As John records the incident at the Bethesda, he captures as well the conversation between Jesus and a nameless invalid. There are a few interesting differences that make this different from the other healing events in the gospels. Firstly, there were two encounters between this man and Jesus. The first was by the pool, and the second at a temple. Next, in this encounter, Jesus was the one who initiated the conversation by asking the man if he wished to be healed. Let's take a closer look.
1. "Do you want to be healed?"
Jesus approaching the man and initiating such a request was uncharacteristic of most of the encounters we have witnessed throughout the gospels. Typically, the one who became healed knew of Jesus' identity (barring the ones that were blind). People flocked to Jesus just to touch him, grab his garment, all sorts of things.
It is important to note that Jesus knew this man had been there for a really long time (v.6). When asked if he would like to be healed, the invalid responded, essentially explaining how he had no help from others and how he was always placed behind others. I can only imagine the feelings of compassionate Jesus must have had for this man at that point for him to say to the man: "Get up, take up your bed, and walk."
Scripture makes no mention of how the man responded other than taking up his bed and walking. Putting myself in his shoes for a moment, if I had been lame for the last 38 years, what makes me think that just because a man tells me to get up that I will actually be able to do so? There is something to be said here about the healing of this man: despite not even knowing who Jesus was, he experienced the power of Jesus' healing. Scripture is clear: "at once, the man was healed." The man, upon sensing that he was healed, picked up his bed, got up and walk.
Jesus' healing can be experienced by those that may not know of him yet.
This was reinforced in the next few verses when the Pharisees interrogated him, but he was unable to identify the man who had healed him. This man had not an inkling the identity of Jesus, yet he was completely and utterly liberated from his sickness.
This brings me to my next observation on how this man responded.
2. "Sin no more."
This man had been lame for 38 years. It was unlikely that he was able to move about, let alone visit the temple routinely. However, it was recorded that Jesus found him in the temple afterwards. My interpretation is that this man took it upon himself to worship in the temple after he had been healed. While this was not explicitly stated in the text, it is a logical reasoning that follows. It is apt, too, since Jesus found him there and here was his second message to the man: "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you."
To be frank, I'm not too sure how this ought to be understood exactly. A few things are clear, however.
Jesus says to the man that he had been healed. He uses the word "see" metaphorically: the man knew he had been healed, but now he was truly witnessing the source of which his healing was from - Jesus. This is the crux - this man now recognized that Jesus had the power to heal, for he had been personally healed by Jesus himself.
The next bit is just as critical, if not more. Jesus tells him to sin no more, and mentions this for his sake, so that he may not experience anything worse than that which he had been healed from. This has massive implications. It implies that the man's initial condition had been a result of his sins. By extension, it meant that sin has profound implications on us.
Although not much was further expounded on the impact of sin, we do see this man going off and telling the Jews that Jesus had healed him. While we do not know from the text whether this man who had been healed went about his later actions in the heart of thanksgiving, Jesus' expectations are made clear.
The appropriate response to having experienced Jesus' healing is to believe in him, and sin no more.
This is similar to the woman who had committed adultery a few chapters from here. Jesus said the same thing: "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."
So, how do I make sense of all this in my life?
For me personally, I've witnessed far too often how many of us are quick to focus on the sins (whether from ourselves or from others) before addressing one's belief and healing.
Jesus spared no patience when dealing with this man, who did not even know who he was. He simply reached out, asking if he wanted to be healed. I believe that we ought to follow in that example, by extending healing first. If it is our sin that we are grieving over, then let us first seek his healing. Jesus is patient with us, always waiting for us to turn to him for healing and forgiveness, for restoration and reconciliation. If it is another that we are dealing with, let us extend ourselves as servants of God's healing for them. For even if they do not know of Jesus, just like the invalid, Jesus is fully capable of healing them of their afflictions.
And when we have witnessed the work of Jesus in our lives, let us respond in kind, by resolving to weed out sin in our lives. Strive to sin no more, regardless of how many times we shall fall, let us strive to sin no more. This is the right way to own the freedom that we have been given through the blood of Christ: freedom from sin.
Brothers and Sisters, let us receive boldly the healing that God has for us, that we may freely believe in His name, and seek His holiness. And then, let us do the same for the many others, who like us previously, are laying around this pool just waiting to be healed.
T'was blind, but now I see.
Sola Deo Gloria,
Matt
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