John 5:6

γνούς. Perhaps supernaturally, as He knew the past life of the Samaritan woman (see on John 2:25): but He might learn it from the bystanders; the fact would be well known.

θέλεις. Dost thou wish? Note that the man does not ask first. Here and in the case of the man born blind (9), as also of Malchus’ ear (Luke 22:51), Christ heals without being asked to do so. Excepting the healing of the royal official’s son all Christ’s miracles in the Fourth Gospel are spontaneous. On no other occasion does Christ ask a question without being addressed first: why does He now ask a question of which the answer was so obvious? Probably in order to rouse the sick man out of his lethargy and despondency. It was the first step towards the man’s having sufficient faith: he must be inspired with some expectation of being cured. Comp. S. Peter’s Βλέψον εἰς ἡμᾶς (Acts 3:4). The question has nothing to do with religious scruples; ‘Art thou willing to be made whole, although it is the Sabbath?’