Source: biblicalarchaeology.org
Jesus did a lot of amazing things during His ministry on Earth, and as I study scripture, I realize there’s so much more to these miraculous stories than what’s on the surface. One such story? The account of the invalid man at Pool of Bethesda found in John 5:1-14.
(Helpful hint: I recommend reading the passage before continuing with this blog post so you can have all the information about the story and context for what I’m going to say.)
I think you’ll find some interesting takeaways about this account that maybe you hadn’t considered before. But before we dive (no pun intended!) into this particular miracle, we need to talk a bit about the background of the place and why so many people wanted to be there.
Let’s get to it!
The Cliff Notes
The pool of Bethesda was a manmade structure outside the city walls of ancient Jerusalem.
People with disabilities would congregate around the pool hoping to be healed by the water.
Jesus healed a man lying near the pool who had been an invalid for 38 years.
Five things we can learn from this account: our mindset matters, Jesus cares about our physical well-being, Jesus is completely powerful, miracles sometimes require obedience, and God’s timing is not our timing.
The History of the Pool of Bethesda
The pool of Bethesda was most likely a manmade structure outside the city walls of ancient Jerusalem. Many scholars believe it was used to provide water for the temple. But during Jesus’s time, there was a much more mystical use for the pool, or so the people thought.
The Bible tells us that many people with disabilities would congregate around the pool. (“Here a great number of disabled people used to lie — the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.” John 5:3)
The colonnades surrounding the pool provided a shaded area for these individuals to find some relief from the heat of the day. But the real draw of this place was the supposed healing power of the water.
A few translations of the Bible include this after verse 3: “...and they waited for the moving of the waters. From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.”
However, it’s important to mention here that most modern Bible translations don’t include that part because it’s probably not in the original text.
Either way, you can imagine the crowds and chaos that ensued during that time. People pushing and shoving to get down to the pool whenever they thought the waters were stirring, some with friends or family helping them, others trying to make their way on their own.
These people were desperate for healing, and many of them were outcasts in Jewish society. They couldn’t work, couldn't marry, and, in some cases, might not have even been able to bathe themselves.
That leads us to the invalid man.
Who Was the Invalid Man at the Pool of Bethesda?
Source: www.jesuswalk.com
We don’t get a lot of context or background information in scripture about the invalid man Jesus healed at the Pool of Bethesda. In fact, we don’t even know his name.
But what we do know is that he had been an invalid for 38 years. The Bible doesn’t specify exactly what was wrong with him; it could’ve been a number of things. “Invalid” is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “one who is sickly or disabled.”
Was he paralyzed? Or was he simply too weak from his illness or condition to move much? Whatever the case, we assume he wasn’t able to stand or walk on his own because Jesus finds him lying down.
He also tells Jesus that every time he tries to get into the water, other people beat him to it. I can just picture the heartbreaking scene: a sickly man struggling to slide himself down to the water and then, right when he’s at the edge, getting pushed and shoved out of the way.
Forgotten. Neglected.
But then along comes Jesus, and he’s no longer alone. He’s no longer forgotten or neglected. He’s noticed.
Jesus notices him lying there, realizes he’s been this way for nearly four decades, and heals him. Simple as that. With a single sentence, Jesus completely and utterly cures this man who no one else wanted to help.
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” (John 5:8-9)
It was as if the man had never even been sick.
There’s a lot to unpack in this short account, but I want to focus on five main ideas the Holy Spirit showed me as I was reading through this chapter in the book of John.
Lessons from the Invalid Man’s Miracle
Photo by Thanti Riess on Unsplash
1. Our Mindset Matters
Talking about mindset can sometimes come off as a little “woo-woo,” but in reality, the Bible focuses quite a bit on mindset without using that specific word.
For example, Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Here are a few more:
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”
It’s obvious from these and many other verses that what we think about and dwell on matters. It matters to God, and it impacts our walk with Him.
Notice that in the story about the invalid man, the very first thing Jesus says to him is, “Do you want to get well?”
Does he want to get well? What kind of question is that, right? Of course he does! Jesus knows that.
