Fifth Sunday after Easter (25 May 2025)

The people who followed Jesus had various expectations: for miracles, for healing, to find fault or because they saw Jesus as a supernatural hero. Jesus did not care about the people’s expectation or negative criticisms. Instead, He was focused on fulfilling His Father’s will.

Today’s meditation is based on our New Testament Reading, the Gospel according to St John, chapter 5, verses 1–9. The passage that was read is a very familiar passage. It says about one of the miracles performed by Jesus when He ministered in this world. It was a festive season and Jesus went to Jerusalem according to his regular practice. Jerusalem city wall had twelve gates or entrances. The sheep gate was located on the Northeast corner of the wall. People took the sheep to be sacrificed to the temple through this gate. There was a big sheep market and a sheep pool near the entrance. The pool of Bethesda was located near the sheep gate. This pool had five porches and a particular healing capacity. The angel of the Lord God used to go into the pool and stir the water. Whoever went into the pool first was healed completely. The people who wanted healing waited for the right moment to be healed.

Jesus came to Jerusalem and entered through the sheep gate. This represents Jesus offering Himself as the Passover Lamb to be sacrificed for people’s sin. When Jesus came near the pool, he saw a man who had been lying there for thirty-eight years. Jesus asked him if he wanted to be made whole. The man replied that he did not have anyone to take him into the pool when the angel stirred the water. Someone always overtook him and he missed the opportunity to be healed. Jesus said unto him, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk” (John 5:8). The man was made whole immediately and he took his bed and walked. This miracle happened on a sabbath day. Keeping the sabbath day was the fourth commandment given through Moses. Jewish people did not do any work on sabbath day following the instructions given through Moses. They gave more importance to the rituals. When the Jewish people saw the man walking with his bed they argued with him about his response when Jesus asked him to take his bed and walk. They blamed him for disobeying and violating the laws given through Moses. The man did not know anything about the one who healed him. But he simply obeyed Jesus and took his bed and walked. When Jesus commanded, he put his effort and followed Jesus’ instructions. When he responded to Jesus’ instruction and put the required effort on his part, he was healed.

So what is our reflection from this passage? I would like to imagine ourselves in that man’s place. There are times in our life when Jesus enquires about us. He does not come to us physically but through people He has kept in our lives. Do we realise and appreciate His love in the genuine care and love we receive from those around us? Jesus also expects us to show His love to those in need. Let us identify His love when we receive it and share His love to those in need.

We may be waiting for a miracle for 38 years like the man. If Jesus asked us if we want a miracle today, what will be our response? First, will we be able to identify Jesus? Will we know Jesus’s voice from the voice of the world? We must first know who Jesus is and be able to identify His voice.

When Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be made whole, he did not give a yes or no answer. He shared his challenges with Jesus and Jesus listened. Jesus is willing to listen to us when we share our hearts with Him. Are we sharing our thoughts with Jesus? Jesus also expects us to be a listening ear to others when they are troubled. Let us share the burden of our hearts with Jesus and be a listening ear to burdened souls.

When Jesus told the man to rise, take up his bed and walk, he did not question Jesus. He did not ask questions like ‘who are you?’ ‘will I be healed?’ ‘what if I am not healed?. The passage does not explicitly mention about the faith of the sick man. But we can see his obedience without question when Jesus asked him to rise up. When Jesus asks us to do something, do we ask questions because it seems impossible. Let us learn from the man and obey without any question.

The man was not sat there for a few months, but he was there was 38 years. He was waiting with hope in a hopeless situation. Will we be able to be hopeful in a similar situation? We all have different problems, health issues and other troubles. How long are we willing to wait? Our Lord has a specific time for everything, let us wait for His time with hope.

The Jewish people were not willing to help the man. They had seen him and his struggle for many years but did not lend a helping hand. They were not surprised or happy that the man was healed. But they gave more importance to the rituals and traditional practices. Are we helping those around us who are in need? What are we giving importance to? Are we rejoicing when we witness a miracle? Or are we giving more importance to traditional practices? Let us give up any traditional practice that is a barrier to build our relationship with Jesus. Let us also break the barriers with others and help them to come closer to our Lord Jesus.

Jesus asked the man “Wilt thou be made whole?” He is asking us if we want to be made whole in our spiritual lives. Jesus came to this world to save every one of us from eternal death. He did not destroy the Old Testament Laws and commandments but fulfilled them completely. He broke the traditional practices and gave direct access to the Lord God. He fulfilled the Father’s vision and his mission and saved us from eternal death. He offered salvation and assurance of inheriting out eternal life in the kingdom of heaven. Let us accept our Lord Jesus and be made whole in all areas of our lives. Let us not stop with our lives but make the lives of those around us also whole.

Once we are made whole, we must remember the caution from Jesus: “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” Let us ensure we reconcile with our Lord and live our lives are pleasing in the sight of our Lord Jesus.

The man lying in the pool of Bethesda did not go looking for Jesus. Jesus went to him and healed him. The same Jesus came looking for us. As said in Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”. Jesus has done His part. Are we doing our part?

I pray we work on having a personal relationship with Him and not do things not pleasing in His sight. I pray we do not stop with ourselves, but share about Jesus to those around us and make their lives also whole. I pray that we share our Lord’s blessings with our family and friends. May our Lord God make us while to be His witnesses to the community. Amen!