Ver. 1. A feast of the Jews] This was the feast of Pentecost. Others say the Passover, which came but once a year. The true Christians (for whom the true Passover was sacrificed, 1 Corinthians 5:7) keep a continual feast or holy day, εορταζωμεν, with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, 1 Corinthians 5:8. Diogenes could say, that a good man keeps holy days and hath gaudies delights all the year about. “Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me,” Exodus 5:1. In other messages it is, “that they may serve me.” πασαν ημεραν εορτην ηγειται. Laert.
Ver. 2. Having five porches] Built, belike, by some well-affected persons, at the motion of God’s ministers, for the use of such impotent folk as here lay looking and languishing at Hope’s Hospital. Like as King Edward VI was moved by a sermon of Bishop Riding’s, touching works of charity, to grant his two houses in London, Bridewell and the Savoy, for such like good uses; together with lands and monies for their maintenance.
Ver. 3. Of impotent folk] That had tried all other ways, and could not otherwise be cured, Omnipotenti medico, nullus insanabilis occurrit morbus. (Isidore.)
Ver. 4. For an angel went down] The miracle of this pool was granted to the Jews, partly to strengthen them in the true worship of God under the persecution of Antiochus, in the cessation of prophecy; partly to retain them in their religious course of sacrificing to the true God, against the scoffs of the Romans (that were now their lords). Such a virtue being given to that water, wherein their sacrifices were wont to be washed. See a more sovereign bath than this, Zechariah 13:1; an ever-flowing and over-flowing fountain, not for one at once, as here, but for all that come, they may wash and be clean, wash and be whole. At a certain season] Once a year only, Semel quotannis, saith Tertullian. Others (more probably) at all thei r great feasts, when the people met out of all parts at Jerusalem, taking κατα distributively, as Matthew 27:15. Troubled the water] Not in a visible shape, likely; but as it appeared by a visible troubling of the waters and a miraculous healing of the diseased. But that troubled waters should do cures was the greater wonder: since holy wells (as they call them) and waters that heal are commonly most calm and clear. It was a witty allusion hereunto of him that said, Angels trouble the clear stream of justice at certain times.
Ver. 5. Thirty and eight years] A long while to be in misery: but what is this to eternity of extremity! We need have something to mind us of God, to bring us to Christ. King Alured prayed God always to send him some sickness, whereby his body might be tamed, and he the better disposed and affectioned to Godward.
Ver. 6. And knew that he had been, &c.] Christ’s eye affected his heart, Lamentations 3:51, he could not but sympathize, and succour this poor cripple, out of his mere philanthropy, whic h moveth him still, μετριοπαθειν, to show mercy according to the measure of our misery, whereof he bears a part, Hebrews 5:2.
Ver. 7. I have no man, &c.] He looked that Christ should have done him that good office; and could not think of any other way of cure. How easy is it with us to measure God by our model, to cast him into our mould, to think he must needs go our way to work!
Ver. 8. Rise, take up thy bed, &c.] A servile work upon the sabbath day. This our Saviour here commends not as a servile work, but for confirmation of the truth of a miracle greatly tending to God’s glory; like as, another time, he bade them give meat to the damsel he had raised, not for any necessity, but to insure the cure.
Ver. 9. And immediately the man] Christ’s words are operative (together with his commands there goes forth a power, as Luke 5:17). So they were in the creation, Genesis 1:3. So they are still in regeneration, Isaiah 59:21. Dei dicere, est efficere. For God to say is to do.
Ver. 10. It is the sabbath, it is not lawful, &c.] Vere, sed non sincere. Truly but not sincerely. It more troubled them that Christ had healed him than that the sabbath had been broken by him. The poorer Swedes always break the sabbath, saying that it is only for gentlemen to keep that day.
Ver. 11. He that made me whole, &c.] So, it seems, Christ had healed him, in part, on the inside also; and given him a ready heart to obey, though it were contra gentes, against nature, as they say.
Ver. 12. What man is he] Not that made thee whole, but that bade thee take up thy bed, &c. They dissembled the former, and insisted only upon the latter, which shows the naughtiness of their hearts.
Ver. 13. Had conveyed himself away] Lest by his presence that work should be hindered. True goodness is public spirited, though to private disadvantage, and works for most part unobserved, as the engine that doth all in great businesses is often inward, hidden, not taken notice of.