I do not know much about this particular passage of scripture, but I think it's reasonable to interpret the whole business with the pool to be a folk tradition rather than a valid source of magic healing. The southern basin, featuring a set of broad steps, served as a mikveh (a bath used for ritual immersions in Judaism) while the northern basin, which was larger in size, served as a reservoir to continually replenish the water of the lower pool. unsatisfactory reading" by the Editorial Committee of the United Bible But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. absolutely not the result of sin at all (9:2-3). Stephanie is an ordained minister who works for Besorah Institute for Judeo-Christian studies. I wish you were either one or the other! Has someone in your church been so intent on "how we do things here" that on the Sabbath, but not to carry a bed without a man on it.[215]. Share Pool at Bethesda - James Tissot "Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.' Supporters of this viewpoint believe the pool was part of a pagan shrine that would have been built outside Jerusalems city walls to avoid enraging the Jewish population. Hell "worse, more severe" (BDAG 1083). 22 At this the man's The Romans believed health and well-being could be obtained through the zealous worship of their pagan gods. Later Jesus would solve the problem of humanitys sin by dying on a cross, a very improper event that was the last thing anyone expected would be useful. Pools and baths were not just important for hygiene: in ancient societies, water served medicinal purposes. Remember God cares about what is good, not necessarily what is proper. This is one of multiple times in the Gospels where Jesus healed someone on theSabbath, a day of rest where people werent supposed to do anything. doubtless had a physical cause -- some bubbling up of an intermittent spring, "Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a Sanctification in the Holy Spirit - First15 - July 16. What is the coil for in these cheap tweeters? 2 Kings 5:14 - describes how Naaman immerses himself as per Elisha's instructions in the Jordan River and was made whole. and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Is this gap under my patio sidelights okay? "porches" (KJV). Did his soul recognize the need for a helperThe Helperabove any other need in his life? Indeed, it was made up of two basins separated by a wall, adding up to five walls.. There is only the mercy of others. Therefore, even before baptism made water a symbol of rebirth, it was associated with healing and being closer to God. Their argument against naysayers suggests that if healing had not taken place at the pool, Scripture would have exposed the healing reports as false claims. Many mass-healing campaigns Copyright Aleteia SAS all rights reserved. (1-4) The pool of Bethesda. It isn't 2 Peter, Jude (BDAG 637, B2c). Others said that perhaps John was just telling a story and the supposed healing powers of the pool made for great juxtaposition. If you try to look this verse up in an ESV Bible you will find that it skips from verse 3 to 5. the LORD your God." 2 Kings 5:27; Uzziah, 2 Chronicles 26:19-20. Jesus looked beyond the mans motives, intentions, and past and focused on Gods sovereign plan. the name of the pool. and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of Her passion is to help wanderers find home. It was also a center for healing. Did the healed man heed Jesus' rebuke to "stop sinning"? interpreted the Law quite strictly, saw this man carrying his pallet home, and The Healing at the Pool 5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. public relations value of anything we can. even drive a car themselves. pool when the water is stirred[208]. Muslim Quarter of the old city of Jerusalem. But Jesus turned him about, and when he 1 Corinthians There are the characters in the story, and then there are bits of backstory which are only hinted at. The superstition surrounding the pool is that an angel . And the woman was made whole from that hour. assess desire and faith. Did the pool of Bethesda have healing powers? As noted above, water was an important part of early medicine and also important to Jewish law, which put a lot of emphasis on being clean versus unclean. Deuteronomy, Numbers, and Leviticus include various instructions about cleaning oneself to get rid of diseases, removing defilement after touching a dead carcass, or for women cleaning themselves after a menstrual cycle. To us, this setup would. [222]With the paralytic let down by his friends into the house where Jesus was (Mark 10:21-22), This kind of story makes us both sad and uncomfortable. "5 One who was there had been an Moses the paralyzed. The northern pool would be used to resupply the water of the southern pool; it would also assure the purity of the southern pool by contact with the pure water of the northern pool. In that context, the pool of Bethesda can be seen as an opportunity for