Healing at the Pool

N.T.#709 "Healing at the Pool"

Jan. 6, 2026 

John 5 

LET IT GLOW

The official and his whole household believed in Jesus as the Messiah and not just a miracle worker. (4:53) This occurred after Jesus had healed the man's dying son from a distance. This was the second miracle John records which Jesus had done.

Next, we read about Jesus healing of a disabled man, feeding the hungry, and walking on water in chapters 5-6.

The third miracle John wrote about, concerned the healing of a man, which took place at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem. What do we know about this special place?

• The pool had 5 porches.
• Intermittent springs may have fed the pool and caused the disturbance of the water. (verse 7)
• Ancient witnesses indicate the waters of the pool were red with minerals thought to be medicinal in value. 
• Impotent folks, which were blind, lame, and withered came to the pool for healing. Impotent means feeble, diseased, sick, weak.
• Jesus visited the pool.
• A man who had a sickness or disease for 38 years was there.

The earliest and best Greek manuscripts exclude verses 3 and 4, speaking of "waiting for the moving of the water." (John MacArthur)

An underground spring periodically fed the pools. (Swindoll)

Do we visit the sick? Jesus went to the place where sick people visited. 

LET IT GROW 

Jesus saw the man, knew about his condition, and spoke to him. (verse 6)

Wilt thou be made whole? (verse 6) Jesus aske the man.

What was the man's problem? No one was there to help him into the pool. Others were able to get into the water before this man.

What did Jesus tell him? 

• Rise.
• Take up thy bed.
• Walk.

Immediately the man was made whole, took up his bed, and walked. This happened on the Jewish Sabbath. What a day for this man!

How can we apply this spiritually? 

• Rise to spiritual healing through salvation.
• Take up thy bed symbolizes a break with the past.
• Walk refers to our Christian growth. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

 Obedience brought complete and instantaneous healing. Have you come to Jesus with a broken life, broken heart, full of sin. He can cleanse us of your sins when we confess them. (1 John 1:9) Jesus forgives our sins and helps us walk in newness of life.

LET IT GO 

Create in me a clean heart, O Lord.

Heal our sin-sick soul.

Help us walk with You as You lead us.