John 5: Healing Water

This short passage is another example of the importance of water in the Gospels of Jesus. Its true meaning can only be grasped in context of Kabbalah; thus, we have provided some notes in brackets to explain the initiatic symbolism. You can learn more about each aspect by using the search tool and the online glossary at Gnostic Teachings.

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John 5

After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool [a Mikvah: sacred bath], which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda [house of the waterfall], having five porches [stages of initiation: the five initiations of Major Mysteries].

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk [having no strength], of [spiritually] blind, halt, withered [due to the ego], waiting for the moving of the water [for initiation].

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water [with ordeals]: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in [courageously] was made whole of whatsoever disease [ego] he had [and earned the initiation and healing].

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years [he was a beginner in initiation].

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, "Wilt thou be made whole?"

The impotent man answered him, "Sir, I have no man [Human Soul, Tiphereth: John the Baptist to baptize him], when the water is troubled [active], to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another [ego] steppeth down before me."

Jesus [Yeshua, the Savior Christ, the fire in the water] saith unto him, "Rise [thy sexual strength by my grace], take up thy bed [of marriage in accordance with my doctrine], and walk [into the path of initiation]."

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed [from disgrace], and walked [on the path towards purity]: and on the same day was the sabbath [and the Man was made, and God rested].