A man who had been sick for 38 years lay by the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, hoping to be healed. Jesus healed him on the Sabbath, which led to conflict with the religious leaders. His story illustrates Jesus' power over sickness and his authority over Sabbath laws.
Hechos clave
38 Years Sick at the Pool of Bethesda
The man had been sick for 38 years and lay by the pool of Bethesda, which had five covered walkways. He waited for the water to be stirred so he could be healed.
3In these lay a great number of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed—waiting for the water to be stirred.[^1]
[^1]: The words "waiting for the water to be stirred" together with verse 4 are not found in the earliest manuscripts.
Jesus saw the man lying there and knew he had been sick for a long time. He asked the man, 'Do you want to get well?' The man explained that he had no one to help him into the pool when the water was stirred.
7The sick man answered, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am on my way, someone else goes down ahead of me."
The Jewish leaders confronted the man because he carried his mat on the Sabbath. He defended himself by saying that the one who healed him had told him to pick up his mat and walk.