Love lesson 13: by turtle

John 5:1-15
1  After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2  Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five
porches.
3  In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4  For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling
of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5  And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6  When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made
whole?
7  The impotent 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, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9  And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10  The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11  He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12  Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13  And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that 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 come unto thee.
15  The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

This story is an interesting one.  The history in this story is kind of fascinating.  This is a quote out of the “KJV
Thompson Chain Reference Bible in the Archaeological Supplement Section.� page 1736. Section 4343

“Bethesda was a spring-fed pool, surrounded by five porches, where Jesus Healed the man who had been sick for
thirty-eght years (John 5:2).
The only record indicating its location place it near the Sheep Gate. Apparently this carries the inference that it was in
the northeast part of the authorities, the principal sheep market in Jerusalem was located north of the temple area just
as, at the present time, the Arab sheep market is located outside Herod’s Gate. Also the Medaba map (fifth
century) located the pool in this section which is known as Bezetha.

In 1888 repairs were being made on St. Ann’s Chuch in this northeast section of Jerusalemwhen what seemed to
be large reservoir was located. Professor Conrad Schick, who was consulted, organized an expedition and
uncovered the entire area down to the Roman level, revealing two large columns and capitals - all in Roman style, but
evidently somewhat later than the time of Christ the pools, and on a prominent wall of one of the porches was a faded
fresco of an angel in the act of troubling the waters. Here was Bethesda, according to the tradition of early Church. â
€œ end of quotation.

Just to make it clear the fresco(painting)  was after the time of Christ, but the fact the pool was stil there is interesting
information with the five porches.

John 5:2-4
2  Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five
porches.
3  In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4  For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling
of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

Now that are scene is set and the reality of the scene can be a little clear. Here is a impotent man. Impotent does not
mean what it does today in our society.

Impotent -  â€œto be without strength,â€� New international Bible Encyclopedia.

So at this pool were sick and lame and those who were weaken by whatever condition they had. The impotent man
could not walk in our story. Jesus came by and when he seen him he had compassion for him.  Jesus showed
abundant amount of compassion through out the John. That is why this study is called love lesson. We need to show
the same compassion Christ did. Jesus asked him would you like to be made well. Who wouldn’t want to be
made well after a time period of terrible suffering or handicap. The man’s answer is I can’t get to the pool.
Christ tells him to get up and take his mat and walk.

John 5:6-8
6  When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made
whole?
7  The impotent 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, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

I am surprised the man did not look at Jesus and say right tell me another joke. That would be our reaction today if
someone told us and we been crippled for years. But instead the man showed faith and got up and carried his mat at
walked.  When God tells us to do something we need to have faith to do it. It is sometimes hard for us to do it, but
we need to obey Him.

Now the Jews were furious because the man was carrying his mat. They did not rejoice over his healing. Boy this
must have been a puzzle. Here the man is happy and carrying his mat. He had no clue who had healed him. So he told
them I have no clue who told me to carry the mat but I have been healed by him.

John 5:10-12
10  The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11  He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12  Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?


Then Christ approached him when he was alone and told him to go and sin no more. The man then went and told the
Jews who had healed him.  I do not think the man realize that Jesus was the Christ, did not recognize the miracle  
being from God. When we are healed or given rest at night do we realize it comes from God.  It is so typical of
people to deny what God has done for each and everyone of us. We see people come through death to life situations
and still deny what God has done. Giving credit to doctors and such.  Denying God is sin. Denying his existence is
sin.  May we all learn to give God the glory for the things He done, does and will do in our life.
Love Lesson