Breaking the Word

After this, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep (Gate) a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.  In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be well?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk."  Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked. Now that day was a sabbath. (Jn 5, 1-9)

There were a large number of ill people at the pool. Jesus chose just one of them and healed him. It was because he was there waiting for thirty-eight years. Jesus could have healed all of them. By the mere description, the author wanted to tell his readers that Jesus had pity on the longest (in number of years) sufferer. Not only that but also because he had on one else to help him out. Also the man had made effort to come to the water.

So the situation seems to be an impossible one.

The man is alone (no on to help him)

He is there for long (thirty-eight years)

He is sick.

And Jesus takes his side (he is no more alone)

He is healed instantly (Jesus could have healed him the next day)

He is healed (even though it is a Sabbath.

For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place.  When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast. The royal official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus said to him, "You may go; your son will live." The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.  (Jn 4, 44-45. 49-51)

John the evangelist is saying that the prophets are not honoured in their own native place. This statement is followed by another statement which says that the Galileans welcomed him. Galileans are his own countrymen. So they did honour him after all.

For, Jesus himself gives an answer to this situation: "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe." (v. 48) Galileans believe because they see signs and wonders. This is only an introduction to what Jesus is going to do for the official who comes with a request.

The official comes with a request for a sign (for a healing miracle). He is like any other Galilean. But he is different from the other Galileans because he believed in the words of Jesus.

That is why the words of Jesus become a reality. The word became flesh – the theme of John’s gospel. The distinction between believing because one has seen something and believing on the words of Jesus remains important in the Gospel.

When Jesus addressed Thomas in 20, 29: "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

This is the challenge that the Gospel presents today. We are called to believe in the word; not in the abstract word but in the word become flesh that is the word hidden in the flesh.