There are some places on our planet we all recognize as holy or spiritual and can tap into the energy there. People would flock to these temples for both physical and spiritual healing. The Pool of Bethesda was the site of Christ's first miracle of healing (see John 5:2-9). When the man did so, he was healed (John 9:6-7). And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed," (Dan 7:13-14, ESV).VERSES 28-29: "Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. Can someone think of another healing where Jesus says: Dont you sin any more!. The exact name and its meaning has been the subject of discussion, since manuscripts of the Gospel of John from antiquity variously render the name as "Bethesda," "Bethzatha" and "Bethsaida.". One of my favorite places on earth where this is also the case is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, especially the Western Wall. Can I assume that those who were institutionalized in this culture would not have been well educated in the Torah or social/cultural customs? This is proper Biblical Teaching, Bible Study and Expositions. 5 After () this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus () went up to Jerusalem. The Pool of Bethesda (Picture) is located in Jerusalem at the present day Church of St. Anne (Picture). Pool of Bethesda - Bible History The Pool of Bethesda, and consequently John 5, has been reinterpreted in Jewish circles as an Asclepius-Pagan Temple due to a heavily Hellenistic influence in Jerusalem in the first century. Why Did the Pool of Bethesda Heal People? - Crosswalk It therefore appears that while the pool of Bethesda was a pagan place (Asclepion), while the pool of Siloam was connected with Jerusalem Temple. The pools of Bethesda is a Holy Christian site, located in the Muslim Quarter of the Old city of Jerusalem. We exist to provide a safe haven for all followers of Jesus Christ to discuss God, Jesus, the Bible, and information relative to our beliefs, and to provide non-believers a place to ask questions about Christianity as explained in the scriptures, without fear of mockery or debasement. The debate centers on if this was Passover, Pentecost, or Purim. The Pool of Bethesda was located on the eastern side of the city near the Fortress of Antonia. Understanding the pagan nature of this pool changes the context of the story in contrast to the story of the blind man and the Pool of Siloam. I find it amazing that Jesus could say so much in so few words! Pool of Bethesda - The Historical Context. The Pool of Bethesda as Greek Asclepion - Israel Study Center I believe the physical death of those trusting in Jesus is a doorway to Heaven that we simply pass through. "Many Bible Scholars think this particular reference to the "dead" is a reference to those who are,physically alive, but spiritually dead. If this is correct, it may change our perception of the entire story described here. By opening the pipes from one pool, the water would mysteriously begin to stir on the other. Jesus then tells him, Get up, take up your bed, and walk (John 5:8). This was the best time for a healing miracle when bubbles or ripples made their way from the spring to the pool. [ waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.]. In either case, Jesus had healed a crippled man, something the pagan gods had been unable to do.Jesus Heals the cripple by the Pool of BethesdaVERSE 5-6: "One man was there by the Pool of Bethesda who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Pagans recognized this first but then others claimed these sites later and added their own intention and energy to them. It is believed that the waters of Siloam were used to anoint the Kings of Judah and it became associated with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Of course, Jerusalem was the center for religious Jews in Jesus days, but it was also a headquarters for Hellenized ideals in Judea which was under strict Roman control with the Antonia Fortress dominating the northwestern end of the Temple Mount. As the spot of one of Jesus' miracles, the Bethesda Pool was built over in subsequent periods with chapels and churches that are still visible today. Randall acts as the lead writer for ColdWaters Drive Thru History TV series and Drive Thru History Adventures curriculum. Kind regards, Karl. What was the significance of this location? JESUS CHANGED EVERYONE HE MET, And THIS WAS HIS DAYVerse 8-9: "Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk." The Pool of Bethesda was a multilevel inground pool, banked by broad landings and stairs that led into the water. Now stop and think for a moment. The two pools which we encounter in the stories should offer the reader with some depth into their encounters which most scholars have overlooked. So often readers only see the text from a 21st century, non-Jewish/Greek/Roman perspective and thus miss the original message and authorial intent. History of the Pools of Bethesda Only confirmed in its identity in the last century, the Pool of Bethesda site revealed Crusader and Byzantine churches, two huge rectangular Hellenistic (Greek) water reservoirs, surrounded by five colonnades or porticos, even as the Gospel writer records. This pool likely dates from the 1st century BC with artifacts attesting to its identity. Some scholars believe this pool was used as a ceremonial pool, mikveh, for the Temple. There