John 5:1-15 tells us one of the powerful healing performed by Jesus Christ. This blog aims to understand the attitude of the sick man and his approach to get healed, from his limited conversation with Jesus Christ. The blog will then proceed to re-establish the fact that Jesus is the one and only way to salvation.

The Bethzatha (or Bethsaida) pool In Jerusalem was a source of some sort of miraculous healing for the sick. The stir up of water in the pool occurred perhaps from some underground sources such as an irregular flow of spring. The sick that get washed in this spring got healed as implied in John 5:7. However, there was a cost associated with it, that only those who threw themselves into the disturbed water only would get healed, leaving the rest to return and wait for the next stir up.

It would not be a surprise if the sick waiting for the ‘stir up’ have had trained their eyes and their body to be alert to the stir up of water as we all know how much concerned we become when we fall sick or our health is affected. However, the situation here (Bethzatha) had created a ritualistic dogma among the people that those who follow the dotted lines only would be saved. To put it another way, if you jump at the right time (when the water stirs up) you will be healed; if you miss you continue in your suffering.

Lord Jesus approached the man who was ill for 38 years and initiates a conversation asking him, ‘….Do you want to be made well’ (John 5:6). In most of the other cases reported in the gospels it is either the sick or their friends or relatives approaching Jesus with healing request. But, in this case, we see a proactive Jesus offering healing to the sick man. This highlights the purpose of His incarnation and ministry- “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4:18-19; cf. Isaiah 61:1; also see Isaiah 58:6).

This man appears to be entangled in the web of ‘this worldly’ process of healing by believing that the only way to get healed is to follow the steps of wait, watch (for the water to stir up) and jump. This is akin to various non-Christian beliefs where there are many complicated and non-achievable steps to attain salvation. But, here stands ‘the way’, for Jesus said, “I am the way”- John 14:6). Jesus fulfilled all the complicated processes for human salvation as instructed in the book of Leviticus by shedding His precious blood once for all (Hebrews 9:12). Thenceforth we have no other means for salvation except through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). The sick man here has his salvation standing in front of him offering complete healing but is unable to realise it as could be made out from his reply.

A lesson for us to learn is- it is not that Jesus is nowhere near during our hard times but our failure to see and feel His presence which in turn hinders the flow of blessings. Jesus asked the man whether he wanted to be healed, but the reply was not an instant ‘yes’. Rather, the sick man replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me” (John 5:7). Before we analyse his response, let us try to understand his illness. This man was a sinner as is evident from John 5: 14, and was completely invalid and unable to move (John 5:5-6). Connecting these two together we may discern that the man has granted entry to too many demons into his life that he lost even his mobility. We see a similar person possessed with so many demons that he lost all his senses to lead a normal life, in Luke 8: 27. The Gerasene man was possessed with a legion of demons (a legion numbers around 6000). In short, we can infer that the sick man waiting at the portico was full of sins to the extent of complete possession by demons. And now, he just needs a physical healing perhaps just to continue with his sinful life. He probably did not realise the fact that sin not only destroys the body but the soul as well.

Jesus said, “…though seeing they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand” (Matthew 13:13; Mark 8:18; John 12:40; cf. Jeremiah 5:21).  The sick man here can see Jesus standing in front of him but cannot realise; he can hear Jesus with his physical ears but is unable to comprehend. The apparent result is an indifferent response to the offer for healing. Because of the inner blindness and deaf condition the man has only one response, “no one is there to help me into the pool” (John 5:7). There are two angles to this response:

1. As mentioned above, the man is pinned to the belief in ‘healing by processes’ as against ‘healing by faith’. Healing by processes is a series of activities and trials as detailed in the book of Leviticus (for one instance see Leviticus 14). On the contrary healing by faith is non-procedural. For example, the servant of the centurion was healed by faith (Matthew 8:13). Jesus told Martha, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). Saints Paul and Silas told the jailer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved- you and your household” (Acts 16:31). The power of faith is so strong that even a size of faith as small as mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20).
2. This is more for those involved in counselling and deliverance ministry: the person with demonic possessions (not all) may try to divert the focus by hijacking the subject of the conversation. As we see in this case, Jesus is asking for healing but the man is talking about the process. It is important not to let the demons take control of the situation and distract from the healing process. This is probably the reason that Jesus did not prolong the conversation but ordered the man to take his bed and walk (John 5:8). Please note, unlike many modern day healers and deliverers Jesus did not engage in a stage drama to perform deliverance and healing. Jesus said, “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3).

It is clear from this biblical section that the reason for illness in this man’s case was his sins. Jesus demonstrated without explicitly stating that He has the authority and power to forgive sins (Mark 2:10). He has shared this power to His anointed ones (John 20:23). The sick man in this case only aspired for physical healing but Jesus gave him full healing (body and soul). Jesus also cautioned him not to sin again as it will be disastrous (John 5:14). Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

Therefore, let us train our body and soul to be Holy and acceptable our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.