The Pools of Bethesda

The Pools of Bethesda are a series of reservoirs and medicinal pools in Jerusalem’s Old City, north of the Temple Mount, inside St Stephen’s Gate. In Jesus' time, the gate was called the Sheep Gate because this was where sheep were brought to the Temple for sacrifice.

The pools were a place of healing.  It was believed that angels stirred the water and that the first person in the water after the waters had been stirred would be healed.

A man waited for 38 years for someone to help him to get into the pool.  When Jesus came across the man, He said, "stand up, take up your mat and follow me."  

The healing occurred on the Sabbath and Jesus was on His way to the temple.  The man so pleased to be healed, told of the healing that had occurred.  Instead of celebrating his healing, the men at the temple were more concerned about him working by moving his mat on the Sabbath.

It was this miracle that attracted the attention of the Sanhedrin and they wanted to get rid of this trouble maker who did not follow the law.  Do you ever get bogged down in the details and forget to look at the big picture?