THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST |
Chapter 31WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE? |
02-01-09
TEXT
(John 5:1-4) After this
there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at
Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue
Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk,
of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went
down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then
first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever
disease he had.
EXEGESIS
(John 5:1-4) After this
there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now
there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market [1] a pool [Gk:
pond for bathing (or swimming)], which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda [Heb:
house of mercy],
having five porches [Gk:
a colonnade or interior piazza:--porch] [2,3]. In these lay a great multitude of impotent
folk [i.e., the sheep] [4],
of blind, halt [Gk: lame],
withered, waiting for the moving of the water [5].
For an angel went down at a certain season [probably
Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles which were three “very certain seasons”
of the year. ref. v1]
into the pool, and troubled [Gk:
stirred or agitated] the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the
water stepped in was made whole [6] of whatsoever disease he had [Gk:
held him fast] [What held him fast?] [7].
1.
Commentary:
“the sheep market” = was a place where they bought and sold
sheep. For the sheep, this was a place of life or death, for here some were
bought for pasture, and some were bought for slaughter. The NKJV has this phrase
“the sheep gate” of which The Nelson Study Bible says “the Sheep
Gate was a gate in the wall of Jerusalem near the temple, through which sheep
were brought for sacrifice.”
2.
Dictionary:
colonnade = 1. Archit.
a series of columns set at regular intervals, and usually supporting an
entablature, a roof, or a series of arches.
3.
Dictionary:
piazza = 1. a veranda of a house. 2. an arcade or covered walk or gallery, as
around a public square or in front of a building.
4.
impotent
= Gk: to be feeble (in any sense):--be diseased, impotent folk (man), (be) sick,
(be, be made) weak /// strengthless: without strength. [note
that “blind, halt, withered” were incurable diseases]
5.
(Gen 1:1-4) In the beginning
God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void;
and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved
upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and
there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided
the light from the darkness.
6.
whole = Gk: healthy, i.e. well (in body); fig. true (in
doctrine):--sound, whole. [i.e.,
they got saved]
7.
Commentary:
Several elements in these verses speak of the tabernacle of Moses. Please
note that Bethesda was a “house of mercy” as was the tabernacle a house
of God, and that the approach to the pool consisted of
“five porches” which represent the five pillars or columns of
the gate of the tabernacle, and that the pool itself represents the
brazen laver (sanctification) for the cleansing of sins. And finally, the
angel is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ who is represented in the tabernacle
by the brazen altar (justification) of sacrifice. Please note that
healing took place only when the waters of the pool were set in motion;
motion is a distinct characteristic of the Holy Spirit.
TEXT
(John 5:5-9) And a certain
man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 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? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when
the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another
steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on
the same day was the sabbath.
EXEGESIS
(John
5:5-9) And a certain man was
there, which had an infirmity [1]
thirty and eight years [2].
When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in
that case [3],
he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? [The
latter question is the fulcrum upon which this entire message is balanced.]
The impotent man answered him, Sir,
[4] I
have no man [I can trust and
rely on no man to help me. “and no man gave unto him” Luke 15:16],
when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while
I am coming, another steppeth down before me [5].
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the
man was made whole [he
became a potent man] [6], and took up his bed
[and he manifested that
potency],
and walked
[to all the world] [7]:
and on the same day was the sabbath. [see
Acts 3,4]
1.
infirmity = Gk: feebleness (of body or mind); by impl. malady; mor.
frailty:--disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness /// strengthlessness:
without strength.
2.
Commentary:
“thirty and eight years” = is a reference to the length of time that the
children of Israel spent wandering the wilderness, becoming purged of disbelief
prior to entering into the Promised Land. (Deut 2:14).
3.
Commentary:
The identification of the angel who troubled (stirred up) the waters of the Holy
Spirit as a type and shadow of Jesus Christ becomes much more perceptible
in these verses where we may safely surmise that when Jesus saw, focused upon
the impotent man, He became sympathetic and troubled (stirred up) in Himself
(Where was the Holy Spirit dwelling at that moment?) by the impotent man’s
plight, had pity on him, and immediately indicated a willingness to bless the
man with “release” from his deadly dilemma, if the man was willing
to receive it – the impotent man represents us, of course. Many people are
not willing to be cured of their sins, unwilling to part from them;
hence, the vast majority of these impotent folk remain suffering on the porches
of Heaven with an incurable disease, until death claims their unregenerate soul.
4.
Sir = Gk: kurios;
(supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller:--God, Lord,
master.
5.
(Mat 7:13,14) Enter ye in at
the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction [eternal
damnation],
and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is
the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it.
a.
strait = Gk: narrow (from obstacles standing close about).
b.
narrow = Gk: to crowd (lit. or fig.):--afflict, narrow, throng, suffer
tribulation, trouble.
6.
Dictionary:
potent = 1. powerful; mighty. 2. cogent, as reasons, motives, etc. 3.
producing powerful physical or chemical effects. 4. possessed of great power
or authority. 5. exercising great moral influence. 6. having sexual power [taken
metaphorically, to beget many children].
7.
(Mark 16:15) And he said
unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
8.
Commentary:
Observe that Jesus did not command the man to “rise” and go into the water,
which would have represented the Old Testament way back into the past types
and shadows, but Jesus commanded the man to rise in power
(fulfillment) and walk in the new way of the New Testament, for our redeemer
hath come.
Amen
| Table Of Contents | Next Chapter | |
Click here to download a printable version of this message |
||
Click here to download a DOC version of this message |
||