John 5:13
ESV
Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.
NIV
The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
NASB
But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place.
CSB
But the man who was healed did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
NLT
The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd.
KJV
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
NKJV
But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.
What does John 5:13 mean?
At the start of chapter 5, Jesus went to the Pool of Bethesda, near the temple (John 5:1–2), where there was a large group of people suffering from disabilities (John 5:3). There, He heals a man who had been crippled for thirty-eight years and instructs the man to take his bed and walk (John 5:8–9). Local religious leaders saw the man carrying a load on the Sabbath. So, they questioned him (John 5:10). Rather than being amazed at a miraculous healing, these officials are more concerned about a violation of their traditions (John 5:12, 16).It might seem odd that a man who has been miraculously cured would know nothing about the man who healed him. This verse provides some explanation. At all times during His earthly ministry, Jesus is sensitive to God's timetable. This not only affects where He goes and what He does, it also influences the amount of attention He draws at any given time. In this case, Jesus seems mostly interested in provoking a confrontation with the Pharisees. As upcoming verses show, these clashes allow Jesus to defend His ministry, His divinity, and the evidence proving He is legitimate.
There are other moments in the four Gospels where Jesus suddenly removes Himself from a situation. In some cases, these exits have a supernatural tone (John 10:39). In others, such as this, the explanation seems mundane: Jesus simply turned and walked away into the large crowd before the man had a chance to find out more about Him.
