John 5:11-13

John 5:11-13

[11] He answered  them,  He that made  whole,  the same  said  Take up  bed,  and  walk.  [12] Then  asked they  him,  What  man  that which  said  Take up  and  walk?  [13] And  he that was healed  wist  not  who  for  Jesus  had conveyed himself away,  a multitude  in  that place. 

What does John 5:11-13 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The healed man passed the responsibility for his disobeying the rabbis" rule off by blaming Jesus. This was no way to express gratitude for what Jesus had done for him (cf. John 5:15). He probably feared for his life. The Jewish leaders wanted to know who had dared to contradict the accepted meaning of the fourth commandment. In their eyes He was a worse offender than the man who had carried his pallet.
Significantly, they did not show any interest in the man"s well condition. It should have identified the Messiah to them, but they saw the Healer as simply an offender.
The man did not know who Jesus was. This indicates that it was not his faith that had elicited the healing as much as God"s grace reaching out to a needy person. Jesus had slipped away probably to avoid premature confrontation (cf. John 6:15; John 8:59; John 10:39; John 12:36).
It is not at all clear whether this man believed on Jesus. We do not know either if he sought a closer relationship with Jesus following his healing. Many people accept God"s gifts but ignore the giver. Some experience miracles but do not go to heaven. Apparently it was not the reaction of this man that John wanted to emphasize but the lesson on the importance of believing in Him that Jesus used the occasion of this healing to teach.