Exposition of John, Chapter 5 · Verse 1 – Verse 2
Verſe 1. AFter this there was a feaſt of the Jewes, and Jeſus went up to Hieruſalem.
Several circumſtances are premitted unto the Hiſtory of this miracle, to v. 8. whereof the firſt is, a general deſcription of the time and place of it; it was done at Jeruſalem, at a feaſt to which Chriſt went up. As this Hiſtory doth not follow immediately upon the former, (though in general, it be ſaid it was after this,) but ſeveral things intervened; which John omitteth, as being employed, not ſo much to confirme the ſame doctrine by repeating it, as to record what the …eſt had omitted: ſo this is the cauſe why we cannot certainly determine what this feaſt was, at which Chriſt went up, nor is it much material for our uſe. Only we may gather from this, 1. The ſolemn feaſts obſerved by the Jewes at Gods appointment, were peculiar and proper to themſelves, and not obliging nor belonging to the Chriſtian Church; for, therefore is this called, a feaſt of the Jewes. 2. Chriſt was pleaſed to ſubject himſelf unto the Law, not only moral, to free his people from the condemnation thereof; but to the ceremonial Law alſo, that he might free his Church from the yoke thereof, therefore, Jeſus went up to Jeruſalem, in obedience to the Law, requiring this appearance, Exod. 34.…3. 3. Opportunities of advancing the Kingdome of Chriſt, and of doing good in our ſtation, ought not to be omitted, but taken hold of, though it ſeem to tend to our own trouble or hazard that we do ſo; therefore, alſo Chriſt went up to Jeruſalem at the feaſt, though he met with trouble there, becauſe he had occaſion of ſetting out his glory by healing the man, and by preaching in that ſolemn Aſſembly.
Verſe 2. Now there is at Hieruſalem by the ſheep-market, a poole which is called in the Hebrew tongue Betheſda, having five porches.
3. In theſe lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blinde, hall, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4. For an Angel went down at a certain ſeaſon into the poole, and troubled the water: whoſoever then firſt after the troubling of the water ſtepped in, was made whole of whatſoever diſeaſe he had.
The next thing premitted, is a more particular deſcription of the place of this miracle it was wrought at the Sheep-gate, (as the word may be read.) of which Nehem. 3.1. ſo called, becauſe being near the Temple, the ſacrifices were brought into the city at that gate; or, at the Sheep market, (as we tranſlate the word) a place near that gate, where, according to the liberty granted by the Law, Deut. 14 24, 25, 26. men might provide themſelves of ſacrifices; though now the corruption of men had brought theſe commodities into the Temple, John 2.14. More particularly, this miracle was wrought at a poole, which whatever uſe it had of old, (it may be, among others, for waſhing the beaſts, before they were preſented,) was now honoured with the Lords preſence manifeſted there, in curing the diſeaſes of all ſuch as went into it, after an Angels troubling the waters, and therefore was frequented with a number of ſick perſons, who attended that ſigne, and were accommodated in five porches built about the pool. The name of this pool Betheſda, may either ſignifie the place of pouring out, to wit, of water, either into the pool by conduits, (being poſſibly that of Hezekiah; 2 Kings 20.20.) or out of it by pipes, for ſeveral uſes; or, it may ſignifie, the houſe of mercy, becauſe of the proofes of Gods mercy manifeſted to the ſick there. As for the time of the beginning or ceaſing of this miracle, it is needleſſe to ſearch into it, ſeeing Scripture elſewhere is ſilent about it, only it ſeemeth to have begun but of late among them. Doct: 1. The place where theſe perſons lay, being a place of great concourſe, and from whence they went into the Temple to worſhip, doth teach us, that it is a neceſſary meditation for men to have frequent and ſerious thoughts of their own frailty, that they may be humbled, and may be ſtirred up to preſſe more earneſtly after God, in whom all is made up; this did the Lord preach by preſenting theſe ſad ſpectacles to mens view, in that publick place, as they went to the Temple. 2. Hoſpitality and compaſſion toward the afflicted, is a commendable duty, and the pains that a declining people put themſelves to in that kinde, may ſtand up as a witneſſe againſt others; for, though the Jewes were now declined, yet the pool had five porches, either built for the ſick, or now converted to that uſe. 3. Where Chriſt cometh to any place, he will be ſure to give a ſpecial viſit to the deſolate and afflicted, and to be at paines to come to them, who are not able to come to him; for, ſo is it to be ſuppoſed here, (as is afterward cleared) that Chriſt coming to Jeruſalem, cometh to the Poole where the ſick lay. 4. From this miraculous manifeſtation of God in the Church of the Jewes, we may learn, 1. Where God continueth a Church, although the people be wicked, yet he will not faile to give ſome tokens of his preſence, ſpecially for the good and behoof of his elect among them. Therefore when the Jewes had now long wanted publick Prophets, and were under deep diſtreſſe, the Lord giveth this miraculous proof of his preſence; to confirm them, and eſpecially the elect, that he did not forget them; to eſtabliſh them in the love of their own Religion, when idolaters did prevaile over them, and to ſtir them up to expect the Meſſiah. 2. Incurable diſeaſes and infirmites are not therefore deſperate and hopeleſſe; for, God from heaven can help that, which no means on earth can do good to; and it is his ordinary way to interpoſe and appear, when matters are incurable and remedileſſe otherwiſe, ſo much are we taught here, in that the blinde, halt, withered, and the diſeaſe whatſoever it was, was cured, and by theſe cures on the body, the Lord giveth proof what he can do to ſouls and inward conditions, or other outward lots. 3. Means of Gods appointment, how improbable like ſoever, ſhould not be contemned; every thing being therefore uſeful becauſe God appoints and bleſſeth it; therefore made he uſe of the water of this common poole, and that when it was troubled, (which it ſeems, ſhould make it more hurtful) to be ſtepped into; though, it ſeems, there was no vertue put into the water, but only the troubling of it was a ſigne of Gods preſence there. 4. Whatever good the Lord do by any mean, yet we are to ſee that all the vertue and bleſſing cometh down from heaven; for, an Angel went down and troubled the water, before that men got any good by ſtepping into it. 5. It is the duty of all ſuch as are ſenſible of wants or infirmities, to ſlock to appointed meanes, and take up their abode there, as being the Lords tryſting place; for, ſo doth the practice of theſe ſick perſons, teach; who abode and lay in the porches of the pool. 6. Much ſenſe of need will make men aſſiduous and conſtant in their waiting on, in the uſe of lawful meanes, not giving over for delayes and diſappointments; for, albeit the Angel went down but at a certain ſeaſon; and albeit he only who ſtepped firſt in, was healed at that time, and many being there, would he diſappointed and prevented by others, yet they lay ſtill waiting.