Travel with me to Jerusalem. It’s hot. Really hot. Rumor has
it that just beyond the sheep gate there is a shaded pool, called Bethesda.
This is no ordinary pool (Bethesda means “house of mercy”). Day after day,
dozens of disabled people gather around this pool. It’s not an ideal vacation
spot, but we’re hot, tired, and could use the rest. So….we join them. Those who
are waiting. You see, from time to time an angel of the Lord comes down to stir
up the water. The first person into the pool after each such disturbance is cured
of whatever disease he has. Naturally, Bethesda is a popular place. You and I claim
some empty floor space in the corner, beside a paralyzed man. We lay out our
towels and notice more closely this man lying beside us. We secretly wonder how
he even got to this pool. He catches us staring at him.”I’ve been here for
thirty-eight years” he says.
neighbor with a question: “Do you want to get well?” he asks. “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.”
You and I can’t help but overhear their conversation. We
exchange confused glances. This man just told us that he’s been here, waiting
to be healed for thirty-eight years. Surely
he wants to be well! Why didn’t he answer this man’s question? Odd.
The stranger looks at our paralyzed neighbor and simply
says, “Get up. Pick up your mat and walk.” And immediately, he is cured! He picks
up his mat, and he leaves! For the first time in thirty-eight years, this man is walking out on his own! Today is the Sabbath. There are Jews around the corner
right now, condemning our newly-healed friend for carrying his mat. We listen
in:
“It is the Sabbath. The law forbids you to carry your mat”
the Jews scold. The healed man replied, “A stranger healed me! He’s the one who
told me to pick up my mat and walk, so I did. This is his fault, not mine!” The
Jews then asked him, “Who is this man who told you to pick up your mat and walk?”
but the healed man had no idea. The stranger never introduced himself, and now
he is gone.
Later that evening we’re in the market. Our healed friend
from the pool is here, too. So is Jesus. Jesus walks up to the healed man, and
immediately, the man realizes that it was Jesus who had healed him at the pool earlier. We expect the man to thank Jesus. Instead, this man, now having
learned the name of the one who had healed him, found the Jews who had
condemned him earlier, and reported Jesus for doing work on the Sabbath.
This healed man has some
nerve! First he complains. For thirty eight years he probably complained. Next,
he BLAMES Jesus for healing him on the Sabbath! No thank you. No rejoicing.
Then he turns Jesus in! Really, paralyzed guy? REALLY?
We’re annoyed. We’re confused. We’re frustrated! “What is this guy doing?!” we ask each other. Later that night, we begin to
realize…that paralyzed man with all of his excuses, with all of his complaining,
with his turning on Jesus…he’s just like you and I. WE ARE the paralyzed man. How
quickly we forget that Jesus has healed us, too!
C.S. Lewis once
said, “What saves a man
is to take a step. Then another step.” I think he’s got the right idea here. By
Jesus Christ, you and I have been healed!!! We are free to pick up our mats, and
take a step. Then another. And another.
Will you walk with me?
*This story is found in John 5.1-15 🙂
