Scripture: John 5:2 (ESV)
“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.”
John draws our attention to a specific location in Jerusalem—a pool near the Sheep Gate, called Bethesda. The detail may seem incidental, but both Calvin and Ryle remind us that nothing in Scripture is without purpose. This place—Bethesda, meaning “House of Mercy”—will become the setting for a striking display of Christ’s compassion and power.
John Calvin points out the value of John’s specificity. He writes, “When the Evangelist enters into a more minute narrative, it is not without good reason, for we must be assured that what is related is true and certain.” The detail about the pool, the gate, and the colonnades gives historical grounding. It assures us that the Gospel is not myth, but reality—rooted in time and space, in places real people knew and visited.
J.C. Ryle draws our attention to the symbolic significance of the place itself. Bethesda was a place of sickness and suffering—a place where the broken gathered, hoping for healing. Ryle writes, “The place where Christ works this miracle is full of sorrow. It is a picture of this sin-stricken world.” He goes on to say that just as Bethesda was a place of affliction, so our world is full of pain—and yet it is into this brokenness that Jesus steps.
The mention of “five roofed colonnades” also points to the great number of people this place could hold. Many came here seeking relief. And here, in the midst of human desperation, Jesus will meet one man in sovereign grace.
Reflection Questions:
- How does it encourage you to know that Jesus entered real places filled with real suffering?
- Do you see the places of pain around you as opportunities for Christ to work?
- How might “Bethesda”—a place of need—be present in your own life or community?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for stepping into the places where people are hurting. You did not avoid suffering—you entered it, and You redeemed it. Help us to see Your presence even in our Bethesda moments, when all feels broken. Teach us to trust that You know every detail, and that You work with purpose in the midst of pain. In Your name, Amen.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 