Jesus Heals on the Sabbath -- Pool of Bethesda

Why did Jesus undergo the Way of the Cross?





I would suggest that this series of photos be seen in relation to the series below, "Way of the Cross," because this healing on the sabbath (day of rest) is one of many which resulted in the condemnation of Jesus as one who, by working, was considered by the pharisees as breaking the law of the sabbath.

But Jesus was responding according to the primary law of love which takes precedence over the letter of the law. He also said: "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath" (Mark 2:27) and "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it" (Mark 3:4)?

In addition to healing on the sabbath, Jesus also denounced the injustice, corruption, and hypocrisy of the scribes and pharisees, identified with the poor and proclaimed Good News to them, ate with "sinners," threw the money-changers out of the temple while accusing them of converting it into a den of thieves, and did other controversial things.

So the Way of the Cross is preceded by his way of promoting life and proclaiming the truth. He was executed as a prophet by the state.

As we contemplate his life and death, let us hear his invitation to come and follow him in building the kingdom of God, the new world of justice and peace and love.



John 5: "Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Bethesda, which has five porticoes."
















Jesus said to him: "Stand up, take up your mat and walk."

Therefore his opponents "started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath."

Bethlehem

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

Entrance to Nativity Church. The door was arranged this way during the time of the Ottoman Empire so that people on horses could not enter.

John 1:14

Place marked by a star said to be the birthplace of Jesus.

This chapel in the Church of the Nativity is believed to be where St. Jerome (died 420 A.D.) translated most of the books of the Old Testament directly from Hebrew into Latin.

Church of St. Catherine, where the internationally televised midnight Mass is celebrated on Dec. 24. This church is next to the Church of the Nativity.

Milk Grotto Church

Milk Grotto, a few blocks from Nativity Church. This is celebrated as the place where Mary nursed Jesus.

Banner on one side of Manger Square, Dec. 24, 2007. "Stop Embargo -- Gaza will live." Protesting the closure of Gaza Strip by the Israeli government, a military measure which is taking a severe toll on the civilian population.

Tree of Peace, just across the street from Nativity Church.

"I am 500 years old. I was uprooted without my permission from my original site (Th. Khamis land) in Bir Ona-Beit Jala al0ng with thousands of trees all over Palestine to build the apartheid wall.... I am still alive."

Islamic mosque on opposite side of Manger Square from Nativity Church.

Bethlehem University, under the direction of the Christian Brothers.

Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, Calvary

Calvary (inside Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre)

Lighting a candle at Calvary for the Christian Base Communities of Nicaragua

People reverencing a panel of stone which represents the stone on which the body of Jesus was placed.

Three pictures of the tomb of Jesus.

Mary Magdalene meets the Risen Christ.

"He's got the whole world in His hands!"

Outside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.

Way of the Cross, Jerusalem