THE
TERRIFYING PROSPECT OF BEING FREE!
John
5:2-8
2
Now
there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew
tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3
In
these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting
for the moving of the water.
4
For
an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water:
whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole
of whatsoever disease he had.
5
And
a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6
When
Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he
saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7
The
impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to
put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8
Jesus
saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
This
thought interrupted my sleep! How would my life change if some things
I thought were unchangeable truly did change? Perhaps the crippled man never
pondered his own fear but Jesus saw it clearly.
Thirty-eight
years!
Did you miss that at your first reading? The man had lain on one of the five
porches for almost four decades. That the man had been “a long time in that
case” was a huge understatement.
Waiting
to win the lottery!
There is no small controversy as to whether an angel actually “stirred the
waters” as it says in verse 4 but, if you omit the last part of verse 3 and all
of verse 4, then verse 7 makes no sense. “When you visit St. Anne's Church in
Jerusalem, they will show you the deep excavation that has revealed the ancient
Pool of Bethesda. The Hebrew name Bethesda has been spelled various ways
and given differing meanings. Some say it means "house of mercy" or
"house of grace," but others say it means "place of the two
outpourings." There is historical and archeological evidence that two
adjacent pools of water served this area in ancient times.” Warren W.
Wiersbe
Making
excuses!
The man was trapped. He had no helper to toss him into the water and he was not
agile enough to help himself. One might wonder why he stayed there! Well, why
do we stay in our hopeless condition? The surest way to remain a cripple is to
accept your condition as hopeless.
Then
came Jesus!
Before Jesus could address the man’s paralysis He had to address his fear.
Jesus’ question must have stung him because he responds with whining and
excuses. The truth is that the man would have to abandon who he WAS so that he
could become who he WOULD be.
Everything
changed!
Once the man decided that healing is what he truly wanted, everything changed.
He lost his place on the porch. He no longer was referred to as “that crippled
man.” He traded pity for productivity. He took up his bed and walked away.
Jesus
is passing by!
Watch for Him! Listen for his stinging question and give an honest answer.
“Wilt thou be made whole?”
Dear
Lord, today I’m confronted with the comfort of my crippled condition. Your
question burns into my soul. Tears fill my eyes as I realize that I have given
up hope on certain things. I must evaluate what life would be like without my
bed and my affliction. Let me rise with courage, take up my bed with strength,
and walk with dignity. AMEN
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