Looking Across the Pool of Bethesda

A Reflection of the Gospel

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water” John 5:2-3.

This is a passage that is abundantly rich in its giving forth of the Gospel. It is rich in doctrine; in its betrayal of the sinner; in its presentation of the plenteous mercies and Sovereign grace of Christ; in the working of faith, imputed righteousness, and justification, in its confirmation that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. It speaks of His omniscience; of His absolute equality with the Father; of His God-given authority: of His power to quicken the sinner, both physically and spiritually; of His power to give eternal life; whose Voice will raise the dead in resurrection; of all judgment being committed into His hands; that He is Lord of the Sabbath.

The location of the pool of Bethesda: it was in Jerusalem “by the sheep market” referred in other places as the sheep gate. Neh. 3:1, 12:39. It is through the sheep gate that sacrificial animals were brought to the temple: its name given whereas the lamb was the predominate sacrifice. The sheep gate then points us to “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” John 1:29. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter” Isa. 53:7.

The pool of Bethesda was by the sheep market (gate): its name meaning mercy. It is through the sacrifice of God’s Lamb offered upon the Tree that He has obtained Mercy in our behalf from a Righteous and Just God. It is only in Christ, and through His blood that a depraved transgressor may cry out, “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

Around the pool were 5 porches (Matthew Henry says that they were roofed walks, that it was the closest thing to a hospital that might be found to ‘house’ these impotent folk.) The number of the porches is significant. The number five is said to be the number of grace or favor.

The pool of Bethesda (Mercy), having 5 porches (Grace) was found by the Sheep Gate (the Way of Sacrifice.) It is the Way; being found only in Christ, that one may find Mercy and Grace and that, through His sacrificial offering as the spotless and sinless Lamb of God.

The description of the scene within the porches that were around the pool: “In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered” vs.3.

The Jewish nation: an unbelieving people. They had the Law, boasted in it, but were unable to keep it. They were powerless, without any strength at all. They were blind - blind to their own impotence, blind to their wretchedness, blind to their desperate need, blind to the Divine glories of the one who stood in their midst. “and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. . .and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isa. 53:2,3.) They were halt -that is “lame, crippled.” Israel had the Law but were totally unable to walk in the way of God’s commandments. Rules, rituals, and ceremonies. Discreetly laying aside the Moral Law and the 10 commandments and fashioning their own, these Jews spun as it were a caterpillar’s cocoon about themselves; they became a righteousness unto themselves. Jesus rebuked them; “Ye are they whichjustify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God” Luke 16:15. They were withered - generally speaking of the hands. They were withered, paralyzed: unable to work for God.

(Let us not forget the remnant of Believers; those who were of the spiritual seed of Abraham: who like their father, believed God, and their faith was imputed unto them for righteousness. We will address this further in the article.)

“Withered” - blind eyes, crippled feet, paralyzed hands: unable to see, unable to walk, unable to work. How striking is the order here! Consider them inversely: a man cannot perform good works unless he is walking with God; and he will not begin to walk with God until the eyes of his heart have been opened to see his need of Christ. This is the Divine order, and it never varies. First the eyes must be opened, and then illuminated understanding prepares us to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called; and that, in turn, equips us for acceptable service for God. But so long as the eyes are “blind” the feet will be “halt” and the hands “withered” The Gospel of John, A.W. Pink

Here in their ‘hospital’ the final diagnosis is made: they are blind (in their understanding and hearts), “halt” (crippled in their legs and in their feet, so that they are unable to walk), “withered” (in their arms and hands so that they can not work.) Lastly, they are waiting; waiting for a ‘doctor’ who can give them ‘medicine’; who might administer treatment for their healing. But alas! The Great Physician goes unnoticed: great is their ignorance of the knowledge that He is standing in the midst!

“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” Gen. 1:2. Face, Paneh, the face as the part that turns. We speak of “sunrise” and “sunset,” knowing full well that the sun does not revolve around the earth. As the earth rotates, the part that is facing the sun is in light. As it continues its rotation that same part of the face is removed from the sun; thereby being in darkness. Likewise, as our face is turned toward the Son, we are in Light; if our face be turned away from the Son, we are in darkness. These impotent folk who lay around the porches of Bethesda were blind, halt, withered. God decreed to make man in His image; but the likeness of the image that was formed became de-formed, without form, void; and the face being turned from God was plunged into darkness.