were four colonnades separated in the middle by another one, thus forming the five colonnades just as the Gospel described. Even today, one of the key symbols of modern medicine is a stick with a snake around it. The first fountain was built as a dent in the stone, which collected the rainwater and from this pool, the water was directed to the temple through an open channel. I read each of your posts with great interest, as I have sought for many years to immerse myself in the cultural. "Jesus did not instruct him not to tell, but at any rate, he did.VERSE 16: "And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.". - Postcard From Israel Postcard From Israel Mosaics: Every Stone Matters Mosaics and the Dark/Light Contrasts 00:00 01:04 The Ancient Hebrew Language Revived The Culture & Customs of Bedouin Tents Sweeter Than Honey John 5 describes the Pool of Bethesda as a place where the sick, blind, lame and paralyzed would hope to recieve their healing. They did not embellish things, but certainly were not afraid to clarify issues, when they thought something was missing.Hence the new character in this story, the angel of Israels God, was added by the well-meaning, but misguided copyist. This is a powerful story. The lame man, for 38 years, had been lying at this pagan pool when Yeshua finds him. Now that day was the Sabbath. So, in context, this wasnt just another miraculous healing. "Cant you just hear the empty ring of desperation in this mans voice? It is probably in reference to such Hellenization of Jerusalem that Qumranite Jewish devotees (Essenes were the main opponents of the Pharisees), in their commentary on the Prophet Nahum, wrote: Jerusalem had become a dwelling for the wicked ones of the Gentiles (4QpNah). It had at some point been called Solomon's pool. In the Gospel of John, chapter 5, there is an interesting story about a man who had been ill for 38 years who was lying beside a pool called Bethesda along with a multitude of other sick people. Make a donation, The Call to Boycott Israeli Manufactured Goods | Beit Ariel. In these lay a multitude of invalids - blind, lame, and paralyzed" (John 5:1-4). Google Places, (082) 339 9944 The Pools of Bethesda and Siloam | Hope Channel Australia John chapter 5 recounts an exciting story of hope and healing for the paralytic man who waited there 38 years. He wanted his Hellenized Jewish audience to gain a new understanding. Accessing the pool went through many changes throughout Israel's history but the greatest was during the reign of King Hezekiah who enlarged the conduit bringing water into the city. Enduring Word Bible Commentary John Chapter 5 It seems that the Christian copyist unfamiliar with cult of Asclepius and the Pool of Bethesdas affiliation with it, added on the explanation about the Angel of the Lord stirring up the waters, seeking to clarify things for his readers. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had Their belief in Him affected the way they told His story. But what about the part of the text (included in some manuscripts) that mentions an angel of the Lord stirring the waters? What happened at the Pool of Bethesda? In simple terms, the Greeks attributed the healing powers of natural springs to spirits. It was fed by the Gihon springs. It is very important to notice that in the healing recorded in chapter five of Johns Gospel, Jesus does not command the one He healed to wash himself in the pool (of Bethesda), while in the story of the healing of the blind man in chapter nine, he did issue a direct command to go and wash at the pool of Siloam. These are some of the most recent articles from the Trusting in Jesus website; hope and encouragement for every aspect of life. It is probably referring to such Hellenization of Jerusalem that Qumranites devotees, authoring their commentary on Prophet Nahum wrote: Where is the lions den, the cave of the young lions? However, the second way we can look at this is that sites such as the Pool of Bethesda [and the Brigid well in Kildare] were places of spiritual and energetic power from the get go. Thank-you ! Bethesda miracle? - Jesus steals the magic of Asclepius! Isaiah probably refers to the same . Later in the story Jesus would meet the man he healed in the Israels Temple and will warn him not to continue in his life of sin (something that fits perfectly with the idea that the Pool of Bethesda was Asclepion). ThePool of Bethesda (Picture)is located in Jerusalem at the present day Church of St. Anne (Picture). "Jesus had previously said that God had sent Him. Pool of Bethesda | Angel Studios 2Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. My journey began in the margin notes of an NRSV Bible which said that some ancient authorities add, wholly, or in part the verses you see in parenthesis in the translation above. "(KJV)Verse 4 was omitted in some ancient Greek manuscripts and is not in the ESV, the NIV, and numerous other Bible Thanks for placing the text in its proper cultural/historical setting, thus assisting the exegesis of its meaning and intent. 1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Privacy Policy, Drive Thru History The Gospels (Special Edition), Drive Thru History Acts to Revelation (Special Edition), Drive Thru History America: Columbus to the Constitution (Special Edition), Drive Thru History: "Ends of the Earth" (Special Edition). Devotion to Asclepius was widespread throughout the lands dominated by the Roman Empire. There are many good reasons to believe that this structure situated walking distance from the back then walls of the city of Jerusalem was a healing center dedicated to Greco-Roman god of well-being and health Asclepius. