What does John 5:11 mean?

In prior verses, Jesus went to the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem (John 5:1–2). This area was near the temple and would have provided ample shade. The Bible describes "a multitude" of disabled people gathered there (John 5:3). Jesus selected one man, crippled for nearly forty years, and asked the man if he wanted to be healed. Somewhat surprisingly, the man offers complaints and excuses rather than saying, "yes" (John 5:5–7).

After Jesus heals him, the man continues this strange pattern of handing off his responsibility to other people. Jesus instructed the man to pick up the bed he was laying on and to walk with it (John 5:8). According to the local religious leaders, this was a violation of the commandment not to work on the Sabbath (John 5:10). In response, the man simply points to Jesus—whose name he does not even know—and says, in essence, "it's not my fault, someone told me to do it!"

The local religious leaders have every right to question this man. As with their investigation of John the Baptist (John 1:19), it is part of their responsibility to safeguard the truth. However, upcoming verses will show that these men are not sincere. Their offense over Jesus breaking their Sabbath tradition overrides any joy they might have had over the miracle itself. Of note is that their response (John 5:12) is not to ask, "who miraculously healed you," but "who told you to take up your bed and walk?" Their focus is entirely on their tradition, not the power of God, or the relief of human suffering!