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DIECAST Collectible Model Cars And More
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12892 |
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1808 |
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5043 |
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96864 |
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73215AC/YL |
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5018DP |
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5057DFS1 |
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5107DP |
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5313D |
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5323/5D |
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5362D |
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21572/988B |
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21572/988C |
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21572/988D |
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21572/988M |
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21572/988Q |
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21572/988T |
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Thank you
Lu Su
Toy Wonders, Inc.
www.toywonders.com
201-229-1700
God and the Art of Toy and Diecast Marketing
The Incident at Bethesda
By L. S. Su
You ever wonder why so many hospitals are named Bethesda? In Bethesda, MD there is a famous hospital that our servicemen, women, and even Presidents go for medical treatment. It's called the Walter White (uh ...I meant Reed) National Military Medical Center. That's a mouthful. Try to say that 10 times fast. Colloquially known as Bethesda Naval Hospital.Many of our states have at least one hospital or medical center with the name "Bethesda" in it. Not only do we Americans like to call our hospitals "Bethesda", there are hospitals called in Germany, Austria, Indonesia, South Africa, and Australia with the same name.
Above is the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center campus (known to many as Bethesda Naval Hospital).
There is even a fountain called Bethesda in Central Park, New York City.
Adorning the top of the fountain is an angel.
To the right is a close up shot of the angel atop the Fountain of Bethesda (minus the pigeon taking a dump on the angel's head). So what's hospitals, angels, and water have to do with each other? To understand this, you need to understand the origin of the word Bethesda.
The entomology of this word has to do with healing. The origin of the name "Bethesda" comes from a pool found in Jerusalem. Realize this is an ancient word and its origin is over 2000 years old. The word "Bethesda" is derived from the Aramaic language (the language Jesus spoke in) and means "House of Mercy" or "House of Grace". House of Grace makes a little more sense to me. Mercy is not getting something you deserve. But grace is something better. It's getting something you don't deserve. Practically everything we know about this pool spins off just a few verses found in the Gospel of John.
For those of you who are not familiar with the Bible, the Gospel of John is one of the books of the Bible. It was written by John, one of Jesus' disciples. John was an eye-witness to the things Jesus did during His short ministry here on Earth. Incidentally John is the only writer that recorded this particular incident at the original Pool of Bethesda. |
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The Incident at Bethesda
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.
3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
[4] From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.
5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,
10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”
12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”
-John 5: 1 - 14
When Jerusalem was rebuilt (352 BC) after the Babylonian King destroyed it (423 BC), the walls and gates of Jerusalem were rebuilt/restored. They named this gate the "Sheep Gate" because it was one of the closest gate to the temple grounds; Sheep were herded through this gate and they would eventually be sacrificed on the temple's alter for the atonement of man's sin. Jews today still celebrate Passover, which if you recall the first Passover was celebrated in Egypt and involved the sacrifice of a lamb (one per family). So it seems perfectly fitting for "The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" -John 1: 29 would also enter through this gate and eventually be sacrificed (on a cross) during the Passover Festival in Jerusalem.
In verse 2 we learned that the pool was surrounded by five covered colonnades. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. A colonnade was something that provided shelter from the elements. With a hot Middle East sun and a lack of sunscreen, people needed to take cover. Here are two examples of colonnades: The White House West Wing's colonnade and a Greek colonnade shown below. I'll let you try to figure out which is which.
What is interesting about verse 2 is that for the longest time, this verse was used to discredit both the Apostle John as the author and the Bible too. So here's the issue. We know the exact location of Jerusalem. We also know the location where the temple stood in Jerusalem. We also know where the location of the sheep gate (still exists today). So where's this pool of Bethesda and these five colonnades? Surely there would be some archeological evidence to support the writers claim.
"For centuries many Bible scholars and critics claimed the Gospel had been written not by John, but by someone else who was not an eye witness and who was writing at a much later date than normally associated with the Gospel. John described the pool as having five covered colonnades. This description did not match any recorded pool and no archaeological evidence of this pool had ever been discovered. This lead to the conclusion the author was not an eye witness to the accounts they were writing about and in addition they apparently did not have first-hand knowledge of first century Jerusalem. For some, this placed the entire Gospel in doubt. If the Gospel was not written in the first century then the author could not have been the Apostle John. With the authorship and date of writing in question, the Gospel was considered less than reliable by many. " *
But the pool was eventually found in the late 19th century. It was a two level pool where the higher one flowed into the lower one. What made it difficult to identify was that a church was built on top of the site and one of it load bearing walls was built through one of the pools.
