The Miracle At the Pool of Bethesda

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever diseas4e he had. ---John 5:2-5


This account gives us a picture of God’s sovereign side. If you remember, about three weeks ago, I discussed the sovereignty of God. I said, “When we say God does something sovereignly, we simply mean God does something according to His Word at His own discretion. He initiates it. But God cannot sovereignly do anything outside the boundaries of His Word, because He has bound Himself to His Word.”

In this story, there were five covered porches full of people who sat by that pool that were sick or crippled and needed a miracle to get well. The people didn’t know when the angel was coming; the just knew he was coming. They didn’t know who would be healed; they just knew someone would be healed. And afterwards, the rest of the people would have to sit and wait for the next time the angel came to trouble the water.

Now, let’s look at verses 5-9.
Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?
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.”
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”

Obviously, the impotent man wasn’t healed on his own faith. Someone may say, “Well, then, Jesus’ faith healed the man.” But Jesus never once said in the Bible, “My faith made you whole.” If Jesus’ faith had healed that man, He would have healed everyone else there too. But after healing this one man, Jesus disappeared into the crowd. He didn’t turn to anyone else in all those five porches. I believe He was on a direct assignment from His Father, for Jesus said “I do nothing that I don’t first see the Father do.”

So, what healed the man? The sovereignty of God! Why did God single that one man out? I don’t know. But I could guess. There was a praying mama or grandma who had petitioned God for years for this man. And in God’s sovereign mercy, He decided to grant their petition. But none of us will ever know for sure. One thing for certain, God did reach out to that individual and He knows what He is doing.

Confession: God reaches out to heal people as He wills. He also made a way for me to receive my healing by faith in His Word. I exercise that faith, and I receive my healing now!