rebuke, and
apologetically answers, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool. It
is not that I am resigned to this life of uselessness, but I have no
option." The very answer, however, showed that he was hopeless. It had
become the established order of things with him that some one
anticipated him. He speaks of it as regularly happening--"another steps
down before me." He had no friend--not one that would spare time to wait
beside him and watch for the welling up of the water. And he had no
thought of help coming from any other quarter. But there is that in the
appearance and manner of Jesus that quickens the man's attention, and
makes him wonder whether He will not perhaps stand by him and help him
at the next moving of the waters. While these thoughts are passing
through his mind the words of Jesus ring with power in his ears, "Rise,
take up thy bed, and walk." And he who had so long waited in vain to be
healed at the spring, is instantaneously made whole by the word of
Jesus.

John habitually considered the miracles of Jesus as "signs" or object
lessons, in which the spiritual mind might read unseen truth. They were
intended to present to the eye a picture of the similar but greater
works which Jesus wrought in the region of the spirit. He heals the
blind, and therein sets Himself before men as the Light of the world. He
gives the hungry bread, but is disappointed that they do not from this
conclude that He is Himself the Bread sent by the Father to nourish to
life everlasting. He heals this impotent man, and marvels that in this
healing the people do not see a sign that He is the Son who does the
Father's works, and who can give life to whom He will. It is legitimate,
therefore, to see in this cure the embodiment of spiritual truth.

This man represents those who for many years have known their infirmity,
and who have continued, if not very definitely to hope for spiritual
vigour, at least to put themselves in the way of being healed--to give
themselves, as invalids do, all the chances. This crowding of the pool
of Bethesda--the house of mercy or grace--strongly resembles our
frequenting of ordinances, a practice which many continue in very much
the state of mind of this paralytic. They are still as infirm as when
they first began to look for cure; it seems as if their turn were never
to come, though they have seen many remarkable cures. Theoretically they
have no doubt of the efficacy of Christian grace; pract