The healing of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda is the third of the 'signs' given in John's Gospel which reveal Jesus as the Messiah and His oneness with His Father.

This pool, fed by intermittent springs, supplied water to the Temple. Its unique structure is attested to by archaeologists. The episode shows that Judaism with its rituals and hundreds of man-made laws cannot bring the healing which the life-giving word of Jesus can.

This Lenten reading, chosen to prepare catechumens for baptism, illustrates what true conversion requires. The question: "Do you want to be well again?" and the reply, "I have no one to put me into the pool", show that, while it is God who takes the initiative for our conversion, it is we who must want conversion enough to take the necessary step towards it. We should not blame others for our condition. We must also remember that our effort though necessary is insufficient without faith in Jesus. The command: "Get up and take up your mat", tells us to do what we can to overcome the evil within ourselves.

Lastly, Jesus warns against back-sliding. After being healed and enlightened in baptism, a relapse would make a person worse than he was before baptism.