Rise, take up your bed and walk

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

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 disease he had. 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.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’” Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

- John 5:1-18

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. My study bible says that this is often associated with what is called the Jewish Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, due to the references to the Mosaic Law later on the chapter. The Feast of Weeks commemorated the theme of the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai.

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 disease he had. Many translations leave out the verses regarding the explanation of the curative powers of the pool, because it is not found in the oldest Greek manuscripts. Tertullian (c. A.D. 200) and St. John Chrysostom (c. A.D. 400) are the first Church Fathers to refer to it. My study bible says that this was a double-basin pool which has been discovered by archaeologists about 100 yards north of the temple area, near the Sheep Gate as it says in the text. The water for this high-ground pool came from underground springs, and was used to wash down the sacrificial lambs before they were slain. In this image is seen sometimes a prefiguring of baptism: healing is available for all in the Person of miracles, for the well-being of the full person in all ways – and without angelic mediation necessary. My study bible notes that it is possible the action of the stirring of the water comes from the bubbling up of the underground springs; on the other hand, one cannot discount the possibility of angelic action involved. It says, “The role of spiritual powers in the world must never be discounted.”

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.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. A great metaphor is indeed present in this text: without help, the man cannot get to the pool. But Christ appears for all of us; He is an ever-present help among us and with us. His love is expressed in His action for this man, who cannot be healed as he cannot get to the pool before others. How does this parallel our own feelings of helplessness and weakness? My study bible says, “Jesus asks an obvious question to stimulate the man’s faith.”

The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’” Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” My study bible notes, “Although the law of the Sabbath does not specifically prohibit the carrying of burdens this activity is mentioned in Jer.17:21 and Neh. 13:19 and was explicitly forbidden by rabbinical regulations. As always in John’s Gospel, we understand the term “the Jews” to refer to the authorities (and not the Jewish people – the paralytic was also a Jew), who felt themselves the guardians of the Law. It was commonly believed that misfortune was a divine retribution for sin, but Jesus does not ratify this belief: rather, my study bible notes, “the paralytic’s cure is to lead to conversion and a righteous life.” I believe, also, that it is important to value the gift of healing He offers.

The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. My study bible says, “Confronted by His Jewish critics, Jesus argues that God’s sustaining and redeeming work does not cease on the Sabbath.” The authorities are doubly offended – not only has Jesus violated rabbinical restrictions but He also presents Himself as equal with God.

In this third sign or miracle reported by John in his Gospel, Jesus both fulfills and defies that which is taken as the Law. But it all depends on how things are interpreted. “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” This is Jesus’ question He has asked elsewhere. But in today’s reading, His reply is that He is doing His Father’s work, as is fitting for the Sabbath. In the Church, we celebrate “liturgy” which means literally in the Greek our “common work.” So let us think today about what our work is in the world. We have the example of Jesus, who follows His Father. What “work” do you do in your life to please God? Is it pleasing every day of the week – or only restricted to the Sabbath?