What is the meaning of 'be made whole' in John 5:6?

from the old testament

• The phrase “be made whole” is found in the New Testament.
• The Old Testament touches on the concept of being made whole, particularly through the idea of "shalom," which means peace, completeness, and well-being (Isaiah 26:3). It also speaks of God's healing and restoration, as seen in His promise to "restore health" and heal wounds (Jeremiah 30:17). Additionally, wholeness is tied to Israel's restoration and the covenant relationship with God, where obedience leads to life and blessing (Ezekiel 37; Deuteronomy 6:4–5).

from the new testament

• In John 5:6 Jesus asks a lame man, "Wilt thou be made whole?" (KJV). To grasp the significance of this, we must first look at the historical and cultural context. In Jerusalem, there was "by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades" (John 5:2). John records that a "multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed" (John 5:3) would gather there, hoping to experience an angelic touch that would make them whole again. It is against this backdrop that we meet a man "who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years" (John 5:5).
• The question allows the man the opportunity to evaluate his situation, his desires, and his faith. He was given the dignity of participating in his healing. The man knew how desperate the situation was. He responded to Jesus, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me" (John 5:7). What he thought was his final hope for healing had failed. Jesus told him to "get up, take up your bed, and walk" (John 5:8), and the man was healed!
• The phrase be made whole encompasses a total restoration of mind, body, and spirit. Thus, it is a call for the man to allow the rejuvenating waves of divine grace to permeate every aspect of his being. Jesus not only restored the man’s ability to walk, but He also initiated his spiritual awakening (John 5:8–9, 14). He told the man, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you" (John 5:14).

implications for today

Jesus’ encounter with the man at the pool of Bethesda reminds us that God’s desire for us goes beyond surface-level healings. His love, grace, and mercy touch our emotional scars, offering healing for our broken hearts and the power to forgive those who have harmed us. This narrative beckons us to consider our spiritual condition because brokenness may reflect our separation from God and our departure from the path of righteousness. The invalid man’s condition could symbolize our own spiritual paralysis, a state where we are disconnected from "the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). In pursuit of wholeness, we must first acknowledge our need to be healed by the hands of God, who is the only One who can fix what is broken.

Our struggles in life are not always a direct result of our sin, but sometimes they are. The good news is that in Jesus, there is forgiveness and healing even for that (Isaiah 53:5; 1 John 1:8—2:6)! True life is experienced only in Christ (John 10:10). As our Creator, God knows what is best for us. We experience the most wholeness as we live in obedience to God’s commandments (John 14:15; 15:1–11) and daily submission to His will (Romans 12:2).

The encounter at the pool of Bethesda reveals Jesus as the divine healer who is the source of all restoration and wholeness. Today, He asks us the same question that He posed to the invalid man: "Wilt thou be made whole?" (KJV). Do we want Jesus to make us whole? What really is our need? Are we ready to release the grip of our wounds and allow Him to mend our brokenness? Are we willing to entrust our brokenness to Jesus?

May we find solace in the words of Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." In Christ’s gentle and tender embrace, we discover that the true meaning of wholeness is to abide in Him (John 15:1–11).