“And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” And these blind, halt and withered were “waiting for the moving of the water;” waiting for the angel that should come. The believing remnant was waiting for the true Messiah; but notice the testimony of this man, being a representative for the impotent: “Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool” vs.7. Make no mistake: the unbeliever, be he Jew or Gentile, is not looking for the Messiah: he is looking for a “man.” And that “man” will be found! “for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” II Thes. 2:3,4. John had said of Jesus, “there standeth one among you, whom ye know not.” His testimony rang true then, it rang true at the pool of Bethesda, it rings true today.

“A certain man. . .an infirmity for 38 years” Thirty-eight years was exactly the length of time that Israel spent in the wilderness after they came under the law at Sinai (Deut. 2:14)

A “wilderness of sin” impotent, blind, halt, withered. (Matthew Henry and Arthur Pink.)

“And when Jesus saw him lie.” Blind Bartimaeus, although as yet unable to see, “heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me” Mark 10:47.

“Wilt thou be made whole?” “Sir, I have no man. . .” Oh the blindness of men; that they should think anyman capable to deliver in any way. Nor can religion; no, nothing short of the work of the Holy Spirit through Christ can avail anything at all.

“Wilt thou be made whole?” “Sir, I have no man. . .to put me into the pool.” This man could not walk, probably from a “palsy,” but his eyes were functional ( at least his physical eyes.) Were his eyes fastened on Jesus? I think not. He busied himself “Looking Across the Pool of Bethesda.” The entirety of his hope and faith was in the waters of the pool. He dare not cease to look to them; the angel might trouble the waters at any moment. . . But he should have been “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” Heb. 12:2. And we must believe that the populace of this age are largely looking across their own “pool of Bethesda,” having no regard for the Holy One who stands in the midst.

He ‘believes’ he’s just a step away from being made whole. “But while I am coming, another steppeth down before me” But how can he be “coming,” or for that matter, anyone else in the group? How can one think to make a “step” who is impotent, blind, halt, withered?

His is a false hope, a hopeless hope. But we are given a “Blessed Hope,” a sure and stedfast Hope. Titus 2:13, Heb.6:19. This sure Hope stood before him, but he knew it not.

He would desire to “step down” but Christ commands him to “rise,“ to take up his bed. He would be put into the water by some man, but Christ plants within him the “well of water springing up into everlasting Life” John 4:14. (The woman at the well placed her dependence in the well; the impotent man, in the pool.)

“Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk” (5:8). If the Saviour waited until there was in a sinner a due appreciation of His person, none would ever be saved. The sufferer made no cry for mercy, and when Christ inquired if he were willing to be made whole there was no faith evidenced. But in sovereign grace the Son of God pronounced the life-giving word, yet it was a word that addressed the human responsibility of the subject. A careful analysis of the command of Christ reveals three things. First, there must be implicit confidence in His word. “Rise” was the peremptory command. There must be a hearty recognition of His authority, and immediate response to His orders. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” is something more than a gracious invitation; it is a command (I John 3:23). Second, “Take up thy bed” - a cotton pallet, easily rolled up. There was to be no thought of failure, and no provision for a relapse. A.W. Pink

We never think of this, but what if this man had looked at Jesus and said, Man, you’re crazy! Why, I can’t rise up and walk! Can’t you see? I’ve been crippled for 38 years! You’re making a mockery of me. Go away; leave me alone! But he didn’t. And he did rise in faith and obedience. It was Christ who called him unto salvation!

Take up your bed and walk! (Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path.) You’re no longer impotent, you can stand, you’re no longer blind, you can see where you’re walking. You’re not withered; you can take up your bed into your hands and carry it. Thanks be unto God who has raised us up who were powerless and bed-ridden by sin. “As Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” Rom. 6:4b.

