NgokukaJohane 5:1-11

Emva kwalokho kwaba khona umkhosi wabaJuda, uJesu wakhuphukela eJerusalema. Kwakukhona-ke eJerusalema, ngaseSangweni Lezimvu, ichibi ngesiHebheru elibizwa ngokuthi iBhethzatha, linemipheme emihlanu. Kwakulala kuyo izinkumbi zabagulayo: izimpumputhe, izinyonga, nabafe uhlangothi. Babelindele ukuzanyazanyiswa kwechibi. Ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yayehla ngezikhathi ezithile, ifike izamazamise ichibi, bese kuthi lowo ongene kuqala emva kokuzanyazanyiswa kwalo, asinde esifweni esimphetheyo, noma ngabe sifo sini. Kwakukhona lapho umuntu othile owayesegule iminyaka engama-38. UJesu embona elele lapho, futhi azi ukuthi sekuyisikhathi eside egula, wathi kuye: “Uyathanda yini ukusinda na?” Waphendula, wathi: “Nkosi, anginamuntu ongangifaka echibini lapho lizanyazanyiswa. Kuthi nje ngiseza kulo, ngidlulwe ngomunye, angene kuqala.” UJesu wathi kuye: “Sukuma, uthathe uhlaka lwakho, uhambe.” Umuntu wasinda ngaleso sikhathi, wayesethatha uhlaka lwakhe, wahamba. Ngakho-ke abaJuda bathi kulowo muntu owayesephilisiwe: “Yisabatha namuhla, akuvumelekile ukuba uthwale uhlaka lwakho.” Kepha waphendula, wathi: “Lowo ongiphilisileyo uthe kimi: ‘Thatha uhlaka lwakho uhambe.’ ”