John 5:1-18: Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

Analysis

The account of the lame (or infirm) man healed by Jesus at the pool of Bethesda, as given here by the Apostle John, contains a fair amount of detail in its opening description (e.g. five roofed colonnades, multitude of people with varying ailments). This affirms the fact that John was an eyewitness to the events and that this was not a mere second hand account.

It would seem that Jesus sought this particular man out as the one the Father showed him to heal because there was a multitude of sick, lame and blind. Why particularly this man? We know he has been in this condition for 38 years and has, most probably, been at the pool waiting for a chance to be healed (get into the water at the right time) for most of the duration of his condition. His persistence is astounding. He also believed with his whole heart that he will be healed because when Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed, all he asked for was some help to get to the pool. He firmly believed that his condition is just temporary; all he needs is a push in the right direction.

Notice what Jesus said to him as he healed him, “Pick up your bed and walk” and he did. He picked up his bed and walked away. The man went to the Jewish authority to be checked out and was declared well but the only thing they focussed on was that he was breaking one of their man-made Sabbath rules.

No one rejoiced in his new found health. The fact that the Jews did not know who it was that healed the man indicates that they were not present at the event. However, when they found out who it was, the Jewish authorities were enraged that one man could be “working” on a Sabbath rather than focussing on that this man is the Messiah and from God. They were even more incited to persecute Jesus when He pointed this out to them, that He is the Son of God and that He is God.

Application

This account of the miracle not only proves that Jesus is Lord over disease or over the law (which he came to fulfil) but that we can sometimes get caught up in the legalism of the bible instead of focussing on the redeemer.

The bible shows us all the ways that we should live our lives and through this I sometimes lose focus and judge others on minute details instead of loving them and focus on the fact that I am also a sinner like them. Jesus is God and he is our redeemer who freed us all from being slaves to sin.

Also, after the man was healed and he found out who it was that healed him, he confessed that it was Jesus who “saved” him and he was rejected because of what he did (break Sabbath “law”) and not on what he said when he proclaimed Christ. In the world, we are often judged on our outward lives rather than on the fact that we proclaim Christ. However, in our Christian walk, our deeds must always back up our words that we preach. Or conversely, we can only preach what we do.