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. The pool of Bethesda was near the Sheep Gate, a gate that most reconstructions of Jerusalem during the Second Temple Period place on the north wall of the platform surrounding the Temple Mount. . "Jesus Declares His Authority. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. "The Jewish community in Jesus day viewed the pool of Bethesda as a place of healing. In other words, Jesus healed the man the same way Israels God once created the world simply by the power of His spoken word. Powerful Christian Testimonies tell how God interacts, empowers, encourages, and works miracles on behalf of His people. Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, [a]Bethesda, having five porches. Paganism in Jerusalem (Pool of Bethesda) by DR. ELI LIZORKIN-EYZENBERG. The second-century Christian apologist Justin Martyr mentions a popular obsession with Asclepius among his contemporaries, saying: When the Devil brings forward Asclepius as the raiser of the dead and healer of all diseases, may I not say that in this matter likewise, he has imitated the prophecies about Christ? (Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, the Jew, 69), Likewise, in a statement attributed to the second-century Jewish sage, Rabbi Akiva, we read: Once Akiva was asked to explain why persons afflicted with disease sometimes returned cured from a pilgrimage to the shrine of an idol, though it was surely powerless. (Babylonian Talmud, Avodah Zarah 55a), The Pool of Bethesda (Asclepion in Jerusalem branch) was probably part of the Hellenization of Jerusalem, along with several other important projects which included a Roman theater and a Roman bathhouse. Sometime later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. It seems that some Christian copyist, unfamiliar with cult of Asclepius and the Pool of Bethesdas affiliation with it, added the explanation about an angel of the Lord stirring up the waters in an attempt to clarify things for his readers. There are two ways we can look at this. Going to the Synagogue on the Sabbath could indicate the man had knowledge of the Ten Commandments and it also fits with worshiping other Gods and repentance. 4049515399 This last one about the pool & healing really is a wonderful example of your group bringing out the September 19, 2016 By Randall Niles 5 Comments, Pool of Bethesda The Historical Context, The Pool of Bethesda is just north of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. So it would appear that the Pool of Bethesda did a magical dance starting as a Pagan holy site that morphed into a Jewish holy site. There were more than 400 asclepeions (Asclepius-related facilities throughout empire), functioning as healing centers and dispensers of the gods grace and mercy towards those in need). Jesus said "you are well! This pool was at the southern approach to the Temple Mount, inside the city walls. Asclepeions were typically built over or near water sources such as underground springs. b. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me. The Pool of Bethesda as a healing center of Greek-god Asclepius(John 5). IsraelBiblicalStudies.com is owned by Maresi (Management Resources International) B.V and operated by ETEACHER LTD. Jesus had walked into another pagan territory and confronted a longstanding cultural myth. The Jewish Gospel of John: The Sabbath Healing at the Bethesda Pool Both pools mentioned in the Gospel of John have now been identified - the Pool of . This lame man trusted in the occult and pagan religion of the Roman gods. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Jesus saw a man who had been ill for many years and asked him if he wanted to be healed. Although the Codex Sinaiticus renders . Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. Even today, one of the key symbols of modern medicine is a pole with a snake wrapped around it. Sunday Scriptures Apr 172016 CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN STUDYING the Gospels since before they were written. Why is it so difficult for our educators and society, in general, to understand that love and respect for one another taught from a young age can solve much of the world's hostilityand social problems! " (John 5:1-9) The Pool of Bethesda throughout history! They asked him, Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk?'". This fits very well in the description of this pool being a pagan pool and the lame man being involved in this cult/idolatry. Reddit, Inc. 2023. This man was then questioned by the Pharisees because he had been healed on the Sabbath. 4:16-17"(AMP)Jesus was wholly committed to doing God's will. The Angel app is the home of record-shattering stories that amplify light. Before you begin to think that the above reconstruction is farfetched, please, consider the following: Second century Christian apologist Justin Martyr mentions popular obsession with Asclepius among his contemporaries saying: When the Devil brings forward Asclepius as the raiser of the dead and healer of all diseases, may I not say that in this matter likewise he has imitated the prophecies about Christ? He speaks of raising those who are dead in sin to newness of life, by the power of the Spirit; also, of His raising the dead in their graves; and of His office as a Judge; but gives God the glory for it all. So it would appear that the Pool of Bethesda did a magical dance starting as a Pagan holy site that morphed into a Jewish holy site. