At Bethesda

I had listened to a sermon
Where it was said that the man at Bethesda had sinned.
And that was why he was a cripple.
And Jesus, asking him, "Do you want to be healed,"
Was really Jesus asking the man whether he wanted
The responsibilities associated with being healed;
As if being a paralytic it could be acceptable
That he lay on his cot all day;
Now he will be expected to work.
It was also taught out of a Bible
Where a verse was removed,
Where it details the angel stirring the water
So the men could be healed.
Hypocrite.

I will give the actual rendering.
Jesus asked, as I will often ask,
"Do you want this good thing?"
Not as a rebuke, not as an underhanded
Jab reminding him of his humble condition,
But because it is perfunctory kindness.
The man, being crippled, wanted in the water
Yet, he could not because men had to compete
To obtain their healing. In this was the Old Judaic Code
And Christ came to redeem man from that code.
Thus, Christ healed the man, and not the Angel
Who would heal a man through strife and trouble.
Finally, Jesus approached the man when he was healed
And the man told the Pharisees that it was Jesus
Who healed him. Jesus, before that, told the man to sin no more.
How many of you, being thrilled to death about something
Will speak of it? To anyone, no matter whom?
Ought this man be damned for his excitement?
Ought he be damned because he was joyful he was healed?
Yes? He told the Pharisees this thing maliciously?
Or, like so many men, in weakness, wish to tell their victories?
The man did not sin in telling the Pharisees.
Rather, we do not have God's omniscience,
Thus we cannot know God's thoughts.
Cease from this idle teaching, for it produces
A sort of doubt most insidious.
There was a man I encountered who was pushed in a wheel chair
With full ability to walk. Yet he would not.
Ought we liken the man at Bethesda a sinner
We will liken him to a man who feigns and illness,
And thereby make Christ less than a miracle worker.
If you can believe this about Christ, then you have no understanding of Who He is.
"The meek shall inherit the Earth," whomever that meek man is.
And being told, "Sin no more," every one of us are told this
After being healed of our infirmities, for what else can be said?
To sin more?