Bible Word of the Day
Bethesda (Bethsaida, Bethzatha, Pool of Bethesda)
Meaning
Bethesda means “House of Mercy” or “House of Grace.” This was a man-made pool fed by a natural spring. It was a place for healing within the city of Jerusalem. During the time of Jesus it consisted of two side by side pools and was located near the Sheep Gate of the city. This was the place where Jesus heals the paralytic. The man had been sick for thirty-eight years and because of his infirmity, he could not get down into the water in time when the angel stirred the water.
We can read the story of this miracle in the fifth chapter of John’s Gospel. These pools were associated with the ceremonial cleansing of sheep used in the Temple sacrifice, hence its proximity to the Sheep Gate. John’s Gospel tells us that at certain times an angel would be sent down to stir the waters and the first person to step into the waters would be healed of their infirmities. Archeology has discovered this pool today. It’s located near the Saint Anne’s Church. And from those excavations we can confirm what John tells us which is this was a two-pool complex surrounded by five porches.
“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ The sick man answered Him, ‘Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk.’ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.” (Gospel of John 5:2-9)