in a more general way, and may imply simply a mattress which served as a couch by day and a bed by night. Observe the command to _take up the bed_. This apparently was not necessary; I can conceive but two reasons for it; one to emphasize the perfection of the cure, the other to provoke the controversy with the Pharisees respecting the Sabbath, and thus make it the occasion for the discourse which follows.--=Immediately.= The instantaneousness of the cure indicates its miraculous character; so does its permanence. He was cured instantly; he was cured so thoroughly that he could not only walk, but could carry his bed; and he remained cured. I have already said that the miracles are parables of redemption. Of no one of the miracles is this more strikingly true than of the present one. The diseased man has been a long time sick. He is helpless, friendless, in despair. He waits for an imagined moving of the water, an expected divine cure that is to come without act or interposition on his part; and it never comes. Christ calls first his will into exercise: Wilt thou be made whole? then bids him do: “Rise, take up thy bed;” and in the choice and the _obedience_, by faith indeed, but by the faith which chooses and obeys, he is made instantly and permanently well. 10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day:[167] it is not lawful for thee to carry _thy_ bed. [167] Jer. 17:21, etc.; Matt. 12:2, etc. 11 He answered them. He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. 12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? 13 And he that was healed wist[168] not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed[169] himself away, a multitude being in _that_ place. [168] ch. 14:9. [169] Luke 4:30.