One of the things I’m
learning as I read through the book of John is how Jesus interacted with people
while he was here on earth. In John’s gospel, we see Jesus as he meets the
needs of people where they are. In John 5, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem for a special
feast. The Bible doesn’t tell us that it was necessary to take the route
through Bethesda
in order to get to the fest but that is the route he and his disciples had
chosen to take. In Bethesda ,
there was a pool with five covered porches where sick people were lying.
What is written throughout
the verses is that Jesus saw a need and went to meet that need. Verse 5 tells
us that there was a man who had been sick for 38 years. Can you imagine? The
Bible doesn’t tell us what his illness was. But can you see the struggle of
this man? He wanted to get into the pool but there were others who beat him to
the punch. This man had to be tired and worn down by his illness. Jesus sees
his struggle and asks “do you want to be well?” I know if I had been sick for
38 years I would have probably been a puddle of tears trying to get the word “YES”
out. But this man said “there is no one to help me get in the pool.” My human response to that
is “what?!?”
Someone asks you if you want to be well and all you come back with
is “I just want to get in the pool.” I didn’t really understand the man’s
response at all. Maybe it’s because he had been sick and overlooked/outcast for
so long the thought of being “well” was a mere pipe dream; something too good
to be true.
In an instant Jesus
changed this man’s life forever. “Stand up. Pick up your mat and walk.” I don’t
know about you, but have you ever put yourself there at the scene? Would you
have thought Jesus was for real? What do you think your response may have been?
Perhaps something like:
“Come again? You want me
to just get up? Ummm, I’ve been lying here for 38 years!”
Can you hear that inner
voice?
Scripture says that
IMMEDIATELY the man was well and he picked up his mat and began to walk. Whoa!
This man acted WITHOUT HESITATION and was made whole. Did you notice that this guy
knew something miraculous had just happened and he acted immediately? He didn’t
second guess what had happened; he was well for the first time in 38 years.
Jesus met the needs of
many people when he walked this earth. Everything he did was to give us an
example of how we should live and walk through our lives.
Even today, He can meet
the needs of our lives. Pick up your mats and walk! He doesn’t want us
paralyzed by our doubt and fear. He wants us to be free to live the abundant
life He has given us to live.
If you are struggling to “pick
up your mat and walk” I encourage you to find a Christian friend or mentor you
can share your burden with and pray for healing in this area of your life.
Jesus will meet us where we are when we call on His name.
Don’t need healing in a
specific area at the moment? Are you helping to meet the needs of those people
in your community? Can you see where Jesus is working? The needs around us are
great. When given an opportunity consider doing something to meet a need for
someone in your community. Jesus came to serve; so it is up to us to be his
hands and feet and serve as he did. Who knows, you just may point someone to
Jesus in the process.
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