I want you to open your Bible to the Gospel of John, chapter 5.

What does it say in verse 4?

If you say “There is no verse 4,” you’re probably reading one of the contemporary versions.

Sometimes it’s just skipped. Other times there is a footnote like

Other ancient authorities add, wholly or in part, waiting for the stirring of the water, for an angel of the Lord went down from time to time into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made well from whatever disease that person had.

• Footnote 5.3 on the Gospel of John, NRSVue

Where is verse 4?

It turns out the earliest manuscripts we have found for the Gospel according to John do not include this verse at all.

It is thought that it was added to fill in the blanks.

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Let’s go to God in prayer.

God of wisdom, may the words that I speak, and the ways they are received by each of our hearts and minds, to help us to continue to grow into the people, and the church, that you have dreamed us to be.

Amen.

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So Jesus is in Jerusalem.

The ways in through the walls outside the temple are called gates. And one on the north is called the Sheep Gate. And outside that gate is a pool with five porticoes. It’s called Beth-zatha, or Bethesda, or Bethsaida. And people come to this pool to be made well of their various ailments.

There’s a lot going on in this short passage.

Jesus sees a man lying there who he knows has been there a long time, and asks the man

“Do you want to be made well?”

– John 5:6, NRSVue

Jesus sees a man at a pool where people are seeking relief from their ailments. The man is lying there, so he probably has some affliction. Couldn’t Jesus just heal this man?

But instead, he asks the man

“Do you want to be made well?”

– John 5:6, NRSVue

Jesus doesn’t heal without permission.

This could be an issue of “YouGottaWanna,” where a person’s desire to be healed is a part of their healing. Or it could be that Jesus doesn’t do something to another person until he’s sure they want it.

Perhaps its both.

The ill man could have said “yes” or “no.” Instead, he replies

“Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am making my way someone else steps down ahead of me.”

– John 5:7, NRSVue

The man is saying yes, but he’s also expressing his frustration that his attempts to be healed have been thwarted by people who are quicker than he is.

He’s not just suffering from his illness. He’s suffering from others stepping in front of him.

Jesus says

“Take up your mat and walk.”

– John 5:7, NRSVue

and the man “took up his mat and began to walk.” – John 5:8, NRSVue

We could dig into what’s really happening in this pool. What does it mean that the water is stirred up? Is it an angel, as the mysterious verse 4 says, or is it when fresh water comes down into the pool? Are people being made well?

And the miracle of Jesus’ healing: how does that work? There’s not even a laying on of hands. Merely a statement to get up and walk.

But I’m looking at the interpersonal aspects of this story:

A man is ill and is hoping to be healed by being the first into the pool after the water is stirred.

Every time he tries, someone else steps in front of him.

How often do we, intentionally or unintentionally, step in front of others who are in greater need? This can be in a physical way: perhaps we get into the checkout line in front of someone who has limited mobility, or someone who may not be able to stand as long. It could be in claiming benefits. It could be in speaking up in a group.

Can we be more observant of others’ needs?

Jesus sees the man and takes action.

There were many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people. Why this man? Jesus knew the man had been lying there a long time. In fact, he had been there thirty-eight years. This man needed help.

Do we see the needs of others? Do we recognize those who are perhaps most in need?

What do we do when we see needs we might be able to address.

Jesus does not just help the man. Instead, he asks whether the man wants to be helped.

Do we just jump in and help people? Or do we ask whether they need help, or how we can be of help?

How do we determine what, if anything, a person would like for us to do to help?

My challenge to all of us this week is to ask ourselves these questions:

• Can we be more observant of others’ needs?
• What do we do when we see needs we might be able to address.
• How do we determine what, if anything, a person would like for us to do to help?

How we interact with those in need can change lives. Even on the Sabbath.

Amen.

Let’s sing CH 73 There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy

* Scripture quotations marked NRSVue are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. https://www.friendshippress.org/pages/about-the-nrsvue

* Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James version of the Bible.