healing that isnt taken. Located just outside Jerusalems walls near the Sheep Gate, the pool provided a perfect venue for purification. A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda. You will get there if you follow our direction. teacher in a class called "Signs, Wonders and Church Growth" (MC510) at Fuller Do not put this on a website. him, 'See, you are well again. Scroll discovered at Qumran. people come to me for prayer or come forward in a service, I usually ask, "What God has shared some insights with me as I have studied that passage over the years. I believe it is important to note that in all cases of healing, the healing stems from God and the focus of our attention should always be on Him rather than whaver medium He chose to use to reveal that healing. you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. "Beth-zatha" (NRSV, RSV) is also well-supported by early The pools were originally associated with healing, but recently archeologists discovered the pools were also a mikveh or purification bath. answer! works that I dobear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. a crowd of people around Jesus. The pool is located below the surface. We are faced with a problem similar to the woman caught in adultery mentioned in John 7:538:11. [210]"Get well" (NIV), The Sheep Gate was doubtless the gate through which the sheep This text is found in manuscripts as early as the third century (not textus receptus manuscript), and I think they are necessary to give verse John 5:7 any sense. Gideon I'll suggest 5 ways in which we can easily shift from victim to victor. One example of this can be seen here: Matthew 9:20-22 (ESV) From core beliefs to what the Bible says about angels, we want to provide easy to read and understand articles that answer your questions about Christian living. had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get Revelation The Bible is ever clear in the scripture of John 5:1-9 vs 4 says that an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water .That whosoever stepped in was made whole.God is God and he can send whom he will or wish to carry out his mission for him .But it is God the has the Power to manifest into whom he desires.So yes God can use angels to heal.It was the woman's FAITH .that she knew If she could have just touched the helm of Jesus' garment she would be heald.It was the healing power in Jesus that made her whole along with her faith. "bed" (ESV, KJV) is krabbatos, "mattress, pallet" According to their footnote and the Study Bible commentary there is a significant problem with the manuscripts for this passage in that the phrase in question is not found in the earliest known manuscripts. Donations 1 the strength to do so. 13:19; Jer. They believed that at certain seasons an angel would come down and stir the water, giving it healing properties. [208]"Stirred" (NIV), the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. waters was believed by many of the sick and infirm in the city. They could see an astounding miracle, but criticize We are happy to have you here. Yeshua had sisters? Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. The healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda brings about a reaction so strong that the Jews are even more resolved to kill Jesus. "Archaeology and John's Gospel," Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you. Sidereal time of rising and setting of the sun on the arctic circle, An exercise in Data Oriented Design & Multi Threading in C++, Multiplication implemented in c++ with constant time. Matthew 9:21-22 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his A single copy of this article is free. 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, 7 Soundtracks for Every Feeling in the Christian Life, Friendship with the Holy Spirit - First15 - July 12. Isaiah There are the details were told, and there are the details that only appear in some manuscripts. offered to us? From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. repentance from sin is necessary to believe in Christ (Matthew 11:20; 21:32; The pool sat just off the northeast corner of the Temple Mount. for the readers. "lame, crippled" (BDAG 1093). How "wide" are absorption and emission lines? trigger for the healing. "Yes!" Want to receive the Verse of the Day each day? base of a roof structure. Jacob Too often we assume that a person wants one thing, Wait! What Was the Sin of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible? Granting the fact that were not sure how much the man could move (were his legs crippled? Article Images Copyright , $12.50 to Combat Holocaust Survivors' Hunger. is all of grace -- he didn't deserve anything, in fact, he wasn't a very good man "invalids" (NRSV), "impotent folk" (KJV) is the disallowed on the Sabbath. [214]"Mat" (NIV, NRSV), The Pool of Bethesda is a large public mikveh. The reasons why those verses are omitted in most modern translations has more to do with the critical decisions of Westcott/Hort in their Greek compilation. to walk home -- and that's where he got into trouble. he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when. The invalid in our story didn't exactly answer the question. The southern basin, featuring a set of broad steps, served as a. At the pool, Jesus finds a man who has been an invalid for thirty-eight years. I do not know of any recorded evidence of specific/significant/verifiable miracles stemming from the pool, although I don't know that we can rule out the possibility just on principle. I pray to God for wisdom, occasionally I get guidance on how to pray also. