Saturday November 27, 2004
“ After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
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. 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?
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.” (John 5:1-7)
Jesus come to a man who has not been able to walk because of his "infirmity." We do not know what type of illness, but only that it kept him from having the strength to stand and walk. The Great Physician already knew the man's physical condition, so Jesus ask of the man’s desire to be healed. "Wilt thou be made whole?" In this encounter at the pool of Bethesda, we se the inability of man to help himself. The impotent man had been lame for 38 years, and though he desired to help himself, he could not, nor could mankind help him. There was "no man" to help. Likewise, if we place our trust in the abilities of other people, it will fail.
When the Doctor says, "I'm sorry, there's nothing more that we can do;" that's when you realize the inability of man to deal with the results of the curse of sin. Then we must turn to God and God alone.
“Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the Sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. 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.” (John 5: 8-15)
Now Jesus responds to the man's word with a command of faith. For 38 years this man could not walk, and he hears a stranger tell him to get up. Yet at Jesus' command, he "immediately" stood and walked. It is beyond the ability of the spoken language to describe the power of the spoken Word of the Son of God!
Col. 1:16: "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him: 17 And he is before all things, and by Him all things consist."
Also notice that Jesus only healed the one lame man. Jesus did not come to heal our corrupted bodies, but rather to save our souls. An uproar must have occurred as the healed man was trying out his new legs. Soon the Jews came like vultures and were not rejoicing that he was healed, but were upset that he was carrying his bedroll. He didn't know Who healed him, but Jesus would later find him in the temple and warned the man of his sin. We do not know all that Jesus said to him, but his response to the Jewish leaders tells us that he knew it was Jesus. Also the writing of John does not give us any details about his conversion, as it will focus upon Jesus' testimony to the Jewish leaders.