The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda

The healing at the Pool of Bethesda, found in the Gospel of John, chapter 5, stands as one of the most compelling miracles in the New Testament. Taking place in Jerusalem, this event unfolds near the Sheep Gate at a pool known as Bethesda, which in Hebrew means “House of Mercy.” The setting was a place where many sick and disabled people gathered, hoping to be healed by the stirring of the waters. According to tradition, an angel would occasionally trouble the waters, and the first to enter the pool afterward would be healed. Among those waiting was a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years.