Christian Art | Jesus Heals On The Sabbath
John 5: 1-16 – Lent Week 4, Tuesday (Audio Bible KJV, Spoken Word)
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.
16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
Note: verse 4 is omitted in some versions of the Bible, yet the numbering of the verses is else wise retained.
The Church Fathers teach that the pool by which the sick people wait is a symbol of baptism. It is striking to consider that, for the paralyzed man, there is healing to be found here, and too that the mode of healing at this pool is generally capricious and not available for all. We are made aware through this passage of the Bible that our healing through Jesus is for all.
Jesus’ word is truth and action. When he tells the man to stand, he is immediately healed. Jesus’ word enacts the healing.
It may well be that the man has come to the Temple to thank God for the good that has come to him. When he meets Jesus, Jesus brings the physical healing together with spiritual healing, telling the man to sin no more. Throughout the Gospels, we are taught to see the physical healing Christ brings through his miracles as a sign of the spiritual healing which is for all of us.
The Jews – in John’s Gospel, synonymous with those who reject Christ – are outraged that Christ has performed this miracle on the Sabbath day. Rather than see the goodness Christ brings to us, they cling to their blindness and their hollow interpretation of the letter of the Old Law. Through their lack of understanding, they twist and pervert Christ’s gift, such that it becomes a cause for persecution – and this of our redeemer.
The Law of Moses established the Sabbath as the day of rest. Through observance of this rule, the Jews felt that they were imitating God, who rested from his work of creation on the seventh day. Jesus teaches us to see the truth of this time of rest. He teaches us to see that God is continually at work in creation, maintaining creation. ‘My Father is working still, and I am working.’
We know that, when we rest, this time of contemplation can bring us closer to God. Through our rest, we find healing through our knowledge of God, as we welcome Jesus and all of his teaching into our souls.
‘Let the faithful, therefore, examine their minds and subject the inmost thoughts of their hearts to a true scrutiny. If they find stored within their consciences anything of the fruits of charity, let them not doubt that God dwells in them; and in order that they may be more and more ready to receive such a guest, let them abound still more in works of unfailing compassion.
‘For if God is love, charity must have no limit because God cannot be confined within any bounds.’ Pope St Leo the Great
Audio Bible KJV | Endnotes
An Angel | Troubled Waters | Miracles Of Healing
Across cultures and through history, there have been stories and legends about the healing properties of certain bodies of water. From rivers and lakes to wells and springs, these sources of water have been believed to possess magical or divine powers that can cure illness, purify the body and soul, and bring spiritual benefits.
One common motif is that of troubled waters. In some cases, it is said that the waters are troubled by a divine being, such as an angel or a goddess. These troubled waters are imbued with special powers that can heal and restore the sick and the injured they are spiritually healing.
However, there are stories in which the troubled waters are said to be troubled by evil spirits or malevolent forces. In these cases, the troubled waters are not necessarily associated with healing, but rather with danger or malevolence. For example, in some Native American traditions, it is believed that certain bodies of water are inhabited by malevolent spirits that can cause harm to those who enter the waters. In such cases, the troubled waters are seen as something to be avoided rather than sought out for healing.
Stories from the ancient world that feature an angel or divine being and the troubling of waters as a means of healing or purification include:
In ancient Greek mythology, there is a story about the river god Asopus and his daughter Aegina. According to the myth, Aegina was abducted by Zeus and taken to an island, where she was later rescued by her father. Asopus searched for her and when he drank from a spring on the island, he was healed of all his injuries. It was said that this spring was troubled by a nymph or a god, and that the waters had healing powers.
In the Old Testament Book of Kings, prophet Elisha heals a man with leprosy by telling him to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times. After the seventh time, the man’s leprosy is healed, suggesting that the waters of the Jordan had healing properties.
There are accounts from the ancient Near East that describe a similar practice of troubling waters to heal or purify. For example, in the ancient city of Nuzi in modern-day Iraq, a spring was believed to have healing properties. The spring was said to be troubled by a goddess, and those who drank from it or bathed in it were believed to be healed.
In ancient Egyptian mythology, the goddess Isis was associated with healing and was said to have used the waters of the Nile River to heal the sick and injured. It was believed that she would come down to the river and stir the waters with a staff, causing them to become healing waters.
In Hinduism, the Ganges River is considered a sacred river and is believed to have purifying and healing properties. It is said that the river was created when the god Vishnu poured water from heaven onto the earth, and that bathing in its waters can cleanse one of sins and bring spiritual benefits.
In Chinese mythology, there is a story about a magical well that could heal any ailment. According to the legend, the well was located in the Western Mountains and was guarded by a dragon. Those who were brave enough to approach the well and drink from its waters were said to be healed of all their afflictions.
In the Islamic tradition, there is a well in Mecca called the Zamzam well, which is believed to have been created by the angel Gabriel and to have healing properties. According to the story, the well sprang up miraculously to provide water for the prophet Ishmael and his mother, and those who drink from its waters are believed to be blessed and healed.