Bethesda

“ Woe be to them if they love the brethren Müller and Craik or their own ease more than the souls of saints dear to Christ! And I plainly urge upon them that to receive any one from Bethesda (unless in any exceptional case of ignorance of what has passed) is opening the door now to the infection of the abominable evil from which at so much painful cost we have been delivered. It has been formally and deliberately admitted at Bethesda under the plea of not investigating it (itself a principle which refuses to watch against roots of bitterness) , and really palliated. ”

“ Bethesda’s loss is thy gain. “Be ye also ready,” is the call of this awful providence. The Lord furnish survivors with double strength! I thank you for the accounts. I see you are running in arrears. Some way or other I trust they will be discharged. But I would have the family reduced as low as can be. I think that the keeping of those who are grown up, hurts them and increases my expence. I have little comfort in many that I have assisted. But our reward of grace is with the Lord. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! ”

“ The sights are too many. They swarm about you at every step; no single foot of ground in all Jerusalem or within its neighborhood seems to be without a stirring and important history of its own. It is a very relief to steal a walk of a hundred yards without a guide along to talk unceasingly about every stone you step upon and drag you back ages and ages to the day when it achieved celebrity.
It seems hardly real when I find myself leaning for a moment on a ruined wall and looking listlessly down into the historic pool of Bethesda. ”

“ I long to have Bethesda a foundation for the Lord Jesus. If I can procure a proper solid person of good literature, who will be content to stay two or three years, something may be done. I am now in the West, and have begun to take the field. Great multitudes flock to hear; and our Lord is pleased apparently to countenance my poor unworthy ministrations. I have the pleasure of seeing the seed, which was sown just before I embarked last for America, spring up, producing an hundred-fold. May Jesus have all the glory! ”

“ The separation from Bethesda which was commenced after the writing of the Letter of the Ten, and maintained the more firmly even after the judgment given at the church meetings in December, 1848, was, as we have seen, not to be confined to those meeting in Bethesda alone. This would have been evil enough; but it was determined to carry out this discipline on all who agree, not to sanction in word and practice this wholesale excommunication. ”

“ Some believed that the periodical upwelling of the Bethesda waters was the result of supernatural agency; and it was said that "whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." The Bethesda pool was wholly or partly enclosed; and five porches had been built for the shelter of those who waited at the spring for the intermittent bubbling up of the water.
On a certain Sabbath day, Jesus visited the pool and saw many afflicted folk thus waiting. Among them lay a man who for thirty-eight years had been grievously afflicted. ”

“ The pool of Bethesda, or "house of mercy"—while it was undoubtedly the expression of the mercy of God toward His people—afforded abundant evidence of the miserable condition of man in general, and of Israel in particular. ”

“ If the girls are not wanted in the house, I think the sooner they are put out the better. But I leave all to those in trust. I am more than satisfied, and send you ten thousand thousand thanks. Bethesda’s God will thank you before men and angels. My wife, I believe, hath written to you. I write this from my Bethel at Tottenham-Court, where I come for a little retreat. Twelve widows indeed are in their houses near me, and God is doing wonders at this end of the town. ”

“ Especially we will not move a single stone out of the way in our own strength, and much less still be guilty of a want of openness and plainness, nor would we wish by such means to obtain Bethesda chapel.
May 11. The Lord seems to try us about Bristol. There was reason to expect a letter the day before yesterday, but none came; also today there is no letter. Even this is very good for us. Yea, I do wish most heartily that we may not have Bethesda chapel, if it be not good for us.
May 15. Just when I was in prayer concerning Bristol, I was sent for to come to Brother Craik. ”

“ It was a philanthropic feeding of a multitude which certainly did not number thousands, the numbers are a later insertion; Jesus fed them with bread and fish which He purchased from a “sutler-lad.” The healing of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda was the unmasking of a malingerer, whom the Lord exposed and ordered to depart. ”

“ He is, indeed, a troublesome fellow. Quite possibly men said as much eighteen centuries earlier of a certain angel: you will recall that before even the pool of Bethesda could do its healing work, the waters were profoundly troubled by a great reformer sent from God. ”

“ To be sure, it is not a merit in other healing springs, if they are popular resorts of the sick, around which the whole great and rich world stands in priestly attitude; had we only here in Lilienbad also such female angels as in other watering-places, to agitate the pool of Bethesda and impart to it a medicinal virtue, which is the reverse of that of the Biblical one ”

“ I think I can say, to the glory of God, that our family never was in a better condition. The children, the essence of our constitution, are well taken care of, and watched over. We all live in love. God has been visibly among us, especially with the children. Bethesda, as to its outward circumstances, is so much for the better, that you would be surprised to see it. God enables us to keep up much order. He likewise (blessed be his name) has given us the appearance of a plentiful crop. The garden and plantation now afford us many comfortable things, and in great plenty. ”

“ Every heart seems to leap for joy, at the prospect of its future utility to this and the neighbouring colonies. The only question now is, whether I should embark directly for England, or take one tour more to the northward? He that holdeth the stars in his right hand, will direct in due time. I am here in delightful winter quarters. Peace and plenty reign at Bethesda. His Excellency dined with me yesterday, and expressed his satisfaction in the warmest terms. Who knows how many youths may be raised up for the service of the ever-loving and altogether lovely Jesus? ”

“ Bethesda, or according to the Hebrew ביתחסדה Bethchasdah, signifies literally, the house of mercy. It got this name probably from the cures which God mercifully performed there. It is likely the porticoes were built for the more convenient reception of the poor and distressed, who came hither to be healed. It does not appear that any person was obliged to pay man for what the mercy of God freely gave. Wicked as the Jewish people were, they never thought of levying a tax on the poor and afflicted, for the cures they received in these healing waters. ”

