This verse often causes concern for people. Some translations leave out this verse entirely because it is not found in many of the ancient manuscripts. Others are troubled because it appears so arbitrary. When an angel came to stir the waters, only the first person to enter would be healed. It would seem that the angel could just as well have healed everyone on the premises rather than just the most mobile. How could a loving God only heal one person when there was a multitude of people who needed a cure?
Yet, as with many accounts in Scripture, we must yield to the sovereign grace of God. Another question might also be asked: why would God heal any sinful people? What obligation does almighty God have to heal a creature of dust? Merely granting them life would have been more than they were entitled to. But on this day, God would do more than send an angel. He would send His only Son. Jesus Himself, the Savior of the world, would walk by.
Jesus was under no obligation to heal anyone. In fact, He had an appointment to keep. And it was the Sabbath. He was not supposed to heal anyone on that consecrated day. Yet He would. Why? Because His nature was grace. He would give what was not deserved. He would bless someone who did not even believe in Him at that time. We have no record that Jesus healed everyone present. Once again, God in His sovereign will would choose one individual to bestow a special kindness upon. The lame man would not deserve it. But then, none of us does.