John 5:2-9

2There is a pool near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem. Its name in the Jewish language is Bethesda. Round the pool, there is a building with five places that have a roof over them.

3A large number of sick people were lying in these places. Some of them were blind. Some of them could not walk properly. Some of them could not move their legs or their arms. [ They were waiting for when the water started to move.

4An angel would go down into the pool at certain times and move the water about. When that happened, all the sick people tried to get into the pool. The first person who got into the water became well, whatever his illness was.]

5One man who was lying there had been ill for 38 years.

6Jesus saw this man. He knew that the man had been ill like this for a very long time. So he asked the man, ‘Do you want to get well?’

7The sick man said, ‘Sir, I do not have anyone who will help me. I need somebody who will put me into the pool. When the water starts to move, I try to get in. But someone else always gets in before me.’

8Then Jesus said to him, ‘Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.’

9The man became well immediately. He picked up his mat and he walked. The day when this happened was a Jewish day of rest.