empathy for you too!  Do you know that?  Jesus cares about you!  He cares why your life is so hard.  Jesus wants to attend to the needs in your life.  He wants to heal the chronic fatigue of our soul.  He wants to heal the false and negative narrative of thoughts, he wants to heal the false belief system, the coddling and blaming of others etc. He wants to heal the lies that say, “You can't." “It’s too hard." It is too much.” Jesus cares about every aspect of your life.  He intends to meet you in those places and lead you to a place of flourishing that is found through obeying His Word.  

Oh, my friend!  God has greater things in store for you!  “Get up, take up your bed and walk.”