Les Feldick's transcripts do not directly mention the pool of Bethesda, but his teaching on water as cleansing and healing as national restoration frames its significance.
In the provided clips, Les teaches that water in Israel's ritual was a symbolic picture of cleansing, never the agent of cleansing. He also presents the healing signs in John's Gospel as signs to Israel that the Messiah alone could restore their national spiritual health. The pool's meaning, under that framework, is tied to cleansing and the national-sign pattern.
John 4:48-53 — Jesus connects belief in signs to the nation's response; this is the context Les uses to explain healings as national signs.
Acts 3:6-10 — The healed lame man is publicly recognized, showing how healing miracles displayed God's power.
The pool of Bethesda is not mentioned in any of the transcript passages provided. The Scripture passages Les cites concern two other healing events. In John 4, Jesus tells the nobleman, "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe" (John 4:48), and when Jesus says, "Go thy way; thy son liveth" (John 4:50), the man believes the word and goes his way; his whole house believes by verse 53. In Acts 3, Peter heals the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful "by the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (Acts 3:6), and the man jumps up, stands, walks, and enters the temple praising God. The people recognize him and are filled with wonder and amazement (Acts 3:9-10). These passages show that healing and water imagery are connected to faith and the recognition of God's power.
Les Feldick teaches that water in Israel's religious life was a picture of the cleansing Israel needed. He points to the priesthood's repeated washings, Naaman's dipping in Jordan, and baptism to show that water itself could not cleanse sin; it was a symbolic gesture indicating the need for spiritual cleansing. When he teaches on healing miracles, he identifies them as signs to the nation of Israel that the Messiah alone was able to restore their national health and fulfill covenant promises. In the eight transcripts provided, Les never directly discusses the pool of the impotent man, so his specific application to that pool is not in this evidence; his surrounding teaching supplies the framework.
Les points to the priesthood's washings, to Naaman's dipping in the Jordan, and to baptism to emphasize that water itself never cleansed sin. In the priesthood, the washing prepared a priest for service, but the water was only a picture of the cleansing God required. Naaman was healed after dipping in the Jordan, but it was his faith that God honored. Les likewise says Jesus' baptism symbolically fulfilled the washing of the priesthood and identified Him with Israel.
Les explains that the miracle at Cana was the first sign and the nobleman's son was the second sign. He says these signs showed Israel that if they wanted to be restored to their national health and receive the covenant promises, the Messiah was the one who had to do it. He applies the same idea to the lame man at the temple, who was healed by the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and publicly recognized by the people. For Les, these healings are patterned signs to the nation.
None of the eight transcripts provided mentions the pool of Bethesda or the impotent man in John 5. Les's principle about water as symbolic cleansing and his principle about healing signs as national indicators are the only evidence available for this question. Readers should not assume he commented on the pool's unique features based on this evidence.
Healing Signs and Israel's National Restoration
Les teaches that the miracle of the nobleman's son was the second sign and it showed Israel that the Messiah alone could restore national health and bring covenant promises.
Water Symbolized Cleansing in the Priesthood
Les explains that priesthood washings were symbolic pictures of spiritual cleansing; the water itself could not produce the cleansing.
Healing in the Temple as Visible Confirmation
Les uses the temple lame man to show that healings produced public wonder and amazement, yet the nation often remained unaffected.
Naaman's Dips Point to Faith, Not Water
Les says Naaman was healed because he exercised faith in God's word; the Jordan water was only a picture of cleansing.
Water Cannot Take Away Sin
Les stresses that water was a symbolic gesture indicating the need for spiritual cleansing, but it could not remove sin.
Sovereign Timing of Healing Signs
Les explains that Jesus deliberately did not heal the lame man at the temple because He was leaving that event for Peter and John to trigger another set of events.
The Laver Reflected Need for Cleansing
Les describes the laver as both a wash basin and a mirror that showed a priest the cleansing he needed before proceeding.
Jesus' Baptism Fulfilled Priestly Washing
Les says Jesus' baptism symbolized the washing of the priesthood and identified Him with the nation of Israel.
John 4:48: Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
Jesus announces that signs are necessary for the nation's belief.
John 4:50: Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
The nobleman's faith shows the pattern of believing Jesus' word after a sign.
Acts 3:6: Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Peter raises the lame man by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Acts 3:9: And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
The healed man's walking and praising makes the miracle visible to everyone.
Acts 3:10: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
The crowd recognizes the healed man and responds with wonder and amazement.
Les does not discuss the pool specifically in the transcripts. He repeatedly says that water could not take away sin; it was a symbolic gesture indicating the need for spiritual cleansing.
Les emphasizes water because it was used throughout Israel's ritual—priestly washings, Naaman's dip, and baptism—to picture the spiritual cleansing only God could provide.
Les teaches that the miracles were signs showing Israel that the Messiah alone could restore their national health and bring the covenant promises.
Watch the Teaching: The 8 Signs in John's Gospel — What They Mean for Israel