Bethesda — Attraction in Jerusalem

John 5: 1-9 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesdaa] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place...

The Bethesda pool is not where google maps leads you. The pool of Bethesda is INSIDE the Old City and it is inside/behind St. Anne’s church inside the Old City. Google St. Anne’s church Jerusalem in Old City and this is where Bethesda Pool is located. Enter through the Lions Gate which is across from the amount of Olives. Go to St Anne’s church which is close to the entry of Lions Gate and its on the right side. There’s a sign and a window saying Bethesda. When we went it was closed and the church area next door told us to come back at 2pm so we did and were able to finally see it. Google maps led us to an area when we typed Bethesda pool that was wrong and by an Islamic art centre and theatre and some buildings being either renovated or built or torn down idk-this is not where...

This site was confirmed in the 19th century from archeological excavations as being likely the pool referenced in John's Gospel. This has been a busy site historically with the current church and grounds being built on top of Byzantine and Crusader churches dating from as early as 5th century or so. The site may appear visually confusing because of the various layers of excavation. The descriptions and sign boards help sort that out. The adjacent St Anne's church and Gardens are visually splendid. This site is in the Moslem quarter of the Old City and no...