BIBL 110
John 5: The Healing of the Lame Man
Tyler Hutcherson
BIBL 110
INSTRUCTIONS
For this assignment, you will be studying a chosen narrative from the Gospels that includes a
question asked by Jesus. You have chosen between the following three passages:
1. Matthew 15:32-39
2. John 5:1-17
3. John 14:1-12
You will use the template below in order to complete a study of this passage. In your study, you
will use the skills of Observation, Interpretation, Correlation, and Application that you have
become familiar with through your reading in Everyday Bible Study, Approaching the New
Testament, and The Inquisitive Christ. You will also consult and cite at least three additional
scholarly sources to be incorporated throughout this assignment.
I. Introduction and Thesis Statement
For the New Testament Bible Study Assignment, I will be using APA formatting style, and my
chosen passage is John 5:1-17.
In the Gospel of John, the reader is able to learn more about Jesus’ character and his
motivations. John 5:1 - 17, is the famous story of Jesus healing the lame man in the Pool of
Bethesda and the reactions of the Jewish Leaders. Jesus finds a lame man who is begging to be
placed into the pool and Jesus commands him to pick up his mat and go, and the man found he
was cured of his ailment.(John 5:9 NIV) The Jewish Leaders felt threatened by Jesus and how he
was doing the impossible and on the Sabbath, they felt as if it was insult for him to do this on the
Sabbath, this however did not matter to Jesus as if he encountered someone who required help,
he would help them1. Shortly after this encounter, Jesus went to the temple and found the same
man sinning and he confronted him about this.(John 5:14 NIV) Cara Murphy explains that John
shows this event and the prior event of the healing of the official's son to portray Jesus’ authority
Page 1 of 11
BIBL 110
and his ability to perform miracles.2 “These two healings and the conversations inherent are
used by John to point the reader back to belief in this compassionate and inquisitive Christ”3.
John 5 allows the reader to understand Jesus, allows us to truly understand the content of his
character and demonstrates what the Power of Christ and God can achieve.
II. Observation
A. I have read the passage in both a formal translation (KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, or CSB) and
a functional translation (NIV, NLT, or NCV). Highlight the correct answer. You will find a copy
of the NASB, ESV, CSB, and NLT in Logos.
oYes
oNo
B. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying.
1. Main characters: (List them)
Jesus, The Lame Man, and the Jewish Leaders.
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
Jesus goes to the Pool of Bethesda and encounters a lame man laying on a mat begging to get in
the pool. Jesus comes and restores his mobility. The man thanks Jesus then is later met by the
Page 2 of 11
BIBL 110
Jewish Leaders, and he tells them Jesus helped him. This begins their persecution of Jesus. Jesus
later meets the man in the temple and tells him to stop sinning and do better.
3. Story structure (inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action): (50-100 words)
Jesus comes up to the lame man begging for help and Jesus inquires what is the issue. The man
tells him he wants to get in the pool. Jesus tells him to pick up his mat and walk. The man is able
to pick up his mat and walk. He is confronted by the leaders, and he says Jesus healed him. Jesus
then finds the man in the temple and tells him to stop sinning or something worse will become
him.
4. Question(s) asked in narrative:
“Do you want to get well?” – Jesus
“Who is this man who told you to pick up the mat and walk?” – Jewish Leaders
C. List basic observations about this passage using the “Key Questions” for observation.
Remember to consult the list of items from the observation section in studying the Gospels in
Chapter 17. This will help you be more detailed in your answers to “who,” “what,” “where,”
“when,” “why,” and “how.” This is also an excellent place to consult scholarly sources to
provide detailed answers regarding context.
1. Who: Jesus Christ, The Lame Man, Jewish Leaders.
2. What: Jesus heals the lame man and gives him the ability to walk. The Jewish Leaders
begin to persecute Jesus.
Page 3 of 11
BIBL 110
3. Where:
Pool of Bethesda, Jerusalem.
4. When:
On the Sabbath.
5. Why:
Jesus healed and helped him because he needed help. The man asked not to be sick anymore.