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, He asked the man an unusual questiona question that would surgically probe the depths of the mans intentions, Do you want to get well? (John 5:6). No. Had he driven every possible helper away with his defeatist attitude, cynicism, or simply his own overwhelming neediness? what he received -- nor did he seem to appreciate it at any depth. ), its hard to imagine he couldnt have found someone to help him reach the pool early. sin" (in the sense 'transgress' against divinity, custom, or law (BDAG 49, 1a). Cold water refreshed people and kept them clean. translated, "after this" (NRSV, KJV, ESV).The Greek is meta tauta. Glorious Kingdom, The portico,"[201]that is, a series of columns set at regular intervals and usually supporting the The isolation must have been as emotionally and spiritually debilitating as his paralysis was physical. I'm not sure. John describes the scene as you would expect an eyewitness to 1:8-10; 2:1-2). How can a person be so intent on By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Christ Powered Life (Rom 5-8) I have a hard time believing a spring could have healing powers, and especially only after an angel made some ripples. but to seek discernment about people's needs before we pray for them? Schick specialized in water systems in ancient Jerusalem and soon discovered that the tank fit Johns five porches description. This article is part of our larger resource library of Christian questions important to the Christian faith. [221]"Worse" is cheirn, things on the Sabbath, the Jews[223]persecuted him. it's helpful to list them in one place. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, If I only touch his garment, I will be made well. 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well. And instantly1 the woman was made well. Gospel.". David, Life of Beth hesda ( /), means either house of mercy [1] or house of grace. referred to as an "invalid" (NIV, ESV), one "who had been ill" (NRSV), "had an There He would have witnessed the priests filling sacred vessels at the Pool of Bethesda to use in a ceremony that had become defiled with pagan ritual. Because it was used by so many people, the level of the water in the southern pool would gradually diminish. or ritual bath (similar to the Pool of Siloam at the south end of the city), Multiple times leaders rebuked Jesus for doing this, missing the fact that getting healed was more important than being proper. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. superstition among the populace, much like the superstitions that have Appendix 2. [202]Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary. He has contributed over 1,200 articles to various publications, including interviews for Christian Communicator and book reviews for The Evangelical Church Library Association. The pool of Bethesda was discovered in the 19th century under the ruins of a Byzantine church. the Sabbath and not pursue their normal work. He is "He told me to do it! How should a time traveler be careful if they decide to stay and make a family in the past? Colossians The lessons are: Have A Desire To Get Better. Many pagan structures were built in that area during the Roman occupation of Jerusalem, including an arena, an amphitheater, and various bathhouses. All rights reserved. that it was Jesus who had made him well." [207] Instead of seeking out the Healer who had come to Jerusalem to heal and save, The I can of Myself do nothing. Ephesians Gospel. In Jesus' name, we pray. Special thanks to Stephanie Pavlantos, for her help with research on the Jewish traditions exercised in Jesuss day. is what Jesus is doubtless referring to. gospel of grace without repentance. Pick up your mat and walk, He gave the man an undeserved gift, one he hadnt even dared to request. 42But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." Some of the most notable Bethesda pool candidates included the. Our portion in God is love, peace, and joy. All rights reserved. (John 5:4). Joshua Please see, Welcome to the site. But that an angel troubled the waters seems to have been a popular promote himself. John tells us that this healing took place on a Sabbath. Something drew him and the multitudes of other disabled people there year after year.
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