But why carry his bed? Why not leave it where it lay? Firstly, he did it in obedience to Christ’s command. And it was a testimony to the religious Jews, of the Grace of a Present Messiah to the despised sinner; a trophy for the impotent one of a victory that was not his own.

A Reflection of the Gospel.

“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” vs. 14. Findeth him in the temple? Where else should a new born find himself on the sabbath? Behold, thou art made whole? Should our Lord heal the physical and leave the man to continue to suffer under the burden of a crippling sin? God forbid! This man is now to be identified with the spiritual seed of Abraham. This may be received two-fold, as he is become the spiritual seed of the seed of Abraham - Christ Himself! The testimony of the O.T. believers: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” Heb. 11:13. Now was a time of transition. The promises, Christ Himself, was no longer “afar off” but standing in the midst. And seeing Him, and having received His command to “Rise and walk,” he is persuaded, he embraces, he confesses: “The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole” vs.15. This man has been quickened, imparted faith from Christ, who is in turn the object of his faith: his faith has been accounted (imputed) unto him for righteousness. Being accounted righteous, he is reconciled to God, he is justified in the eyes of Him who is the Most Holy and Righteous God. “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” Rom. 4:5. What a fitting example! The impotent man; who could not work; but could believe; is justified by grace through faith!

Jesus and the Sabbath.

“And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day” vs. 16. Persecute Jesus, slay him? They’d better be careful not to do it on the sabbath; they would be guilty of breaking the sabbath themselves! No matter. The end justifies the means. It’s perfectly all right to break the other nine commandments in order to bring swift judgment and punishment to that law-breaker who desecrated the sabbath! And here were the charges: Jesus healed on the sabbath; he wrongfully instructed the man to take up his bed and walk, causing him to break the sabbath. I love this next part: “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” vs.17. The word “hitherto” is understood to apply to both Father and Son. It is arti, just now - this day (hour), (even) now, (this) present. What is He saying? Yes, it is the sabbath: and on this sabbath day, even now, this very hour, my Father is working, and I, His Son, am working! He continues: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. . .For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. . .I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” John 5:19,21,30. Jesus “quickeneth whom He will (the impotent man,) He commanded the man to take up his bed and walk? On the sabbath? And Jesus was fulfilling the will of the Father? Yes. Does that make God a lawbreaker of His own law? We can but imagine the distraught Jews as they were confronted with His sayings! “And therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God” vs.18.

The Lord of the Sabbath.

“And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath” Mark 2:27.28. As Lord of the sabbath Jesus bids us all to partake of His sabbath: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” Matt. 11:28-30. A yoke is normally associated with labor; but our Lord bids us to come out from under the burden of that yoke and be yoked with Him; it is a yoke of rest, of soul rest.

The impotent man lay on his bedroll for 38 years, yet it was a place of labor, a burden for his soul. He labored not, because of his infirmity - but he found no rest. “Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath” John 5 :8,9. He took up his bed; he took Christ’s yoke upon him. He left the unrest, the burden of the bed and found rest as he walked with Jesus. It was the sabbath day, the day of rest; and he found rest in the presence of the Lord of the sabbath. Six days are given us to labor. On the seventh, (the Lord’s Day), let us take upon ourselves Christ’s yoke of rest: it is indeed a time of rest for the soul; a time to come apart; a time to be refreshed in the Lord; a time to sit at His table in communion and fellowship. This “commandment” is a benefit; it is given to be a safeguard; so are the other nine. Some may regard them as prison bars, restrictions on “their rights!” These complainers may likewise protest after going to the top of a structure such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris. “Why are these bars, these railings here? They’re restrictive!” Yes, they are. Someone though to put them there to prevent the foolish from getting too close to the edge and plunging 984 feet downward to their death! The 10 commandments, the moral law, is given in lovingkindness by an all-wise God, for our good. “despiseth thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” Rom. 2:4.

Some, in their attempts to remove the 10 commandments from public view and from public places, shall in no wise remove that moral law from the recesses of the hearts of men.

Here we close, having gleaned only a little from the Word of Truth. “Lord, grant that the Gospel may continue to go forth to the blind, the halt, the withered; that the Holy Spirit of promise may draw, quicken and heal...”