The Jewish leaders persecuted him because he was doing miracles on the Sabbath.
6. How:
Jesus preforms miracles that no human is capable of.
The Jewish leaders man Jesus an enemy of the state.
III. Interpretation
A. Determine the author’s main point. In 1-2 paragraphs (100-400 words) explain what you
think the author is trying to communicate in this passage. Remember to take into consideration
Page 4 of 11
BIBL 110
that this passage includes a conversation that Jesus is having. Thus, this passage is both showing
and telling us something.
The Apostle John’s main point in recording and writing this story down is that Jesus can do
things that no human is able to do such as perform miracles. This passage gives us insight into
the nature and actions of Jesus. John shows us that through Jesus Christ anything is possible as
long as you believe and have complete faith in him. It shows that if you ask Jesus Christ and God
for help, they will help you. It shows Jesus Christ’s compassion towards humans especially the
sick and unwell. This passage also sets up and begins the persecution and bitterness the Jewish
leaders and government had towards Jesus Christ.
B. Look again at the questions asked within the narrative. In 1 paragraph (200 words) explain
the purpose of these questions to the story, as well as how the particular question(s) that Jesus
asked related to his relationship with the other character(s).
Jesus Christ asked the Lame Man “Do you want to get well?”. This question is not only referring
to his physical and lame state. It also referred to his spiritual health, coming to terms with his sin
and redemption, his personal problems, and other issues plaguing him. Jesus is indirectly asking
this man if he is healed is he ready to lead the life he should and do what is right.
The Jewish leaders asked the man “Who is this man who told you to pick up the mat and walk?”.
This question begins to plant the seeds of the government’s hatred and dislike towards Jesus
Christ because he is actively breaking their laws and doing things that they cannot do. This
actually highlights and allows the reader to learn about the nature and philosophy of Jesus Christ.
It is later revealed that he is not healing people on the Sabbath to oppose the Jewish Leaders, in
fact the date does not matter, Jesus Christ is healing those who ask for help and seek him out
Page 5 of 11
BIBL 110
regardless of the day and time or situation. These questions only further the narrative that Jesus
Christ is someone to be followed and learned from.
C. Based on your answers above, narrow down one principle from this passage. You should be
able to express this principle in 1-3 sentences.
If you seek out Jesus and the Lord and genuinely ask for help, they will give it to you.
IV. Correlation
A. How does this passage fit within the metanarrative of the Bible? State what type of story
you believe this to be (creation, fall, redemption, or new creation) and explain why you believe
this to be so. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
This passage furthers the overarching story and metanarrative of the Bible which is Redemption.
The story of lame man can be seen as a metaphor. You have a man who was completely,
mentally, and physically broken and crying out for help. The man met Jesus and asked him for
help and Jesus fully healed him expecting nothing in return only that the man should stop his
sinful ways or else his problems will multiply. The man was redeemed by giving himself to Jesus
and admitting that he was broken and could not continue on his own. He then found forgiveness
by Jesus and was healed.
B. How does this passage reflect other truths found in the Scriptures? State and explain at least
one way that the principle of this passage can be identified elsewhere in the Bible. Your
explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
Page 6 of 11
BIBL 110
Jesus Christ is a miracle performer and a miracle healer. There are numerous examples of Jesus
Christ preforming the impossible and going far and beyond any healer of the land. This is seen in
Luke 17:11–19, when he is traveling from Galilee to Jerusalem, and he comes across the group
of lepers. He then goes and heals each one of them. It shows us that Jesus Christ is a very
passionate and compassionate person and he has a desire to heal and help the less fortunate.
Another example of this is seen in Mark 7:31-35, in this passage Jesus heals a deaf and a mute
man. He restores his tongue and hearing completely simply by touching the man’s tongue and
commanding his body to be opened.
