He turned away wearily, saying, “Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool; but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.” Poor man! how could he hope to contend successfully with the selfish, scrambling crowd! Jesus did not ask this wretched sufferer to exercise faith in him; but with a voice of command said, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” A sudden vigor was communicated to the paralyzed cripple. His whole being was stirred with a healing power, new blood and strength leaped into every limb and member. He bounded to his feet in obedience to the Saviour’s command, and stooped to take up his bed, which was only a simple rug and blanket. As he straightened himself again, with a sense of delight at standing upon his feet after so many years of helpless infirmity, he looked around for his deliverer, but he was nowhere to be seen. Jesus was lost in the crowd, and the restored paralytic feared that he would not know him again if he should see him. He was disappointed, for he longed to pour forth his gratitude to the stranger. As he hurried on toward Jerusalem, with firm, free step, praising God as he went, and rejoicing in his new-found strength, he met the Pharisees, and immediately related to them the wonderful cure he had experienced. He was surprised at the coolness with which they listened to his story. {2SP 158.2}

Han vendte sig bedrøvet bort og sagde: "Herre! jeg har ingen til at bringe mig ned i dammen, når vandet er kommet i oprør; medens jeg er på vej, stiger en anden ned før mig." (Luk 5,7) Stakkels mand! hvorledes kunne han håbe at nå dammen blandt en så stor egenkærlig skare? Jesus forlangte ikke, at denne elendige lidende skulle tro på ham. Men han sagde med bydende stemme: "Stå op tag din seng og gå!" (8.vers) Den lamme krøbling mærkede straks, at han fik ny styrke. en lægende kraft gennemstrømmede hele hans legeme, nyt blod og styrke oplivede alle hans lemmer, Han sprang op på sine fødder og adlød således (159) Frelserens befaling, hvorpå han bøjede sig ned for at tage sin seng med sig, som blot var en simpel måtte. Idet han rette sig op igen og glædede sig over, at han stod op på sine fødder efter i så mange år at have været hjælpeløs og svag, så han sig omkring efter sin redningsmand, men han kunne ikke se ham nogen steder. Jesus var forsvundet i skaren, og den helbredte lamme frygte for, at han ikke kunne kende ham igen, dersom han så ham. Han følte sig skuffet; thi han længtes efter at takke den fremmede. Han hastede mod Jerusalem med faste, livlige skridt og priste Gud, idet han gik, og glædede sig over sin genvundne styrke. Da mødte han farisæerne og fortalte dem straks, hvor underfuldt han var blevet helbredt; men de lyttede til hans fortælling med en sådan kulde, at han blev forbavset derover.