Galyn's Israel Photos**:
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| It was not until 1888 that a group of archeologist uncovered this pool. Critics of the authenticity of the Bible had doubted the existence of this site. |
In 1888 K. Schick found twin pools here: one 55 feet, a second 65 feet long. The five covered colonnades mentioned by John were also discovered. The crusaders apparently had believed this to be the Pool mentioned in John 5:1 since they built a crypt or a vault under their church imitating the five porches. |
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| The Crusader church is above ground. The crusader arches were built in the place of the colonnades of Jesus day. The tops of these arches are seen in this picture and very clearly in the pictures above. The pool was at the bottom of these arches. |
The crusader church also had an opening in the floor of their church that allowed believers to ascend down to the pool. The excavation of this site in the late 1800's gave support to the authenticity of the Book of John and recognized its authorship in the first century. |
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| Though the discovery and excavation of this site are fairly recent (1888)), archeology and church tradition have proven to agree with the scriptural account that this is the Pool described in John 5:1. |
Under the remains of the Crusader church was this pool of water. |
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| This is the walls of one of the pools. The sign can be read in the next photo. |
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| Sketch of the Pool of Bethesda. The pool on the right was higher in elevation and its water flowed into the lower pool. Note the five colonnades ran along the left and right most wall, along the top of the twin pools and fifth colonnade ran between the two pools. |
Verse 4 is very interesting. [4] From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had. Notice that the 4 is in brackets. Some Bible versions have the entire verse in brackets. Some Bible versions leave this verse out in its entirety. The reason why special attention is given to this verse is because the verse did not appear in the original Greek manuscript. A scribe transcribing the manuscript, wrote this foot note on the side margins of the manuscript. So verse 4 is footnote, but not from the original author. If you read the Bethesda incident without verse 4, you'll know the reason why he added this. Because without this footnote, we wouldn't understand verse 7. 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
Verse 7 is interesting because the invalid obviously does not know who Jesus (the author of all life) is. He probably didn't have access to social media that would tell him that a great miracle worker was in town. What is sad is that the invalid probably had no friends and no family, because there is "no one to help me". For the invalid, the "cure" is being first into the pool after the water stirs. How many of us behave just like this invalid 2000 years ago? Something troubles, plagues or afflicts us in this world, and all we can think about is the "thing" that will make things alright for us. Unfortunately, unless it is life threatening, most peoples' remedies usually don't involve seeking God's assistance (e.g. if I could only get access to this medicine, if this particular investment could go in the direction I want, if I could only get this particular job or land this particular account, if such and such person's heart and attitude could just change).
If Jesus is God and knows all things, why ask this question? 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
Isn't it obvious that the man wanted to get well? Why even ask the question, "Do you want to get well?". From my personal studies of the Bible, I've come to the conclusion that being "made in God's image" includes a great amount of personal sovereignty -which God is unwilling to violate. Apparently God is a gentleman and does not force Himself or His will on us; Therefore, we are free to accept or reject God's offering. So with Christianity, you are free to believe or disbelieve. You are free to accept or not accept what Jesus has already done for you. This is very contrary to Islam. There are many Muslims living in Jerusalem and in many parts of this world; but Islam does not grant such a privilege. Muslims are not free to disbelieve or convert to another world view (e.g. Atheism, Agnosticism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism).
Another question that entered my mind is why did Jesus heal just this man at the pool of Bethesda? There were many people at this pool who needed some type of restoration. Why not just wave your hand and restore all the sick who were at the pool? And Jesus, while you are at it, why don't you heal and restore every person and every aspect of nature that is broken? God will do this. It is written in the last book of the Bible -in Revelations also written by the Apostle John. But God makes it clear, it's based on His timeline and not ours.
