"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11
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John 5:1-16 - Jesus Heals Crippled Man at Bethesda:
Lesson on Sabbath Priorities

(1) After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (2) Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep `gate' a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches. (3) In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered, `waiting for the moving of the water.' (4) `for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the waters stepped in was made whole, with whatsoever disease he was holden.' (5) And a certain man was there, who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity. (6) When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time `in that case', he saith unto him, Wouldest thou be made whole? (7) The sick 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, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk. (9) And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the sabbath on that day. (10) So the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed. (11) But he answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. (12) They asked him, Who is the man that said unto thee, Take up `thy bed', and walk? (13) But he that was healed knew not who it was; for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in the 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 befall thee. (15) The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole. (16) And for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.


Jesus' healing of the crippled man beside the pool called Bethesda is one of nine healing miracles involving water and one of seven performed on the Sabbath. Only the apostle John records it (John 5:1-16). It is impossible to be sure when the miracle occurred other than it happened on a Sabbath day.

John's reference to "a feast of the Jews" (John 5:1) rather than a "feast of the Lord" (Exodus 12:14; Leviticus 23:2, 37) illustrates the spiritual decline that had occurred among the Jews regarding God's feast days. People may typically start out with God being central to their worship, but they end up getting in the way and become the main focus themselves. The people had made this festival a feast of the people instead of continuing it as God's feast.

In His journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus expended a considerable amount of effort to be there in time for this Sabbath. In doing this, He set an example in terms of spiritual priorities and the sacrifices involved in putting spiritual matters first. Some Christians are unclear about spiritual priorities, desiring a convenient religion that requires little inconvenience and no sacrifice. Frequently, those who complain most about not getting enough out of church are often those who attend sporadically and involve themselves the least in church activities. Jesus, on the other hand, took great pains to fellowship and to help the people, especially on the Sabbath.

— Martin G. Collins

To learn more, see:
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Cripple by a Pool (Part One)



 

Topics:

Bethesda

Fellowship

Fellowship of Believers

God's Feasts

Healing of a Crippled Man

Healing of the Paralytic

Jesus Christ's Miracles

Miracles of Jesus Christ

Preparing for Sabbath

Relationships with Brethren

Sabbath

Sacrifice as a Way of Life

Spiritual Priorities




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