What does Bethesda mean?
(John 2:1–11; 4:46–54; 5:1–47.)
Blog Sep. 29-Oct 5, 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: <PresentTruthLRI@gmail.com>
INTRODUCTION: This quarter we will study the revelation of Jesus as recorded by John, the beloved.
The First Sign
1. How does John state the purpose of his book in his introduction? John begins by showing that Jesus is God with the Father, a co-participant in the creation of all things, & that as the Son of God he was the true light that came to earth as a man to bring life to all who believe in him (John 1-13).
2. How does John state the purpose of his book in his closing paragraphs? John says that the signs (miracles) he included were “written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:30).
3. What is the first “sign” that John lists to inspire us to believe in Jesus as the Son of God? The first of the seven signs that John lists in his book is what happened at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11).
4. Why did Jesus answer his mother the way he did when she told him that they had no wine? Wine relates to joy & the time for Jesus’ marriage, when he would be the groom responsible for the wine, had not yet come. That day would be in the kingdom of his Father (John 2:4; Eccl. 9:7; Isa. 24:11; Luke 22:18).
5. What was the result of Jesus changing the water into wine? The ruler of the feast was amazed at its quality, Jesus’ divine glory was revealed, & his disciples believed on him (John 2:8-11).
The Second Sign
6. What is the second sign that John records in his gospel? The second sign that John gives to show that Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior, is the healing of the nobleman’s son (John 4:46-54).
7. What was Jesus looking for in the nobleman before he could heal his son? Jesus desired evidence of the nobleman’s faith before granting his request (John 4:46-48; Matt. 13:58).
8. Besides the nobleman’s desperate plea, what other evidence of his faith is recorded in the story? The nobleman demonstrated his faith in Jesus’ word by not insisting that Jesus go to his home & by not returning home the same day that Jesus said his son would live (John 4:48-52).
9. Is it necessary to see signs and wonders in order to believe in Jesus? No, Jesus upbraided the nobleman, & Thomas for requiring signs before believing (John 4:48; 20:24-31; Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:22-29).
10. What result does John record from the healing of the nobleman’s son? The nobleman believed, and also his whole house. (John 4:53).
The Third Sign
11. What miraculous sign does John list after the healing the nobleman’s son? John’s third sign that Jesus is the Messiah is the healing of the impotent man by the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9).
12. Why did Jesus ask the impotent man if he wanted to be made whole? Many people have no desire to live according to God’s standards & Jesus not only wanted the impotent man to acknowledge his need but also to express his desire to live a new life (John 5:6, 9; Isa. 1:18-20; Jam. 5:14-15).
13. How is Jesus’ divinity revealed in the healing of the impotent man and the response of the Jews? Jesus’ divinity is revealed by his power to heal, by his proper understanding of the Sabbath (for he is Lord, also, of the Sabbath) & by claiming to be equal with God (John 5:9-18; Mark 2:28).
14. How do Jesus’ own words, quoted by John, reveal the overarching theme of John’s gospel? By emphatically stating: “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life,” Jesus stated the very premise that John is trying to reveal (John 5:24; 1:4, 7, 12; 20:30).
15. Instead of himself bearing witness of his divinity whose witness did Jesus recommend to convince the Jews? Jesus pointed the Jews to the witness of John the Baptist, to that of his own miracles, to that of the Father, & to that of the Holy Scriptures (John 5:31-39).
16. What held first place in the thinking of the Jewish leaders that was contrary to the meaning of Bethesda? The Jewish leaders were more interested in their manmade laws (like no lifting on Sabbath) than they were about shewing mercy, for Bethesda means “House of Mercy” (John 5:2, 16-3; Matt. 9:10-13; 12:7-8).