Bethesda

BETHESDA

Promise for the month - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

John 5:2 ‘Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.’

                In the above passage we read about the pool called Bethesda. The word Bethesda means a house of kindness or mercy. When Jesus came near that place, he revealed his mercy. We see the Lord Jesus did a miracle in that place. We read in John 5:4-5 ‘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. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.’ As recorded in this verse, people believed that the pool healed sick people when the angel troubled the waters. But when Jesus came near that place, he worked out a miracle to a man who was down with sickness for over thirty eight years. In NIV translation, it is recorded that man was disabled/invalid for over thirty eight years. In a place filled with traditional beliefs, the Lord Jesus true divine miracle was seen. Even in our lives, we might have traditional beliefs and issues which is bothering us. But today that Lord Jesus is prepared to work out a miracle to nullify our traditional beliefs. Let us meditate on the stages of this man’s miracle at Bethesda.

Expectations

John 5:3 “In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.”

                Here we see that those who were sick would sit around the pool waiting for their healing. They were filled with expectations. We the children of God should be expecting the Lord’s miracle every day. When we carefully read John 5:5 ‘And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.’ When all the other sick people were eagerly waiting around, this man had no expectations to be healed. He knew that there is no one to carry him near the pool. Over thirty eight years of his life filled with sickness would have pushed him to a hopeless state. Some live their lives as whatever happens, let it happen. They do not wish/desire anything because they are apprehensive on the outcomes. But we worship the Lord who fulfills our hearts desire. The Lord expects his children to be expect good things in their lives. Here in this passage, the man who had no expectations was healed. The pool was not stirred but he received the divine healing.  As recorded in Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’ The Lord will grant the blessings that we are expecting in our lives.

Faith

John 5:6 “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?”

                We see Jesus knew that he has been down with this sickness for a very long time and asks him if he wants to be made whole. The Lord God knew his sickness even before he could tell him about it. Even in our lives, the Lord knows our problems and weaknesses before we could tell him in prayer. The Lord Jesus tests his faith and hence the question from his side. He wanted test his faith if he expects to be made whole after thirty eight years. Our expectations must turn into faith.  We read in John 5:7 ‘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.’ The response from the man is not in line with the question. Upon his response, Jesus knew that this person has no faith concerning his sickness. The hopeless attitude created by a thirty eight yearlong sickness was evident in his words. The man did not have faith that he can walk and be healed after all these years. Despite of his lack of faith, the Lord heals him. We read in John 5:8 ‘Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.’ The Lord will surely perform a miracle in our lives as we expect when we have faith and wait in his presence.

Deliverance

John 5:8 “Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”

                When the Jesus utters these words, the man receives an ultimate healing.  The man who was whining about his past receives a deliverance. He was living with his bed for over thirty eight years, and Jesus made him to carry his own bed and walk away. Jesus enabled this man to easily carry the same thing that was unbearable. If he had left his mat there, someone else would have taken his place on the mat. But the Lord has not purposed that he should be lying down there forever. Jesus wanted him to rise up with freedom. The Lord Jesus breaks all the knots of sickness and gave him deliverance. There is no bondage for the children of the Lord. Let us not limit the Lord’s power by speaking about the problems of our past. Our Lord is a Lord who works out new miracles every single day.

Work of God

John 5:17 “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”

                Ever since Jesus performed his miracle, there was a usual controversy among the Jews. In the above passage, Jesus clarifies that it is the work of God. In John 5:12,14-15 ‘Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.’ The man who received the healing did not know that it was Jesus who healed him. But later when Jesus met him, he realized it was Jesus who made him whole and then he volunteered to proclaim the work of the Lord.  Today, the Lord wants his children to proclaim the works of the Lord. When people asks us how we are blessed and leading a peaceful life, we should say it is the work of the Lord. We should glorify the works of the Lord. We should make a resolution to restart our ministries and proclaim the work of the Lord. Amen.