spiritual battle, False Angel Beliefs (gospels)

There was a legend or rumor that an angel would stir the water at the sheep gate, and whoever made it into the water first would be healed.

This main water source for the Temple could have been a natural spring, or it could have been connected to some underground water supply.  Then at different times of the year, due to water flow changes, the water would have become agitated.

The old wives' tale could have started by some imaginative person seeing this phenomenon, saying, "Maybe an angel is playing in the water."  Then someone else could have built on that, saying, "Maybe if someone tried to touch the angel they would be healed?"  Then as people rushed into the water and realized that they were not all healed, but the first one into the water did feel better - now you have the winner!  The healing must only happen for the first person in!

It would make sense that the first one to make it into the pool would have felt "healed" - since they probably would not have been all that sick in the first place!

Therefore, verse 4 is not included in a lot of Bible versions, and if it is included, it really should be worded "for IT WAS RUMORED that an angel..."

(John 5:2-9)  Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. 3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted. 5 A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” 9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.

Now - forget the old wives' tales!  Here was a sure thing!

As the people began to hear about Jesus and how He was healing people, they were scrambling to get to Him, believing that if they could only just touch Him, they would be completely healed.  And of course, THIS WAS possible, because Jesus is God, and healing comes from God...

(Luke 6:17-19)  Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. 19 And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.

Jesus' main purpose for coming to earth was to accomplish the work on the cross, making salvation possible.  As Jesus went around preaching His message of hope - by healing people, He was not only demonstrating His power and establishing His authority, but He was allowing people to experience what the Millennial kingdom would look like - if they would accept Him as their King and Savior...

(Matthew 4:23-25)  Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

24 The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

From this we see:
- people invent angel stories of healing (John 5:3-4)
- people who are troubled by unclean spirits need healing (Luke 6:18)
- demoniacs need healing (Matt.4:24)

Personal experience:  Yellow Springs, Pennsylvania is a historic town with natural mineral springs flowing through the area.  Three hundred years ago, this town became a health spa, and during the civil war they built a hospital there for wounded soldiers, because they believed these waters had healing powers.  BUT these waters contain extremely high levels of iron, so the real "healing power" was that people were escaping the polluted air of Philadelphia and breathing in fresher air!

It's amazing what people are willing to try in order to find healing - even now.

There was a Dr. Phil episode where he was debunking "Jilly Juice" - a cabbage drink with an extremely dangerous amount of salt.  The creator of this juice, who doesn't have any scientific training or medical degree, claimed that it cures everything!  One could even grow back an amputated limb.  And even after Dr. Phil refused to take a sip, a man from the audience tried rushing the stage because he wanted to try some!

People will not only do anything for their physical health, but they will believe anything in order to live forever.

Today's takeaway:  the most critical issue we have which leads to death is our sinful nature.  So our main concern in order to live should be our spiritual health.  And the only doctor and cure for that is Jesus...

(John 5:33-36)  You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34 But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

(John 20:30-31)  Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

(Mark 2:1-12)  When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”