Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool with five covered colonnades, which in Hebrew is called Bethesda.Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, “Bethesda”, having five porches.Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches.
4 sermons cite this verse
Now let's get into the word of God. The Bible says sometime later Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool which in Aramaic is called Bethesda, and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Five is the number of grace symbolically in the Bible a lot of times when you see it. And the word Bethesda means house of mercy. So they're going to a place to get mercy, to get a miracle. And the Bible says in verse three, here a great number of disabled people used to lie, the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. and and and you know when we read that list it's easy for us sometimes to think that the physical conditions are are the ones that need the greatest healing but you know you might be in here tonight and what you're dealing with is crippling anxiety maybe in here tonight and maybe you're dealing with a condition that we can't see outwardly but the lord still wants to touch that area of your life. But notice in verse five, this is the important word to me. It says one, one who was there. That's how personal God is. One who was there had been an invalid for 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, do you want to get well uh-oh the way you answer this question is gonna mark your life …
… Sometime later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda. That word means house of mercy. Like Bethlehem means house of bread. Beth is house. Then Seda from Chesed, the word that means covenant love or favor or grace or mercy, it means all of those things. It's the house of mercy. At least that's what it's called. It's supposed to be a place where people can come and get grace, but it isn't, and you'll see that in the passage. It's called Bethesda, and it's surrounded by five covered colonnades. Incidentally, since we're in John 5, 5 in the Bible is often symbolic of grace. It's the number of grace. This is supposed to be a place of grace. Can I say that about our church? This is supposed to be a place of grace where anybody can come like they are and not leave that way. It was surrounded by five covered colonnades. …
… he wants to feed the crowd through you, the math won't matter. You can have been stuck in something 38 years at the pool of Bethesda, John chapter 5, verses 1 through 7. Everybody around you might be quicker than you, and you might feel like, I just can't win. I just can't get there. When the water is stirred, I have no one to help me. But when Jesus shows up, if he wants to heal what's hurting in you, it doesn't matter how many people are in front of you that are faster than you. If it's God's battle. High five your neighbor and say, the math don't matter. Bad grammar, good preaching. The math don't matter. Don't care how long it was like that. One moment in his presence, one moment of his favor, one moment of his holy fire can burn away all the dross because I'm coming out of this because the math… Do you hear what I'm saying to you? The prophet said, do not be afraid of them for those with us are more than those with them. …
… 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. And 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. And 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 38 years. And when Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already 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. …