Section 7
could not give life, but the Son of God gives life to the dead (5:21). "While we were yet weak" (Rom. 5:6), He came to enliven us.
THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE SON'S LIFE-GIVING
We have seen that this case on the negative side exposes the inadequacy and vanity of the law-keeping religion. The holy city could not help the impotent man; neither could the holy temple, the Holy Scriptures, nor the holy days. Although it was a feast day, he had no joy, and although it was the Sabbath day, he had no rest. Nothing could help him. He was a hopeless and helpless case. Suddenly, a little man came into this situation. It was not an archangel, but a little man named Jesus. He had no beauty or attrac tion, and no one paid attention to Him. He came directly to the sick man. Just as the Father in eter nity past foresaw the Samaritan woman and the Son went to find her at Jacob's well (John 4), so the Father also foresaw the impotent man, and the Son came to him while he was lying at the pool. He asked him, "Do you want to get well?" That meant, "Would you like to be healed?" The impotent man knew nothing beyond the pool, the water, and the angel who stirred the water.