Verse 8 and 9 provide insight to the character and power of Jesus.. 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath. Notice that Jesus doesn't even touch or administer any type of substance to the invalid. With a simple command he brings full physical restoration to the invalid who was in this state for 38 years. But Jesus purposely chooses to rebel against the religious authorities of His day and performs this miracle on the Sabbath. Jesus knew this would put the religious authorities in an uproar, but yet he heals a man on the day normally dedicated towards rest. The Jewish religious authorities back then (and even today) came up with hundreds of man-made rules and traditions that defined what was "work" and what limits of how much work that could be done that day. It got very specific. Even to the point of how much water could be thrown out of your house on the Sabbath and where you could release the water.
Very religious people will usually be caught up adhering and enforcing religious rules and regulations. They seek the rituals and often not God. In this case a miraculous, wonderful and awesome restoration has just been done, but all the religious authorities want to do is to condemn both the healer and the healed. In those days carrying your mat and healing some one as work that shouldn't be done on the Sabbath.
Verse 9 shows the power of God. How long would it take a person today who hasn't walked for 38 years to get up on his own and walk? Human limbs tend to atrophy when not used. I think it's a safe assumption that this man 2000 years ago didn't have a physical therapist, fitness trainer, or access to free weights to keep his muscles, tendons and ligaments strong. Yet the invalid of 38 years was on his own able to instantly get up and walk?
Either this miracle never happened or the man's limbs after 38 years of atrophy were restored instantly. After not walking for that long of a period of time, how long would it take a man today with intense physical therapy to walk? Probably months, or maybe even years? For me this miracle and many others lends credence to the creation story -that God did create all carbon life on Earth in six literal days. What, is your God not powerful enough to create life as we know in six days?
Remember, God created time and space, so He isn't bound by it. He's no more bound to time than we are when we create a character and a timeline in a book. From the time it took William Goldman to write, “My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!”, there was no delay or interruption when Inigo delivered this line in the book Princess Bride. In that world, it literally took a few seconds (definitely less than a day) for Montoya to deliver that line. But in author's timeline, from the time Goldman wrote "My name is Inigo Montoya" he could have put his pen down, took a two year vacation, pondered how he would finish the line for another year (writer's block), and then 3 years later finally finish Montoya's sentence. Goldman isn't bound by Montoya's timeline; It's because the creator/author exists outside of the created timeline. So in other words, God has infinite amount of time to bring physically restoration to the lame man lying by the Pool of Bethesda. Likewise, God had infinite time. God could have created everything in a single day, but he chose to create the world six days (our timeline). But when Jesus incarnated, something very interesting happened. He wrote himself into the story and God became a man and subjected himself (limited himself) to our timeline and our physical boundaries; In other words, he became one of us. Jesus is the God man. Fully God and fully human at the same time.
In verse 14 Jesus gives a warning. I think the warning applies to us as well as the invalid that he miraculously healed. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”
"What could be worse than not being able to walk for 38 years and being alone with no friends or family?" I had asked my students a couple Sundays ago. I teach 6th grade boys and give them an incentive to pay attention and participate in class. I tally up points during the lesson for correct answers and good input. I then give the top performers toy car at the end of class. The answer I was looking for was, "Hell for eternity would be worse." The invalid for 38 years still had some hope, but in hell you will have absolutely no hope because God's prescience will not be there. That was the answer I was looking for, but one of my students suggested a different one.
The boy who had accumulated the most toy cars from past lessons hand instantly shot up. No other hands came up, so I picked him.
"Being dragged through cactus, then being left out in the sun until your skin is really sunburned, and then someone squeezing lemon juice all over your body.", he said.
I busted out loud with loud laughter for a good 30 seconds and gave him credit. Though it wasn't the answer I was looking for because I was looking for a penalty for sin. But the young boy did answer my question and probably some would choose being unable to walk for 38 years over cactus, sunburn, and lemon juice.
At the Pool of Bethesda (house of mercy), Jesus demonstrated a physical restoration to one man. But Jesus incarnated for a much greater purpose than that. Jesus wrote himself into our timeline and died a gruesome death for a reason and for a purpose. I don't know about you, but because I am a sinner, I need far more than just a physical restoration. I need God's grace. The incident at the pool of Bethesda was just one of those trial samples.
Sources:
* Pool of Bethesda, Just As John Described It, March 7, 2013, www.bible-archeology.com
** Gayln's Israel Photos, www.generationword.com
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