Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 5
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
John 5
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
John 5
"After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." — John 5:1 (ASV)
The words “some time later” mark a break in chronological sequence. Comparison with the Synoptic accounts shows that a measurable amount of time may have elapsed between the healing of the son of the royal official at Capernaum and the episode of the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda. The reference to the feast does not define the time since the feast is unnamed.
"Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep [gate] a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches." — John 5:2 (ASV)
Excavations have located this pool in the northwest corner of old Jerusalem. It was surrounded by a colonnade on all four sides and down the middle of the pool. People gathered at the water’s edge, hoping to be cured of their ailments, when the water was agitated. The explanation of the moving of the water (v.4; see NIV note) was probably added to the text of John later.
"In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered, [waiting for the moving of the water.]" — John 5:3 (ASV)
Excavations have located this pool in the northwest corner of old Jerusalem. It was surrounded by a colonnade on all four sides and down the middle of the pool. People gathered at the water’s edge, hoping to be cured of their ailments, when the water was agitated. The explanation of the moving of the water (v.4; see NIV note) was probably added to the text of John later.
"[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.]" — John 5:4 (ASV)
Excavations have located this pool in the northwest corner of old Jerusalem. It was surrounded by a colonnade on all four sides and down the middle of the pool. People gathered at the water’s edge, hoping to be cured of their ailments, when the water was agitated. The explanation of the moving of the water (v.4; see NIV note) was probably added to the text of John later.
"And a certain man was there, who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity." — John 5:5 (ASV)
Jesus selected for his attention the person who seemed most needy. Confinement to a bed for thirty-eight years would leave the sufferer so weak that he would be unable to walk or even stand for any length of time. Jesus’ question must have seemed rather naive to this invalid. Who would not want to be healed from utter helplessness? Yet the question also implies an appeal to the will, which the long years of discouragement may have paralyzed. Jesus thus was challenging the man’s will to be cured.
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