An Angel Troubling a Pool - John 5:4

John the apostle wrote how, “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”, and in chapter five and verse four of his book, John shared how, “an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water:”. John began with the words, “For an angel” or “because, since and on account that a messenger and envoy” “went down at a certain season” which means “descended at a particular opportune time, decisive epoch and right time” “into the pool” or “into the swimming hole, diving place or pond for bathing”, “and troubled the water” which means “and stirred, disturbed, agitated, disquieted and made restless the water in the pool”. John shared how a “messenger” from God would go down at a particular time and “agitate” the water in the “pool”.

The verse goes on to say, “whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.” John continued with the words, “whosoever then” which means “whatever person whether male or female therefore, wherefore and these things being so” “first after the troubling of the water” or “chiefly, principally and foremost in time when the water was agitated” “stepped in” which means “put their foot into, entered, and embarked upon the water” “was made whole” or “arose, appeared and was restored to health” “of whatsoever disease he had” which means “from whatever sickness or ailment the person whether male or female possessed”. John shared how the first person to “step into” the agitated water in the pool would be “healed” from their infirmity.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn about an “envoy” sent from God who would “stir” the “water” in the “pool of Bethesda”, and whoever was the first person to put their foot into the “water” would be “healed” of their “sickness or ailment”. We can understand why the people who were sick with infirmities and ailments were sitting and lying around the pool. Jesus was approaching this place, and He would do a miracle there that would again demonstrate that He was indeed the Messiah sent from God. God sent His Son Jesus to be the “Savior and Lord” of every person who believes and trusts in Him. Those who are wise will examine this miracle and yield their life to Jesus Christ who is the “healer” and “Savior” of the world.

Next time John shares how, “a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".