Today’s Gospel Reading (John 5:1-16) describes the third miracle sign of Jesus. It is the story about Jesus healing a lame man by the pool of Bethesda (1-15). Jesus came back to Jerusalem for a feast (John 5:1), perhaps for Shavuot to commemorate receiving the Torah from God (Deuteronomy 4:1-14). It is celebrated on the 50th day from Passover, upon counting seven weeks. The pool of Bethesda is located by the sheep gate to the Temple (John 5:2; Nehemiah 3:1). The sheep gate was constructed to bring sacrificial lamb into the Temple.
Originally, the pool of Bethesda was constructed as
a reservoir of rain water during the 8th century BC. During the time
of Jesus, it was known for bathing and healing. For this reason, there were
many people with various ailments and disabilities gathered around Bethesda
with the hope to get well.
There a man, who was unable to move on his own and
had been ill for 38 years, just laying – wanting to be bathed in the pool of
Bethesda for healing but unable to bathe because of his immobility. It was when
Jesus walked by and saw this man. And, Jesus asked him if he wants to get well
(John 5:6). The man did not respond to Jesus with yes or no but complained that
someone else always gets ahead of him to bathe (John 5:7). So, Jesus simply
told him:
Rise,
take up your mat, and walk (John 5:8).
As the man did exactly as Jesus commanded, he was
immediately healed, taking his mat and started walking on his own feet (John
5:9).
What is a point here? Is this one of these nice
healing miracles done by Jesus?
As the royal official’s son was healed, even without
being touched by Jesus, because this official believed what Jesus said about
his son, in yesterday’s Gospel Reading (John 4:43-54), this immobile sick man
in today’s Gospel (John 5:1-15) was healed without bathing in the pool of
Bethesda because he did as commanded by Jesus.
Neither the royal official nor the immobile man by
the pool of Bethesda doubted and argued with Jesus. They just believe what
Jesus said and did as commanded by him. Neither of them asked Jesus to show a
visible sign to believe.
Because of this miraculous sign he performed to the immobile
man, Jesus was accused, because it was Sabbath, in violation Exodus 20:8.
As the man was walking with a mat, as commanded by
Jesus, upon being healed, he was accused of violating the Sabbath commandment,
as carrying an object was considered as a work to be abstained on Sabbath (John
5:10). In response, the man told that he was carrying the mat because the man,
who healed him, told him to do so (John 15:11). Then, the accuser’s focus
shifted from the man to the one who healed and commanded him to carry his mat,
but the man did not know it was Jesus, who made him well and commanded to carry
the mat. And Jesus slipped away from the scene (John 5:12-13).
Jesus must have been concerned about the man, whom
he healed. So, he returned to the scene and met him again. And he said:
Look,
you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.
(John 5:14).
There is nothing written in the Gospel if the man became ill and immobile
because of his sin. But, because sin can result in sickness and suffering,
Jesus told him not to sin as he was made well.
In this exchange, Jesus must have revealed who he is
to the man. Afterward, the man went to the accusers and gave the whole story
(John 5:14). Thus, Jesus became a prime target of persecution, leading to what
we reflect the Holy Week. And, we can see how persecution to Jesus escalates,
culminating in his death on the Cross, from today’s Gospel Reading on in John’s
Gospel.
In contrast to the Gospel Reading, today’s First
Reading (Ezekiel 47:1-9,12).
This is a post-exilic restoration vision of the
Temple to Ezekiel.
After the Babylonian exile, the restored Temple in
Jerusalem becomes the source of life-giving water.
In connection to the Gospel Reading today, this is a symbolic image of Jesus as
the healer.
The Temple is the raised body of Jesus (John
2:19-21). And, as reflected in the vision of Ezekiel in the First Reading, the living
water flows from the risen body of Jesus. And, this water of Jesus flew to the
immobile sick man through his words. Thus, he was made well immediately, even
though he never bathed in the pool of Bethesda. The pool is not needed for
healing, because the risen Christ is the source of the water that gives life
and restores life.
And, eschatologically, the water flowing from the
Temple points to the river of life in Revelation 22:1-7.
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