Today’s passage: John 5:1-18
Helpful thoughts:
- Starting in chapter 5, we see the continual increase of Jewish opposition to Jesus.
- Bethesda means, “House of Mercy.”
- The people seemed to believe an angel had stirred the waters in these pools at times in the past, making the pool a place of miraculous healing.
- This information is included as verse 4 in some translations. This content is not in all manuscripts and may have been included to give some background information to help people better understand the text, especially verse 7.
- Someone better than the angels had come. What had been a legendary tale was displaced with the truth. Jesus has the power to heal.
- The people seemed to believe an angel had stirred the waters in these pools at times in the past, making the pool a place of miraculous healing.
- It wasn’t against the Law to heal on the Sabbath. It was against traditions that had developed over the years.
- Jesus was not disobeying God. He was disobeying men who had disobediently written extra rules (Deuteronomy 4:2).
Questions to consider:
- In what way was Christ’s deity displayed in today’s passage? What would have made this miracle particularly impactful and visible among the people of Jerusalem?
- What is the irony of the anger of the religious leaders against Jesus? Who were these men rebuking? Who were they accusing Him of disobeying? How were they elevating themselves and disrespecting God?
- Did the Jews understand who Jesus believed He was and is? What does verse 18 tell us they specifically understood and did not like? If Jesus is equal with God, then what is the only right response to His teaching and invitation to salvation?