Welcome to day 5 of our challenge everybody! In this story, Jesus heals a man who had been ill for quite some time. Even though it doesn't say it specifically, the man's illness on some level had to include paralysis due to his inability to make it to the water. This pool had apparently had healing properties and this man wanted desperately to be healed.
Jesus knew that this man had been in this condition for a while (v6) and so it is interesting that He makes this next statement. "Do you wish to get well?" I can almost hear the man say "NO DUH JESUS!!! I'm paralyzed!!" But he does not. Instead he just explains his difficulty in making it to the water to be healed. Instead of giving him a hand up, Jesus cuts straight to the chase. He says, "Get up, pick up your pallet and walk." Jesus decided this man had waited long enough, and instead of depending on this pool to heal him, Jesus shows him the source of healing is the "Living water" that was mentioned in the previous chapter.
Pretty cool right? How many people do you know that need spiritual healing? Many of them are so far from church or a relationship with God they are paralyzed by the idea of being connected with the One True God. They may be waiting for your help to the "Living Water" for healing. Pray about someone you know who needs that and then give them the help they need.
I love the "religious" people's response to this healing. They are angry! Angry that Jesus healed on teh Sabbath, a day that "good Jewish people"should not do ANY work. You can see in this chapter picking up a pallet, was considered work (v10, 16, 18). Jesus gets onto them for making the law of Moses (10 Commandments and other sections of Scripture) their hope (v45). Doing God's will is a good thing as long as you remember to worship Him and not the good deeds or even yourself for doing the good deeds.
Cool Facts:
Bethesda - means "house of mercy" or "house of outpouring".
Sabbath = rest. It was instituted when God rested from creation in Genesis 2:2
There are a few things that speak to me in this verse.... #1) v3 Let's notice that "many" people were waiting for the angel to touch the water and be healed..... So it was a first come first served/healed situation. (The original relay race.) #2) the man v7 has an 'excuse' for why he has been sick for 38 years by not having help..... (The 'I can't' syndrome) which binds anyone who uses that excuse. So the lesson here is: Be Determined to accomplish your tasks that the Lord has placed before you, they are your responsibility. And, even though it is not written that God helps those who help themselves, we are to rely on His Strength, Help Yourself, we still must each do our given parts of life. Sitting there telling your jeans to get on you without physical work is funny, pointless but accurate in describing how strange we can be. Someone once said "you cannot sit MORE in the chair you are already in. You cannot expect things to develop and be accomplished without physically getting involved. Jump In and see what Father will do for you. <3 K
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts Kathryn. I really love the "I can't syndrome" comment. Guilty sometimes.
ReplyDelete