But the question is meant to go much deeper than how it appears on the surface. I think Jesus is trying to make the man understand that He’s there, willing and able to heal him if the man would just be willing to have the hope and faith that true healing requires.
The same can be said of us. Jesus is right here, willing to heal our pain, our wounds, our sorrows…if we would only have a little hope and faith.
So, yes, our mindset matters. It matters whether we allow ourselves to drown in self-pity or choose to trust God for everything we need.
2. Jesus Cares about Our Physical Well-Being
This account is yet another reminder in God’s Word that He cares not just about our spiritual well-being, but also about our physical well-being.
Every part of our lives matters to Him. He truly is a loving, gracious, compassionate God. He doesn’t get some sick pleasure from watching our bodies suffer. Instead, He longs to help us through the pain.
And, yes, to sometimes perform a miraculous healing in our lives. But even if He doesn’t perfect our physical bodies on this side of heaven, we can still rest in the knowledge that he does care about them.
Think about how many times Jesus fed the crowds that were gathered around Him. Yes, He taught them the truth, but He also made sure their physical needs were met. He sent them away with full bellies and full hearts.
When we’re facing an illness, injury, or chronic pain, we can go to Him for relief. We can ask Him for help. He hears every cry of our hearts.
3. Jesus Is Completely Powerful
I mentioned it above, but it’s worth repeating: Jesus healed the invalid man with just one sentence. One sentence uttered from His lips and a disease that had plagued this guy for 38 years completely vanished.
That’s the kind of power that only God can possess. And this wasn’t the only time Jesus healed someone by simply saying it was so. He also healed a blind man, a royal official’s son, and, oh yeah, a dead man (Lazurus).
If Jesus can do these things (and so many more), what makes us think He can’t do miraculous things in our own lives? Why do we limit Him?
4. Sometimes, Miracles Require Obedience
Something I’ve come to understand over the last few years is that God honors obedience. No, we don’t have to work for our salvation or earn His love, not at all! Salvation is a free gift. All we have to do is receive it by believing and repenting.
What I’m talking about is the way we walk with Him day by day. When we’re obedient, God tends to reward us, in both big and small ways.
Now, please hear me: I’m not saying that if you’ll just read your Bible and tithe, then He’ll bless you with a million dollars and a mansion on a hill. That’s not how God works.
But what I am saying is that God is faithful. Of course, He’s faithful whether we are or not, but when we’re truly seeking Him and doing the things we know He’s called us to do, He won’t let us down.
Sometimes, the next big thing the Lord wants to do in our lives is right on the other side of our obedience. Think about it: He didn’t just tell the invalid man that he was cured and then let him keep lying there. No, he told him to get up and walk.
God will open the door, but we won’t fully experience His goodness if we aren’t willing to walk through it.
5. God’s Timing Is Not Our Timing
When I think about the invalid man being in such a hard position for that many years, I can’t help but feel sorry for him.
It makes me wonder why God waited so long to heal him. After all, God can do anything, right? So He could have cured the man way before Jesus showed up on the scene.
But if He had, we wouldn’t have this account in scripture. And, even more importantly, Jesus’s power wouldn’t have been revealed in that moment. God’s timing doesn’t always make sense to our human, finite brains.
But what we have to remember is that God works all things out for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). And we need to realize that when God’s ready to make something happen, nothing can stop it.
When it was time for the invalid man to be healed, Jesus took care of it instantly. There was no more waiting around. Thirty-eight years and then, boom! Cured in a second.
The Moral of the Story: Trust and Obey
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
God can and will do miracles in our lives if we let Him. It’s not that He needs our permission, of course, but if our hearts are hard or we’re not seeking Him, we won’t see all the ways He’s directing our steps and intervening in our lives. We might miss Him.
What can we do? Trust him with everything and believe He will work all things out. And be ready! You never know when God’s going to move in a huge way. All it takes is a second.
In the meantime, prepare yourself by building a relationship with Him. Let Him shape who you’re becoming for the future He has for you. Do your best to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
If you’re struggling with this or wanting to dive deeper into living your life for the Lord, check out my pocket devotional, Read. Pray. Act.: How to Overcome Discouragement & Follow God's Plan for Your Life.