By James R. Strange, Ph.D.
Professor of Biblical and Religious studies, Samford University
THE SIGN OF HIS AUTHORITY
John 5:1–11, 17–20
Today in our series on signs in the Gospel of John, we arrive at the third, a famous story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man and thus revealing His identity. Miracles are “signs” pointing to who Jesus is, and Jesus Himself reveals who God is.
In the Gospel’s narrative, Jesus has just healed the royal official’s son in Capernaum and returns to Jerusalem. Many of Jesus’ most significant teachings and signs happen in Judea.
Jesus steps in to do what no one else will do. (1–7)
In the Bible, one goes “up” to Jerusalem because it sits on the holy hill of Zion.
The original language says that Jesus is near “the thing pertaining to sheep.” The most likely reference is the Sheep Gate in the northeast part of the city where those who returned from Babylon rebuilt the city walls (Neh. 3:1). A double pool with five porticoes — one on each side of a quadrangle and a fifth spanning its width — has been found in this area.
In Jesus’ day the pool, which was associated with various gods of healing during its history, sat outside the walls. Its porches offered shade to many, including those who sought miraculous cures.
Jesus’ question reminds us of His encounter with Bartimaeus of Jericho in Mark 10:51 and Luke 18:41. Unlike Bartimaeus, this man doesn’t answer Jesus but talks about his loneliness. He has no one to assist him, which implies that whoever helps him get to the pool at the start of the day and home in the evening doesn’t stay with him.
Even if people are not secluded, chronic infirmities of all kinds can lead to feeling isolated.
Jesus goes beyond what we expect. (8–11)
Jesus tells the man to do something he hasn’t done in 38 years — stand, carry his mat and walk.
Here and in other disputes, “the Jews” are not all Jewish people but those who have the authority to send priests and Levites to interrogate John the Baptist (1:19). Hence, they have influence in Jerusalem. The Pharisees, who are the most influential people with the populace, are concerned about everyday righteousness, such as keeping the Sabbath.
They remind the man that it is not lawful for him to carry a mat outside of his home on the Sabbath. This is why he stands out in a crowd.
Their question in verse 12 shows that they are uninterested in his healing. Rather, what concerns them is that Jesus violated the Sabbath and told another to do the same.
In Judaism, it was lawful to heal only a life-threatening condition on the Sabbath. Why did Jesus heal this man when He could have done it the next day?
Jesus has the authority to do what only God can do. (17–20)
Jesus healed on the Sabbath so He could show that the issue wasn’t Sabbath observance but His identity as the Son who does what the Father does.
Jesus’ work on the Sabbath did not save a life but revealed that, like the Father, the Son gives life.
This eternal life comes from the One who is eternal, and it begins with faith in the Father and the One sent by Him (v. 24; compare 3:14–17).
Eternal life is always available during our earthly existence to those who respond to God through the Son in faith.
Share with others: