42. Jesus heals a lame man by the pool
– John 5:1-18
John 5:3-7 “Here a great number of disabled people used to lie – the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’ ‘Sir,’ the invalid replied. ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
The spirit of the Lord would occasionally come upon the pool. Whenever it was stirred, people could go into the pool and be healed of any disease or disability. Many would gather at the pool in hopes of it being stirred by the Lord. While this man was in close proximity to the pool, he was never healed. In some versions of the Bible it says that the man was simply sick. But rather, he was paralyzed for thirty-eight years and unable to go to the pool on his own. People would often walk past him and not help him into the pool. He had most likely seen thousands of people healed over the years before his eyes. Yet, here he was thirty-eight years old still paralyzed and helpless. The man had almost no hope of ever being healed. He was alone and physically stuck.
Have you ever been in a hard situation? Did you think that you were alone and stuck? Did you see others around you and envy them? Did you long for someone to help you? Did you wonder how much longer it was going to last?
Or, are you currently in this hard time in your life? Hold tight to your faith. I know that it is easier said than done. But, this man was paralyzed for thirty-eight years. Have you been struggling for that long? The man thought that all hope was lost. But, Jesus has a way of opening up doors that never existed. The man thought that the only way for him to be healed was by going into the pool. However, Jesus himself came to the man and healed him. Not only that, but he was healed on the Sabbath. All odds were against this encounter to happen. But, Jesus knew he was hurting and came to rescue him. Jesus will rescue you too. No matter how trapped you may feel, God can minister to your deepest needs. Don’t let your hardship make you lose hope. With God, anything and everything is possible. God may have something special planned for you in your hardship or because of it.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.”
Have faith that God orchestrates all things. The whole world is in his hands. He is a good father who hears you. Stay strong.
John 5:9-10 “The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
First things first, aren’t you happy God doesn’t require us to follow all of these strict laws? Even Jesus hated all the legalism. God loves you and all he wants is to be reunited with him. The good morals and deeds all follow later as a way to show your love back for him. Just like you wouldn’t want someone to say they love you and not act like it, God takes delight when you “walk the talk”. But, God doesn’t have any requirements. All he wants is you.
According to the Pharisees, carrying a mat on the Sabbath was considered work. A man who had been miraculously healed after thirty-eight years was walking, but the Pharisees were more concerned with the laws than his well being. We are all human; have you ever been like the Pharisees? Have you ever been so caught up on something that you forgot there was a person with feelings involved too? Some Christians today are so concerned with someone’s decision to be homosexual that they judge, shun, and slander the person. That is no way for anyone to be treated. Through the judgement away. Never forget that there is a human underneath. Change your mindset to one of the kingdom. Care about the individual’s well being. Love everyone around you well.
John 5:14 “Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, ‘See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”
It isn’t so much to ask God for help and receive it. God has a bigger purpose for you than this life here on earth. Our life on earth is microscopic compared to eternity in heaven. It is more important for you to ask for his forgiveness and receive salvation. You need to stop serving the Devil by sinning but live your life out for God. Jesus was warning the man about death. He wanted the man to not think that the healing was the end all of all things good. Life abundantly is so much more important and fulfilling than his state of paralysis here on earth.
