Banquet With The King: Do You Want to Be Made Well?

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. John 5:1-9 NKJV

Meditate. Consider healing on the Sabbath.

Thirty-eight years is a long time to be lame. If you’ve ever even twisted your ankle and needed to walk on crutches, you can imagine how it is to be a bit immobile. This sick man was there by this pool of healing water, but how did he get there? Did he live there, as it was a sort of hospital, or did someone just carry him and leave him there? He didn’t seem to have any friends or family to take him into the pool when the water was stirred up. He was at the mercy of those around him, and no one helped him. Each person was on their own. Sort of a me-first mentality. Then Jesus appeared on the scene, apparently visiting the “hospital” of the sick there near one of the Temple Gates. Jesus was there for the Passover, and the Temple area was likely filled with others there for the required Temple attendance.

Each year every man in Israel must celebrate these three festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters. On each of these occasions, all men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he chooses, but they must not appear before the LORD without a gift for him. Deuteronomy 16:16

Psalm on the wall near David's home
in Jerusalem, Israel.

Jesus singled out this lame man of all the sick who were gathered there at the Pool of Bethesda hoping for the water to be stirred and heal them. He simply asked the man, “Do you want to be made well?” Do you want to be healed? What can I do for you? The man didn’t say “Yes” or “No”—just that no one was there to help him. He didn’t ask Jesus to carry him to the pool. Jesus didn’t carry this gentleman to the water. He just spoke the words, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." The guy miraculously did just what Jesus said. He got up. Instantly healed from his infirmity. Consider that after thirty-eight years of immobility, he was probably pretty weak, but he picked up his mat, the bed he’d been lying on all those years, and he walked. New strength in his legs. New strength in his arms. He was a new creature. Was he spiritually as well as physically renewed? I think that it was probably possible! Jesus had performed a miracle. But it was the Sabbath when no one could work, even carrying a mat was work. What will happen now?

What do we learn about Jesus from this passage? Jesus was obedient in following the Jewish requirement to go to the Temple on the feast days. Some places note that this requirement only has to be fulfilled in Jerusalem once in a lifetime, and in other years, the required attendance can be at a local synagogue. Once again, Jesus was compassionate and merciful to the sick, this lame gentleman. What about all the others near this pool? Did they ask Jesus to heal them? There is no record of that in any of the Gospels. What do you think?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, help us to be compassionate to those around us who need assistance in their times of suffering, illness, or even just confusion. Show us how and where to be Your hands and feet. Bless us to bless others.

Verse of Salvation ~ See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory." With joy, you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! Isaiah 12:2-3

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Seven foods are special in Israel: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates (or date honey). Studies have been done on these seven fruits, and they have been found to have compounds that give them healing qualities. Let’s look at figs today. We should be seeing fresh figs in our local supermarkets beginning in late May through mid-June and then again at the end of August through October. They perish quickly, so use them right away when you buy them.

What do you suppose was Jesus’ favorite food? We know He liked figs and was disappointed that the fig tree along His path one day was barren. Figs are best eaten fresh and raw. My favorite way to eat figs is just to wash them, bite into them, and eat them fresh. Ahhhh. I am looking forward to some fresh figs from my own tree this summer.

What could be better than figs and chocolate? I found a scrumptious recipe for Chocolate Covered Figs on giverecipe.com on Pinterest and hope to try it as soon as there are fresh figs available.

Chocolate Covered Figs

7 ounces of the best quality chocolate bars (that is, two 3.5-ounce bars)

2 Tbsp COLD milk

6 fresh figs

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Add cold milk and mix. It will get thicker. Let the mixture cool to room temperature. Divide into six balls, a bit larger than the figs. Flatten the balls out. Place a fig in the center of each chocolate ball and close it up. Place on parchment paper and refrigerate for 4 hours to overnight. Serve cold. Slice if desired.

Another good way to serve figs is roasted.

Grilled or Roasted Figs

Just slice in half and grill over indirect heat for a few minutes. The natural sugars will caramelize. If you like, you can just remove the stem and stuff it with gorgonzola cheese and then grill. Top with ice cream, if you like.

No grill. Broil instead. Cut figs in half, dip in a cinnamon and sugar mixture. Broil for 4 minutes. Enjoy!

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

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Banquet With The King

Friday, March 27, 2026

Do You Want to Be Made Well?

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