Moving of the Water

In Jerusalem by the market place was a natural spring, called the waters of Bethesda. John, the gospel writer with an emphasis on tender moments in the Savior’s life, is the only one to record the visit Christ made to these waters.

John 5

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath.

10 ¶ The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Our Heavenly Father is perfect. In being perfect, He can create perfect things. If He desired, He could have created every man, woman, and child to have a perfect body throughout their life. He chose not to. Instead we are all in various levels of imperfection. Those in the levels that cause them sever problems in day-to-day life have always been with us. Those who have the ability are expected to help the others as best they can. It is all part of life. It is a vital part of seeing just how Christ-like we are.

Since the waters of Bethesda had a healing power to them, it was a natural gathering place for those seeking a cure. Proof of the community caring for those waiting to be healed was the five porches that were constructed around the spring. I picture a hot spring in Yellowstone, were the mineral deposits form around the waters edge. They are sharp and make it hard to enter the warm waters. These porches would be vital to access the healing waters.

Much of Christ’s time was spent healing the sick and handicapped, so to visit the spring would be a natural thing for Christ to do. Ignoring so many others, His attention turns to a handicapped man at the side of the water, and asks if he would like to be made whole. The man misunderstands and thinks Christ is offering to help him get into the water ahead of the others, who keep entering before him. Instead of correcting the man, Jesus simply tells him to rise, take his bed and walk. This man can not so much as get himself to the water’s edge from the porch without great effort, but now is being asked to stand, pickup his bedding and walk away. No hesitation is recorded, only a faith exhibiting effort to do as the Master commands. The reward is success, a miraculous healing.

Later, Jesus found the man at the temple and said this, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” Once again, the all-knowing Christ sees into the heart of another. He knows that the man had committed a sin, and in so doing had placed himself in the bad position he had suffered for the last thirty-eight years. Christ saw a grim future for this man if he returned to his old ways.

Sadly, many of us do just that. We act in a way we know we shouldn’t, we get into a bad situation and cry for help. Then, when help comes to pull us out of the mess, we go right back to the sin that started it all. We are sorry for the consequences, but not for committing the sin in the first place. Until true repentance is accomplished, and a change of heart made, the full blessings of the atonement can not come into affect.

Note that there was a multitude there, many of whom would seek a blessing from His hand. He did not linger, but rather conveyed Himself away. When Jesus wanted to avoid people, be it armed guards, angry mobs, or just too many at once, He managed to convey Himself out of the area without detection. This appears to be one of those times. Just as if someone with a loaf of bread wondered into a large body of starving people, the requests for aid would be overwhelming, especially after the demonstration He had provided before their eyes.

He knew the man had waited almost forty years for a chance to be healed. In that time the man undoubtedly prayed long and hard for forgiveness of some unspecified sin that was related to his condition. God had heard his repentant cries and sent the Son to grant him his request. Apparently there were no others at the pool who had prepared themselves sufficiently to be rewarded in the same manner.

We are then treated to the shallowest of God’s children in the history of man. The Jews complain that this healed man is “working” on the Sabbath by the act of carrying his bedding home. They confront the Savior with the fact that He directed such an atrocious thing to occur, and He answers that His Father does work on the Sabbath, and so shall He. These same people say it is alright to pull your ox out of the mire on the Lord’s Day, but apparently you can not help your fellow man to resume a normal life. These men were without charity. They only cared about their control over the people with the many rules they had enforced in conjunction with the Law of Moses.

One thing to learn from this is when the laws are made to benefit the leaders; the leaders most likely will not act in the best interests of the people. They may say things to appease the underlings, but the overall result is wealth and easy living for those in power, and poverty and hard times for the general populous.

Another lesson is that when we seek help from the Lord, and He responds with a blessing, praise Him for the gift, change the part of our life that put us into that situation and sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto us! But most important is the fact that God listens to prayers. Sometimes it takes a long time to receive what we are asking for, but do not doubt that He hears. He simply answers in His own good time, and for a wise purpose known only to Him.

Inviting waters sparkle, beckoning to enter

Candidates all circle round the font

Humbly they’re kneeling, praying for healing

Awaiting bubbles effervescent taunt

Some have waited long there, others just arrived

Afflictions very with each moving tale

Absent mood of caring, not likely to be sharing

The chance to enter first into the well

Time goes by so slowly; counting every minute

Waiting for the sign from deep below

First comes a distant bubble, and then begins the struggle

Fighting to reach for the dimming glow

The winner we hear shouting; grateful tears are flowing

Remarkably, the ailment is now cured

Futility does chasten those yet in desperation

Hope fading with another loss endured

The days of wistful sighing turn into years of crying

For it appears the task is far too great

Each time is heard the sound from deep below the ground

The weakened frame submerges far too late

He curses his own past; His wicked deed returned

To fill him full of sorrow and regret

When lost is all the fervor; then just a weak observer

As new arrivals his own hopes beset

Then a pleasant stranger approaches on the porch

Asking him if he would be made whole

There is no son or daughter to help me in the water

He explained; and thought the stranger droll

“Rise!” then said the stranger; “Take up they bed and walk”

And with that, strength returned to every limb

The healing unexpected; he then did as directed

His heart was glad, and grateful to the brim

A visit to his family, then off to God’s own temple

To give thanks for the blessing he’d received

Just past the money changer he chance to meet the stranger

So learned of Jesus and now he believed

Behold, thou art made whole: see that thou sin no more

Lest a worse thing come unto thee

For Christ had just made whole not body but a soul

Accomplished by the man’s humility

A crowd of those in need still waited at the pool

But only one was healed by our Lord

Once stripped of all our pride, there’s something good inside

That’s now prepared to listen to His word