C. How does this passage reflect the person and work of Jesus Christ? State and explain at least
one way that the principle of this passage identifies something of the person and work of Jesus
Christ. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
This passage shows that Jesus Christ can perform things that would not be possible for
absolutely anyone else God himself. This passage shows how deeply he cares for the people of
the earth and how he will seek out those in need and expect nothing in return. Jesus Christ is a
very inquisitive person, as he will often question those he encounters to learn more about them
and their true intentions before asking if they would want to be redeemed both directly and
indirectly depending on the encounter. It also shows just how compassionate and kind Jesus
Christ is and how he feels for every single living soul.
Page 7 of 11
BIBL 110
V. Application
What points of application can be made using the Four Questions for Application? State and
explain 1 point of application for your life for each of these four questions. Your explanation
for each of these points should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
A. The question of duty
You should always help others no matter their circumstances. You should always be kind and
sympathetic with them however you should also be aware of the person or people you are
helping. We should go out and help wherever and whoever we can, especially if they are
reaching out and asking for anyone to help them. As it as our duty as followers of Christ to
emulate his actions and carry them out in our everyday lives. We are called to live and act as
Jesus Christ lived and acted as he walked on the face of the earth. We are called to be just like
him.
B. The question of character
Do not ignore others’ cries or pleas for help. Everyone deserves the chance of redemption, and
we must understand the difference between right and wrong. That it is never too late for some to
repent their cruel and sinful ways and find the Lord. We must keep in mind that even someone as
broken, both spiritually and physically as the lame man deserves redemption if reaches out for it.
This passage is about redemption, compassion, and humility. Being able to admit that you are
broken, and you want to be better. Once we are better, we have a responsibility to keep being
better and acting as Christ does.
Page 8 of 11
BIBL 110
C. The question of goals
The goals that the reader can take from this and use in their personal life is the same as every
other story and encounter with Jesus Christ. That we should be as compassionate and as caring as
he was. To always strive to help those in need, no matter the time, the place, or the situation.
There will always be someone who needs help, even if it is not as clear as a lame man asking to
be healed. Our goals should be that we can help create and plant the seeds of wanting a
relationship with the Lord and Jesus Christ with everyone we meet and talk to in our everyday.
We should seek out opportunities to help but we should also be aware of when opportunities
arise to us.
D. The question of discernment
You must always focus on being a good and righteous person and follow in the steps of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ himself was in fact a very inquisitive person, who often
asked many thought provoking questions to everyone he spoke to. He did this in order to learn
more about the person or people he was speaking to and he used this information to determine
the best course of action to follow. This is seen in the passage when he ask the man does he want
to be well. He is asking him this question in order to determine if the man is ready to change his
life and give up his sinful ways.
VI. Conclusion
Page 9 of 11
BIBL 110
Summarize your major points and concluding thoughts here.
John 5 serves as a way for the reader to understand the nature and philosophy of our Savior Jesus
Christ. It shows how compassionate, loving, caring, and also inquisitive he is. It goes to show
that Jesus Christ will help those in need and who are most deserving of it. That you as a person
have to ask Jesus for help before he can fully help you. That Jesus will help, simply because he
wants to and can.
Page 10 of 11
BIBL 110
New International Version
Johnson, Elisabeth. “Commentary on John 5:1-9.”
Working Preacher from Luther Seminary, 11 Nov. 2020,
www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/sixth-sunday-of-
easter-3/commentary-on-john-51.
McClendon, A., Cartwright, J., & Murphy, C. Chapter 5: John.
In Approaching the New Testament: A Guide for Students. essay, B&H Academic. (2022).
MURPHY, CARA L. Inquisitive Christ Knowing the Question-Asking Son of God.
FAITHWORDS, 2020.
Murphy, Cara. “Chapter 5: John.” Approaching the New Testament: A Guide for Students, by
Adam McClendon and John Cartwright, B&H Academic, 2022.
Press, Lexham. “Jesus Healed a Paralyzed Man. so Why Was He Persecuted?” Word by Word, 9
June 2021, www.logos.com/grow/jesus-healed-a-paralyzed-man-so-why-was-he-
persecuted/. Accessed 03 Nov. 2023.
Page 11 of 11
