In Defense of the Disabled Man at the Bethesda Fountain (John 5:1–15)

Abstract

A man has been lying at the Bethesda fountain for thirty-eight years when he has a miraculous encounter with Jesus. Throughout history, this man has been seen as lazy, unfaithful. Such unfavorable interpretations of this man rely not on the text but on physiognomy, wherein the man’s impaired body tells interpreters all they need to know about his moral character. Such interpretations originate in ableist biases, rather than unprejudiced readings of the text. I propose a disability-informed interpretation of John 5:1–15, aiming both to reread and rewrite the text. I first critique the reception of this text in history, then offer constructive suggestions using philological inquiry and reading the passage in the context of ancient humoral medicine. Finally, taking a cue from Wilda Gafney’s womanist midrash, I employ “sacred imagination” to re-tell the story. I hope to offer a new perspective on this passage that has been understood so harmfully.