“ D――n. I trust, I can recommend them as the followers of Jesus Christ. I wish Bethesda may be a comfortable asylum for them. I think that Mr. S――k, for the present, might be employed about the lands round the orphan-house, and so gradually learn to be overseer at Ephrata. John H――y, I suppose, will be for moving in a year or two. I wish he may be capable to do for himself. I am told that he drinks; but I do not love to catch at ill reports against those that are employed in my house. Pray let me hear particularly concerning him. Mrs. S――k is a quiet teachable woman. ”

“ First, that this Story of the Pool of Bethesda, abstractedly considered from Jesus's Cure of an infirm Man at it, has no good Foundation in History: It merits no man's Credit, nor will any reasonable Person give any heed to it. St. John is the only Author that has made any mention of this Story; and tho' his Authority may be good, and better than another Man's in Relation to the Words and Actions of Jesus, in as much as he was most familiar and conversant with him ”

“ D―― takes the accounts, and keeps to the children, affairs may be managed very well. I care not how much the family is lessened. As it is a time of war, this may be done with great propriety, and then the plantation will have time to grow. J―― H――y writes that you use him quite well, and seems very contented. Never fear, my dear Mrs. C――, Jesus will stand by a disinterested cause. I have aimed at nothing in founding Bethesda, but his glory and the good of my country. Let Lots then chuse the plain, God will be Abrahams’ shield and exceeding great reward. All is well that ends well. ”

“ Eucherius, “Bethesda gemino ... lacu.”
27 Theodorus, 530 A. D.
28 The Templar rival site is noticed in an anonymous thirteenth-century tract. The map of 1308 shows the Piscina (interior) west of St. Anne, but the Piscina Probatica south of that church. The pilgrims usually call the pool Bethsaida, as in the Vat. MS. (Sinaitic Bethzatha) , and note its “five cloisters” (John v. 2) . Bethesda probably means “house of the stream,” but Beth-ṣiddei would be “the house of sides,” or “cloisters.”
29 Theodorus, Armenian account, Antoninus Martyr, Abbot Daniel (c. 1106 A. D.) , John of Würzburg. ”

“ How came he then and all other Jewish Writers to forget this Story of the Pool of Bethesda? I think, we may as well suppose that a Writer of the natural History of Somersetshire would neglect to speak of the medicinal Waters of Bath, as Josephus should omit that Story, which, if true, was a singular Proof of God's distinguishing Care of his peculiar People, or an Angel had never been frequently, as we suppose, sent to this Relief of the Diseased amongst them. Is then St. John's single Authority enough to convey this Story down to us? ”

“ Whatever may have been at any time assigned as the ground of complaint against Bethesda, the real ground all along has been, their determined resistance to the dictation of man in the things of God. They would not surrender their liberty in Christ, nor subject their views of right and wrong to the rule of another man’s conscience, however much he might claim the guidance of the Spirit; whose assumed guidance every godly mind must disown, when the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, truth, are wanting ”

“ I CAN but send you my poor pepper-corn of thanks unfeigned, for your continued care of dear Bethesda. Now all is paid, I hope your best days are to come. Do not entertain a thought of leaving a place, in which you have your health, and are so useful. If Mr. S――k can supply Ephrata, then all that family will be gone soon. Blessed be God that some of the girls turn out so well! ”

“ Perhaps, take all together, it may be more agreeable than the other. We seldom choose well, when we choose for ourselves. God’s thoughts are not as our thoughts. Take courage, my dear Mrs. C――; Bethesda’s welfare doth not depend on a single person. God will provide: I think he hath already. I care not if all the boarders were gone. Mr. R―― and D―― and you are hearty. Enough, enough! God will bless and prosper you. I am more than contented. My blessing to all the children. That the God of all grace and mercy may fill you with all his fulness, is the earnest prayer of, dear Mrs. ”

“ One day the disciples were angry because one who was not a disciple cured a man in Christ's Name, but Our Lord said, "Forbid him not, for even he who gives you a cup of water in My Name, shall not lose his reward."
About this time there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there was at Jerusalem by the sheep-market a pool of water which was called Bethesda, that means House of Mercy. Round it were five porches or doorways, and in these lay a great many poor sick men. ”

“ Bethsaida was honored as being the home of five of the Apostles of Jesus. We know nothing definitely concerning them until their manhood. We wish we knew of their childhood. It is only because of their relation to Jesus that they have been remembered. Had it not been for this they would, like many other boys of Galilee, have lived on the shores of Gennesaret, fished in its waters, died, and been forgotten. These five Bethsaidan boys were two pairs of brothers and a friend. The names of one pair were Andrew and Peter. They were the sons of Jonas, a fisherman. ”

“ BACK IN BETHSAIDA Thursday morning, before daylight, they anchored their boat offshore near Zebedee's house and sought sleep until about noontime. Andrew was first up and, going for a walk by the sea, found Jesus, in company with their chore boy, sitting on a stone by the water's edge. Notwithstanding that many of the multitude and the young evangelists searched all night and much of the next day about the eastern hills for Jesus, shortly after midnight he and the Mark lad had started to walk around the lake and across the river, back to Bethsaida. ”

“ All the family, both natural Jew and Gentile, will assume the family name, the whole Israel of God. The angel Gabriel's message, then, is clear; David is the father of Jesus, according to the flesh, and Jacob, or rather Israel his father, and Jesus reigns over the house of Israel forever. Paul says, "He is not a Jew which is one outwardly but he is a Jew which is one inwardly." Rom. ii. "There is no difference between the Jew and Greek, (or Gentile) for they are not all Israel that are of Israel, neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children." ”