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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
But why did Jesus, leaving the rest, come to one who was of thirty-eight years standing? And why did He ask him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" Not that He might learn, that was needless; but that He might show the man's perseverance, and that we might know that it was on this account that He left the others and came to him. What then saith he? …
Cyril of Alexandria
An evident proof of the extreme goodness of Christ, that He doth not wait for entreaties from the sick, but forecometh their request by His Loving Kindness. For He runneth, as you see, to him as he lieth, and compassionateth him that was sick without comfort. But the enquiry whether he would like to be relieved from his infirmity was not that of one asking out of ignorance a thing manifest and evident to all, but of one stirring up to more earnest desire, and inciting to most diligent entreaty. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Why does the Lord also ask him? Wishing to show us this man's patience. He asks not in order to find out, because it is not only superfluous but also foolish to ask a sick person whether he wants to be healthy. So I said that He asks in order to show us this man's patience.
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
Therefore let us now see the sacred mystery whereby this impotent man is healed by the Lord. The Lord Himself came, the Teacher of love, full of love, "shortening," as it was predicted of Him, "the word upon the earth," and showed that the law and the prophets hang on two precepts of love. Upon these hung Moses with his number forty, upon these Elias with his; and the Lord brought in this number in His testimony. This impotent man is healed by the Lord in person; but before healing him, what does He say to him? …
Thomas Aquinas
Now the reason for the length of the man's illness is considered. First, we have the Lord's query; secondly, the sick man's answer (v 7). John says, Jesus, seeing him, the man, lying there. Jesus saw him not only with his physical eyes, but also with the eyes of his mercy; this is the way David begged to be seen, saying: "Look at me, O Lord, and have mercy on me" (Ps 85:16). …
Bonaventure
"When Jesus had seen him lying," oppressed by infirmity, "and knew that he had already been there a long time," in the suffering of misery: "he says to him," through the kindness of mercy: "Do you wish to be made well?" through the power of divine might. He did not ask this because he doubted his will, but in order to make manifest his need. Which he also did by his response. …
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