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suffering

John 5:5
"And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years."

The Bethesda Pool, with its five porticoes, was located next door to the Temple. Ceremonies of purification were performed there and on occasion people were miraculously healed! The people believed an angel that "troubled the water" was responsible for this healing. Many people were here desperately hoping to win the lottery of bubbling water. With so many here waiting and not "winning", they turned to begging. Making this place known for both suffering and hope. Into this situation the Son of God stepped to save a blessed person!

How many people were there? One hundred? More? We are not told. In today's verse we begin to glimpse the lucky man who will be healed. "And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years." He has suffered this situation for more years than Jesus's incarnation! Was this man born this way? Or, was he a victim of some accident? We are not given these details. These are not the questions Jesus wants us to answer. 
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