But the Saviour saw one case of supreme wretchedness. It was that of a man who had been a helpless cripple for thirty-eight years. His disease was in a great degree the result of his own sin, and was looked upon as a judgment from God. Alone and friendless, feeling that he was shut out from God's mercy, the sufferer had passed long years of misery. At the time when it was expected that the waters would be troubled, those who pitied his helplessness would bear him to the porches. But at the favored moment he had no one to help him in. He had seen the rippling of the water, but had never been able to get farther than the edge of the pool. Others stronger than he would plunge in before him. He could not contend successfully with the selfish, scrambling crowd. His persistent efforts toward the one object, and his anxiety and continual disappointment, were fast wearing away the remnant of his strength.

Men Frelseren så et enkelt tilfælde, der var udtryk for den største elendighed. Det drejede sig om en mand, som i otte og tredive år havde været en hjælpeløs krøbling. Hans sygdom skyldtes for en stor del hans egen synd og blev anset for at være en straf fra Gud. Alene og venneløs, i følelsen af at være lukket ude fra både Gud og mennesker, havde denne syge tilbragt de lange år i elendighed. På det tidspunkt, hvor man ventede, at vandet skulle komme i oprør, plejede de, som havde medlidenhed med hans hjælpeløshed, at bære ham hen i søjlegangene. Men når det gunstige øjeblik indtraf, havde han ingen til at hjælpe sig ned i vandet. Han havde set vandets brusen, men havde aldrig været i stand til at komme længere end hen til kanten af dammen. Andre, som var stærkere end han, sprang derud foran ham. Han havde ingen mulighed for med held at kunne strides med den egenkærlige, kæmpende hob. Hans stadige anstrengelser for at nå det ene mål og hans angst og bestandige skuffelse var hurtigt ved at slide de sidste rester af hans kraft op.