Exposition of John, Chapter 5 · Verse 3 – Verse 4
Verſe 5. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight yeares.
6. When Jeſus ſaw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that caſe, he ſaith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7. The impotent man anſwered him, Sir, I have no man when the water is troubled to put me into the pool: but while I … coming, another ſteppeth down before me.
The third thing premitted, is, a deſcription of the man on whom the miracle was wrought. It is not declared who he was (for theſe whom Chriſt cures, are beſt known by their miſerie, and his mercy) nor yet what his particular diſeaſe was, though it ſeemeth it hath been ſore, and kept him lying, v. 6. only it is declared he had been long under it. Unto this is further added a previous conference betwixt Chriſt and him; wherein Chriſt, being ſenſible of his caſe, ſtirreth up his deſire of cure, by propounding a queſtion about it, v. 6. In anſwer to which, the man proveth his deſire, by his waiting on the means, notwithſtanding he was helpleſſe and oft diſappointed. Doct. 1. Not only are men ſubject to bodily infirmities, but it may pleaſe the Lord for wiſe ends, to let ſome ſpend a lifetime, or a large part of it in ſickneſſe and weakneſſe, as if they had been born for no other end, but to bear ſuch a croſſe; for, this man had an infirmity eight and thirty yeares. See, Pſal. 89.47. 2. As it is the duty of the afflicted to wait on meanes, ſo long as God appoints any for their help; ſo when Chriſt cometh they will be firſt regarded, who have been longeſt and foreſt troubled; for, as this man was there, ſo Jeſus ſaw him lie, and took notice of him before all the reſt. 3. Such as have been kept long, and longer then others under trouble, may be but reſerved for Chriſts own hand, and for his manifeſting his glory in doing of them good; for, ſo much did this man finde in experience. 4. Chriſt needs no information to acquaint him with the afflicteds caſe; he taketh notice of the meaſure of their trouble, and knoweth its continuance; for, he ſaw him lie, through ſickneſſe and heartleſneſſe, having been ſo often diſappointed, and knew that he had been now a long time in that caſe. 5. When Chriſt is willing to manifeſt himſelf for the afflicted, yet he would have our deſires after his help ſtirred up, and not blunted by any delay; Therefore, ſaith he unto the man, wilt thou be made whole? not as doubting of it, (for his deſire had drawn him thither, and kept him there) but to quicken it up, as a preparative to the receiving of the mercy, and to give pledge to all, that continued deſires, notwithſtanding all delayes, will be ſatisfied, ere Chriſt give over the afflicted. 6. It is a real proof of our deſire of help under diſtreſſes, when we are ſenſible of our miſery thereby, when we give not over to wait on in the uſe of means, and when we are afflicted with diſappointments in uſing them; for, thus doth the man prove his deſire, in anſwer to Chriſts queſtion, 7. One may be in a very abject like condition, and ſeeme to be neglected both of God and men, whom yet the Lord purpoſeth to do much good unto; And one may meet with many diſappointments in the uſe of meanes, who yet will get deliverance in a better and more comfortable way; for, ſo was it with this man, and ſo did he finde. 8. It may be the lot of the afflicted, not onelyonly to be ſick and unable to help themſelves, but to be left deſtitute without any to help them; which ſheweth what mercy they enjoy, who have if it were but one to attend them in ſickneſſe; for this man had no man to put him into the pool. 9. It … a token that ſickneſſe, he pleſneſſe and diſappointments are bleſſed, when theſe make us more meek and humble; for, his moan is ſuch, meekly doth he ſpeak of the inhumanity of theſe about him, and of others (who poſſibly came there after him) their getting in, while he is diſappointed. 10. It is the duty and commendation of thoſe in diſtreſſe, never to quit hope, nor weary to wait on, ſo long as there is any poſſibility of any deliverance by any lawful means, albeit they were ever ſo long delayed or diſappointed; for, ſo did this man, notwitſtanding all he met with. 11. It is one great weakneſſe, that our hope and expectation of help and relief goeth no further then we ſee outward means, nor can we conceive what Chriſt, power and goodneſſe is ready to do for us, till he reveal it himſelf; for, this man hath onelyonly his eye upon that known help, and by his regrate to Chriſt, inſinuates a deſire that he would ſhew that kindneſſe to him which others had neglected; but little doth he dreame of that which was in Chriſts heart.
Ver 8. Jeſus ſaith unto him, Riſe, take up thy bed, and walk.
9. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked: and on the ſame day was the Sabbath.
Followeth the miracle it ſelf, wrought by Chriſts power, and at his command, making the ſick man ariſe, and carry his own bed, and walk. To this is added a more particular deſcription of the time of this miracle, that it was on the Sabbath; which occaſioned the following controverſie and debate. Doctrine 1. Such is Chriſts goodneſſe and pity towards his afflicted people, as to prevent their hopes and prayers, with doing great things for them in their need; for, Chriſt cureth the man who neither asked it from Chriſt, nor dreamed he would do it. See. Eph. 3.20. 2. All Chriſts dealing with his own in diſtreſſe, endeth in healing of them at laſt, how little ſoever it ſeeme to promiſe; for, ſo doth his conference with this man. 3. Chriſt is not tied to means, ordinary, or extraordinary, but can work without both when he pleaſeth; and by his word of command can do greateſt things, and cure moſt deſperate diſeaſes; and not onelyonly command, but work that which he commands, and by his word conveigh vertue and efficacie, and give ſtrength to obey; for, he doth not take the man to the pool, but by his word cureth him. 4. Albeit in trouble, all means and probabilitie ſhould ſaile us, yet their caſe is never deſperate, who have Chriſt to go unto; So much alſo doth this inſtance teach us: Yea, ſingular afflictions, and diſappointments under them, may end in a more eminent and ſingular way of deliverance, as this man found: And, long delay in waiting on in the uſe of means, may be made up with a ſpeedy compleating of the delivery when Chriſt begins; for in an inſtant the man is made whole. 5. Chriſts miracles and wonderful works upon, and for the afflicted, are ſo reall and through, as will make them ſpeak for themſelves, and they ſhould be obſerved by all; for, this command, riſe, take up thy bed, and walk, which he obeyed, importeth that this cure was a through cure, and that he would have the man ſatisfied about it, and all to remark it. 6. As Chriſt doth his great works, that his glory may be manifeſted, and not buried; ſo a work appointed by him for ſetting forth of his glory, may, and ſhould be ſet about, and that without any violation of the Sabbath; Therefore, he not onelyonly commands him, take up thy bed and walk, that the miracle might be publiſhed, but alloweth it to be done on the Sabbath, not onelyonly becauſe he was Lord of the Sabbath, and ſo might diſpence with the obſervation of it, but becauſe this was no ſervile work enjoyned for a worldly end and commodity, but a mean appointed by himſelf for ſetting out his glory, and ſo was ſubſervient to the great end of the Sabbath. 7. Such things, within the compaſſe of our calling, as tend to the ſetting forth of Chriſts glory, are to be ſet about, with a ſingle eye and heart, albeit we knew others ſhould ſtumble and carp; for, ſo did Chriſt in his ſtation, he ſtood not on the Jewes ſtumbling in commending this to be done on the Sabbath, as minding hereby to hold out his own glory in the miracle, and in the following diſpute.