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha which has five porticoes. We had fun doing this and we hope you enjoy it. We had fun getting into the backstory of the pool and the reasons that John uses specific numbers and words. In these lay a multitude of invalidsblind, lame, and paralyzed (John 5:1-4).Both pools mentioned in the Gospel of John have now been identified the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:2) and the Pool of Siloam. Then it went back to being a Pagan site after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE until finally, a Christian church was built on top of it during the Byzantine era. "At this point Jesus had healed and restored this man, but had not introduced Himself, and, there was a crowd, so He had "withdrawn," or slipped away.THE "word for withdrawn in "Strong's #1593" is ekneuo, (ek-nyoo-oh), is used only here in the New Testament to describe Jesus' leaving the premises after healing the crippled man by the Pool of Bethesda. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. The Bethesda Pool, Site of One of Jesus' Miracles - Biblical Let's see what the Word says:"And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, does not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. This is also an early Pagan site that was claimed later by Jews and now the Muslims. Now, with that as background, lets return to the Pool of Bethesda: One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Interestingly enough, both of these sites took place next to a poola reminder that Jesus is indeed the living water of healing. Now let's contrast the Pool of Shiloah (Siloam). Both are needed to responsible reading. The Pool of Bethesda | Ferrell's Travel Blog Archaeology The pool of Bethesda in 1911 In archaeological digs conducted in the 19th century, Conrad Schick discovered a large tank situated about 100 feet (30 m) north-west of St. Anne's Church, which he contended was the Pool of Bethesda. There were four colonnades separated in the middle by another one, thus forming the five colonnades just as the Gospel describes.There are several good reasons to think that this structure (situated right outside of the old city, but within walking distance from the Jerusalem Temple) was part of an Asclepion a healing center dedicated to the Greco-Roman god of well-being and health, Asclepius. At this pool Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. The first is that its a case of one religion trying to suppress another by conquering their sacred sites. I hope this has brought some enlightenment to these two stories. Even today, one of the key symbols of modern medicine is a pole with a snake wrapped around it. Scripture does not tell us if this man was a sinful man. These are the Pools of Bethesda. (See Luke 15:24)Verse 26: "For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.". I have learned to fix my eyes on who Jesus is instead of focusing on my own circumstances, so I should fix my eyes on who Jesus is instead of focusing on their (the paralyzed man) circumstances when I read the Bible , Dear Eli, Yeshua gave a clear signal that He was the sent one and proved it when He told His disciples regarding the blind man: Verse 9:4 I must work the works of Him that sent me and then He sends the blind man to wash in the pool called sent (for a play on words), a pool that just happened to be associated with the Davidic dynasty, and thus the coming Messiah of Israel. Wouldn't you think they already knew or had an idea, that Jesus was the One who had healed the man?Verse 13: "Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. There are several good reasons to think that this structure (situated right outside of the old city but within walking distance from the Jerusalem Temple) was part of an Asclepion a healing center dedicated to the Greco-Roman god of well-being and health, Asclepius. The Pool of Bethesda is mentioned only once in the New Testament. "God truly did turn all things over to Jesus. Bethesda - Jesus Heals a Cripple by Pool of Bethesda - John 5:1-30 While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me. We can read about this pool in, Verse 9:4 I must work the works of Him that. Perhaps, I am wrong. Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in. This seems to me like a plagiarisation of pagan healing story. Now the royal son of Israels King came into the pagan abode (asclepeion) and healed the Jewish man without any magical formulas and spells. Both pools mentioned in the Gospel of John have now been identified the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:2) and the Pool of Siloam. This belief made its way into the cult of Asklepius. Thank you! A new life. The ill and disabled would congregate at these regional healing centers. By Urban C. von Wahlde The Gospel of John recounts two healing miracles Jesus performed in Jerusalem. Snakes were a large part of Asclepius' cult of health and well-being. "ISN'T THAT DEEP? "Stirring of Water" in the Pool of Bethesda - Early Church History ", John does not tell us which Feast this was. So the implication here might be that the sin Jesus alludes to may not have been some kind of behavior that led to his infirmity, but to the sin of looking for healing from another god other than the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob & Jesus. They believed if they could enter the pool when bubbles and ripples rose to the surface that it was the best time for a healing miracle. Wow! This is a very interesting article. While trying to help his readers, the scribe, unfortunately, sent all subsequent generations of readers in the wrong interpretive direction, missing the whole point of the story. The man told Jesus he couldnt be healed because he couldnt get into the pool, and he had no one to lower him into the pool. The sick people who were often seen on the porches of the pool of Bethesda were made up of two types. The life Jesus is speaking of here is the Spiritual, eternal life.Verse 22: "The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,"Not only is Jesus our loving Savior, but also our Judge.Verse 23: "that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Download the app below for free. The Pool of Bethesda was "in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate" ( John 5:2 ), which places it north of the temple, near Fort Antonia. The Apostle John is the only gospel writer to record the healing of a lame man at the pool of Bethesda and a man born blind at the pool of Siloam. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. Pick up your mat and walk.At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. 2023 eTeacherGroup.com By eTeacher Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Sickness the symbol of human chaos was called into order by the power of Jesus word, just like the pre-creation chaos was once called by Israels Heavenly King into the order of creation in exactly the same way. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Exploring the Connections Between Pagan and Christian Spirituality, Follow Sabbats and Sabbaths on WordPress.com. The Pool of Bethesda, Holy or Superstition/Pagan? - Reddit Jesus told those questioning the man that his father was working, so Jesus would work as well on the Sabbath. This concludes our study of the Pool of BethesdaGo to our next study, "The Fourfold Witness" (John 5:31-47)Jesus continues his confrontation with the Jews. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. When it comes to determining the level of the gospels historical reliability, the story that will end in the healing of a paralyzed man is one of the most fascinating textual units in the Gospel of John. (Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, the Jew, 69). 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, [a]Bethesda, having five porches. Verse 18: "This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because, not only was he breaking the Sabbath, he was calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. He had been trying to get into the pool of Bethesda for 38 years, longer than some people lived in that time. Originally, the healed man hadnt known it was Jesus who healed him, but he went back to see Jesus and learned he had been healed by the prophesied Son of God. Devotionl to Asclepius was well spread through the lands dominated by Roman Empire. After all, healed people don't need help getting up, and he had been healed. But Jesus saw this man and healed him. But what about the part of the text (included in some manuscripts) that mentions an angel of the Lord stirring the waters? It was also used in the ordinance of the red heifer because it was the only water source inside the city. And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. We can hear in their Greek names our modern words for hygiene and panacea key concepts associated today with medicine and health. Blessings, Eli, Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest Biblical News straight to your inbox. (Jn. If someone couldnt lower themselves into the pool, the people at the time thought that meant they wouldnt be healed. It was a cultural staple throughout the Hellenized world. beitariel@beitariel.co.za 3In these lay a multitude of invalidsblind, lame, and paralyzed. To post suggestions or ideas for the sub, please go to /r/TrueChristianMeta. Angel Studios is a new kind of movie studio - we fund, produce, and distribute award-winning titles from independent creators. Lets keep on thinking together! Topical. "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. Pariatur eos illum itaque quis, officiis non! Was Bethesda Pool in Jerusalem a shrine of Asclepius? He left the pagan promises behind and began to testify of Jesus to the Jewish priests! Pools of Bethesda God's Kindness and Our Repentance - Wayne Stiles It is often in our most private moments that true loyalty, or the lack of it, is made known. this is a WORLD CHANGING presentation & If Jewish people would stand up & tell the Gentiles the truth NOT ONLY about Siloam, but MANY MANY other stories in the Bible the world would be a brighter more healthy place, as it is many followers of the religious Christian movements in world churches are in thickest darkness being milked by CASH COW false prophets & cash hungry kings.
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