Lovers of God

Jesus heals an invalid at Bethesda

Jn 5:1-17 1 After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. 3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] 5 A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?" 7 The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me." 8 Jesus said to him, "Get up, pick up your pallet and walk." 9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 10 So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet." 11 But he answered them, "He who made me well was the one who said to me, 'Pick up your pallet and walk.'" 12 They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Pick up your pallet and walk '?" 13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you." 15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working."

Why did Jesus heal just that guy and no one else by the pool? It is because all the others were not as helpless as he.

Why would God have this system where only one, and only the first person stepping into the stirring water was healed, and the stirring happened arbitrarily?

Why did Jesus ask if the man wished to get well?

Why did the man not just answer, "Yes."

Why did Jesus do this on the Sabbath?

Why did Jesus tell the man to pick up his pallet, knowing that the Jews would object?

Why did Jesus ask the man to not sin anymore? Was his illness because of a sin? Why did Jesus not tell him that the first time?

Why did Jesus go back to the man and identify Himself to him and thus get Himself into trouble? Did He think that the man would have remembered Him and tell the Jews? Did Jesus want the Jews to persecute Him for healing on the Sabbath?

Why did the man get Jesus into trouble?